MCCC Signs White House ‘American Campuses Act On Climate Pledge’‏

Blue Bell/Pottstown, PA —Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) reinforced its commitment to sustainability on Nov. 19 by signing the White House’s American Campuses Act On Climate Pledge.

According to the White House, 218 colleges and universities representing 3.3 million students across the country have signed the pledge to demonstrate their support for strong climate action by world leaders in advance of next month’s international Conference on Climate Change in Paris, France.

Participating institutions were asked to submit three pledges outlining steps they will take to lower carbon emissions. For MCCC, the pledges build on the eight years of sustainability efforts taken as a charter signatory of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.

In signing the new American Campuses Act On Climate Pledge, MCCC commits to:

* Build on the success of MCCC’s Green Office Initiative to pilot a Green Classroom program in collaboration with faculty and the student Environmental Club. In the Green Office Initiative, departments voluntarily progress through a four-tier program that evaluates and rewards their sustainable office practices and purchasing. A parallel program for classrooms would award certification to individual faculty and divisions who engage in green practices and activities, such as using refillable dry erase markers and going paperless.

* Support MCCC faculty in their exploration of open-source and online instructional materials. The incorporation of such materials may reduce the amount of paper used in classrooms, thereby reducing the institution’s carbon footprint. These materials could also save students money, which reinforces MCCC’s student success and financial literacy efforts.

* Promote local sustainability industries within Montgomery County to MCCC students and the community at large by facilitating job fairs, presentations and guest lecture opportunities for companies that employ sustainable practices.

The latest White House pledge for colleges and universities builds on last month’s American Businesses Act on Climate Pledge, which was signed by 81 companies from across the United States. Additionally, more than 150 countries representing approximately 90 percent of all global emissions have offered climate pledges to date.

For additional information or to share your support, join the conversation using the #ActOnClimate hashtag on social media.

South Central PA Restaurants Going Green And Reaping The Benefits

Great news from our friends in Harrisburg about eating establishments who are going or have gone green!

Nonna’s Deli Sioso, 263 Reily Street, Harrisburg has installed solar panels on their roof.  The solar panels provide 75 percent of the deli’s electricity and make hot water.  They use local produce whenever possible.  Nonna’s supports the arts by being a 3^rd in the Burg participant!

Isaac’s Restaurant & Deli, a chain with locations across Pennsylvania, is building their new locations with recycled materials, using solar tubes for lighting and using more energy efficient HVAC systems.

Neato Burrito, metro Harrisburg locations, is ditching the Styrofoam cups in favor of plant-based cups that are fully compostable.  The next improvement will be green utensils.

Mangia Qui, 272 North Street, Harrisburg uses non-toxic paint, green cleaning products and LED light bulbs.  They use only hydroponically grown greens and produce.  They buy antibiotic and hormone-free chicken and grass-fed beef.  Containers are 100 percent biodegradable and the dishwashers are low energy.  Solar panels are planned for the roof and the conversion of their heaters to an on-demand hot water system.  Mangia Qui supports the arts by being a 3^rd in the Burg participant!

If you are ecologically responsible and would like to support businesses who walk to the talk, we encourage you to consider visting these establishments.  If you support the Harrisburg Arts Revitalization, two of these restaurants are also working toward that goal by participating in 3rd in the Burg.

To learn more about 3rd in the Burg: http://3rdintheburg.com/

Korean electric-car maker considers Philadelphia assembly plant

Here is some possible good news for Philadelphia!

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillyinc/Korean_electric-car_maker_considers_Philadelphia_assembly_plant.html