Join PGH workplaces to reduce your carbon footprint

Join Sustainable Pittsburgh in kicking off the 2013-2014 Pittsburgh Green Workplace Challenge (GWC) on Wednesday, June 26 at 8:30 am at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium!

The GWC is a yearlong competition focused on  saving your workplace money, while enabling you to track and measure improvements in the areas of energy, water, waste, and transportation. This year BikePGH worked closely in developing a number of bike/transportation related actions to help our region’s businesses become more bike friendly. The GWC is open to nonprofits, colleges/universities, and municipalities in addition to small, medium, and large businesses in southwestern Pennsylvania.

During the 2011-2012 competition, participants saved enough energy to power nearly 6,000 average U.S. households for a year, saving over $4.2 million. Enough water was saved to fill Heinz Field 13 feet deep!

When an organization is more efficient in its use of resources, it increases profits, reduces cost, and more money is available for reinvestment. Sign up today to compete! Use the GWC to showcase and receive credit for your organization’s green achievements.

The kickoff event on June 26 features opening remarks from County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, along with insights from past winners. Be sure to attend to witness the goals this year’s participants pledge to achieve.

Featured Speakers
– Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald
– Dr. Barbara Baker, CEO, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
– Angela Garcia, Deputy Director, Global Links
– Aftyn Giles, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Pittsburgh
– Kanak Iyer, President, Kanakadhara Financial
– Barb Kviz, Sustainability Coordinator, Carnegie Mellon
– Christine Mondor, Principal, evolveEA
– Marily Nixon, Breathe Project Coordinator, The Heinz Endowments
– Jim Pashek, Principal, Pashek Associates
– Jonah Paul, Analytics Manager, Eaton
– Dan Santmyer, Pittsburgh Site Director of Operations, Bayer Corporation
– John Trant, Jr., Chief Strategy Officer, Cranberry Township

The sign-up period for the competition ends July 31, 2013. To sign up, simply create an account at www.gwcpgh.org

Car Free Fridays – putting an end to rush hour traffic, one single-occupant car trip at a time. Car Free Fridays empowers people to step out of their cars on a Friday to try an active transportation option.  With active commuting, Fridays are fun days and before long, Car Free Fridays are an everyday option.  See a list of Car Free Fridays events and request a Car Free Fridays Action kit at www.CarFreeFridays.org