Month: May 2013

05/31 2013

Oakland now has its own Belkin Meter to test “phantom” power usage

Oakland now has its own Belkin Meter!

What is a Belkin Conserve Energy Use Monitor (Belkin Meter for short)?
It will help you to understand how much energy your electronic devices ruse—including, the cost of operation, the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced in generating the electricity consumed, and watts.

How does it work?
A Belkin Meter is a small device that you can plug into any household outlet and then plug in any electronic device into. Within minutes you will have a reading on how much CO2 the electronic device uses and how much money that usage adds to your electric bill (there are settings for both monthly and year calculations).

Why should you use it?
We should all be mindful of what we have plugged in, for how long and if it really needs to be plugged in for that long. Not only does wasted energy waste your money, but it also puts unnecessary CO2 into the atmosphere thereby contributing to poor air quality, hurting or health as well as the health of others (including plants and animals). Pittsburgh has the 8th worst air quality in the nation; if we all start making small changes in our energy efficiency you will not only have a happy wallet but a healthy environment too! Healthy environment = Healthy communities!

Where can I get a Belkin Meter?
You are in luck – Oakland has a Belkin Meter Sharing Program! It lives at OPDC; if you interested in borrowing it please contact Tara Sherry-Torres at tarat@opdc.org or 412-621-7863.

After I have this information, then what?
Oakland is one of 16 communities in Allegheny County which is participating in a program called ReEnergizePGH. ReEnergizePGH aims to educate people on reducing energy consumption in their homes through both simple and high level changes. Tara Sherry-Torres from OPDC is your Energy Ambassador through this program and can talk to you about simple ways to reduce your home’s energy consumption. Please check out ReEnergizePGH’s website for more information, http://www.reenergizepgh.org/.

The meter is available to be borrowed by Oakland residents for one week at a time, it’s on a first come first serve basis (but you can sign up for your week ahead of time). All borrowers must have an Oakland address to be able to participate in the sharing program.

Looking forward to loaning this out!

Take care,
Tara

05/17 2013

OPDC E-Newsletter #17 – May 2013

Link to Newsletter

In This Issue

05/17 2013

Oakwatch Meeting – Wed, June 19, 6pm – 8pm

Oakwatch seeks to improve the quality of life for residents, employees and visitors by enforcing codes on negligent property owners, housing violations, parking violations, disruptive behavior, excessive noise and underage drinking in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Check their website to confirm time and location.
For more info and agenda check out theire website.
05/17 2013

Oakland Green Team meeting Thur, June 20, 6:00pm – 7:15pm

Oakland Green Team Monthly Meeting Thur, June 20, 6:00pm – 7:15pm, Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213   (Use Louisa St entrance)

The Oakland Green Team seeks to put the oak back in Oakland, improving trail connections and creating attractive open spaces. The team will identify, guide and implement greening activities throughout Oakland. They meet the third Thursday each month–all are welcome!
Contact David Zwier at dzwier@opdc.org or 412.621.7863 ext. 14 for more information.
05/17 2013

Pittsburgh International Childrens Festival 5/15-5/19

Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival opens the door for children to experience professional performing arts. Our vision is to present and promote professional programming for children which inspires, challenges, educates, and stimulate respect for and understanding of all cultures in an entertaining and enlightening way. The organization provides diverse programming which introduces young people to other ways of viewing the world around them. Vital to achieving our mission is making the season affordable and accessible for young families.

Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival is presented by Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Check out their website

05/17 2013

Pittsburgh “Green” House

The Pittsburgh Green House, a project of ACTION-Housing, Inc., is a 110-year-old home that has been renovated as a weatherization training and educational facility where contractors and the general public can learn about residential energy and water savings and making homes healthier. Visitors can browse the resource center for information on do-it-yourself projects, contractors, and retrofit financing; engage in interactive educational activities; discover useful facts on informational signage throughout the building; and interact with our knowledgeable staff.

ACTION-Housing staff, regional experts, and a variety of local nonprofits and product specialists will teach a range of classes geared toward the general public on a rotating schedule. Contractors can receive hands-on training including building science, weatherization skills, blower door technology, and Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification in a typical regional home preparing them for career opportunities in the residential weatherization and retrofit market. Some courses are free, while others have associated fees. Take a look at the calendar to find a class that interests you.

308 North Sheridan Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
(412) 362-4PGH

Pittsburgh Green House Website

05/10 2013

Carnegie Crawl is starting tonight 5/10 at 5PM! Call 412-279-5456 for more details.

THE CARNEGIE CRAWL, DO IT ALL!  2nd Fridays May 10-August  5p-8p

Stay after work or come into Carnegie for a fun filled evening. Stroll from one end of Carnegie to the other & see what local businesses, art venues & restaurants have to offer. Each participating business will have an orange snail hanging or displayed in their window & flyers with a map. Visit each business by August & get your flyer stamped then enter a drawing on August 9 to win great prizes. You can turn in your flyer at any participating business.

Participating Businesses: From 528 East Main St. (Exterior Products of Pittsburgh to 513 West Main St. (Talotta’s) and Places in between!

More info

05/09 2013

Yard Debris Special Collection Saturday 5/18

(PITTSBURGH) May 3, 2013 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today announced that City Environmental Services crews will hold a special fall yard debris collection on Sat., May 18. Bagged leaves, tree branches and bushes will be picked up and recycled for compost as long as those items are properly packaged.
The following items will only be accepted if properly packaged:

  • Bagged leaves: Residents must bag leaves in paper bags only and place them out at your normal refuse collection site. Bags should not exceed 35 pounds. Leaves in plastic bags will not be accepted.
  • Tree branches and bushes: Cut, bundle and tie branches and bushes in lengths not exceeding five feet. Tree branch diameter should not exceed four inches.

City residents must place materials out for residential collection by City refuse/recycling crews on Fri., May 17. Please note that City crews will not collect dirt, rocks, stones or cement. Yard debris left at the curb by contracted lawn care workers or independent contractors will not be collected by City crews.

05/09 2013

Final Public Meetings for OPENSPACEPGH 5/7 – 5/15

Residents are invited to share ideas, comments about open space planning in their neighborhood; Meetings from May 7th through 15th
(PITTSBURGH) May 6, 2013 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today announced the opening of the public comment period and the final public meetings for OpenSpacePGH – the City’s open space, parks and recreation planning effort. The public comment period for the draft of OpenSpacePGH will be available from May 7 to June 7 and can be accessed at http://exchange.planpgh.com/portal, with paper copies of the plan available at all Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh locations. Draft recommendations were created with public input from nearly 3,000 residents and experts in the field. OpenSpacePGH is part of PLANPGH, the City’s 25-year comprehensive growth plan, which includes 12 components and is projected to be completed in 2015.

Closest meeting: Tuesday, May 14th, 6 to 8 p.m. Schenley Ice Rink, Overlook Drive

More info

OpenSpacePGH

05/08 2013

Applications Available For City’s Third Youth Civic Leadership Academy – Due June 3

Applications available today at pittsburghpa.gov/ycla  Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 3, 2013. Late applications will not be accepted.
(PITTSBURGH) May 2, 2013 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today announced that applications are available for the City’s third annual Youth Civic Leadership Academy (YCLA), a free six-session program designed to educate and engage high school students about the inner-workings of City government. From visiting a water treatment plant to meeting with fire fighters and emergency responders, students will learn the ins and outs of Pittsburgh local government. YCLA will take place every Tuesday and Thursday evening beginning July 9 through July 25, 2013 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. YCLA is the youth component of the Mayor’s Civic Leadership Academy, and part of his servePGH initiative.

05/08 2013

Applications for 2013 Summer Youth Employment Program 5/1-5/13

Applications available from May 1 through May 13
(PITTSBURGH) April 29, 2013 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today announced that applications are available for the Pittsburgh Summer Youth Employment Program (PSYEP). This year’s six-week jobs program will place over 300 young residents in employment with the City, who will gain valuable work experience, earn wages and contribute to Pittsburgh’s economic growth. Since Ravenstahl brought back the program in 2007, nearly 2,700 young people have received summer jobs ranging from restoring and conserving City parks to administrative tasks in an office setting.

More info