City Learning: New fellowship in Philly provides environmental research experience

Image via esf.edu/urban/Are you a graduate or undergraduate student studying urban and environmental studies? Are you interested in topics like landscape architecture, engineering, conservation and urban natural resources? The new Sustainability Science Fellowship is an ideal opportunity to put those interests to practice right here in Philadelphia.

The fellowship, a new program of the U.S. Forest Service, City of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Horticultural society, will provide students with research experience aimed at promoting environmental literacy and increasing the number of young scientists within the field.

Projects proposed should foster collaboration, science delivery, and communication to help sustain the environmental well-being of Philadelphia’s urban areas. Students will be paired with Forest Service scientists who will serve as mentors and help oversee the completion of each project. For more information visit the Philadelphia Field Station website.

Applications are due to the Philadelphia Field Station by February 20.

Save the Mountains: Penn, Temple students meet with PNC over mountaintop removal

An example of mountaintop removal. Image via blog.sungevity.com/Mountaintop removal might not seem like an issue pertinent to Philly residents, but students at Temple University and University of Pennsylvania would disagree. Local banking favorite PNC is a major financier for companies engaged in the practice. And at Temple and Penn, the relationship with PNC is close. Both universities have exclusive contracts with the bank. Additionally, Penn receives financial contributions from the company and at Temple, J. William Mills III, regional president for PNC, sits on the board. 

This fall, with support from the Earth Quaker Action Team, who started their own campaign against PNC, Penn and Temple engaged their communities in discussion and activism on the issue. Their work appeared to culminate this past Monday, when the Penn Community Against Mountaintop Removal and their counterpart at Temple individually met with PNC executives in hopes of convincing them to abandon their destructive investment. The meetings, although organized by their respective universities, did little to move the groups’ objectives forward. However, they were a go-ahead for taking their campaign to the next level.

“We intend to form a coalition with the 35 other alliance schools [who also have contracts with PNC],” said Danny Teich, a Temple student who spoke for his group at the press conference on Monday. “We currently have a statement of solidarity signed by six schools in the area and are currently organizing student life closure of PNC accounts on campus.” 

Look for more information about the campaign in an upcoming Grid issue. In meantime, find out more about the students’ work at mtratpenn.org and check out a video of Temple students being arrested this fall during a PNC sit-in. 

Help Makeover a Philly Rec Center and Win $1,500!

Image via dvgbc.orgThere is something about the new year that compels us to make some serious lifestyle changes. Before you give in to that inexplicable pull to let your hairdresser go beyond a trim, consider directing your makeover impulses toward one of Philadelphia’s aging recreation centers.  There are currently approximately 160 recreation centers in Philadelphia, however, most aren't living up to their green potential. Help Philadelphia’s Parks & Recreation Department reimagine some of these centers by entering the Delaware Valley Green Building Council’s (DVGBC) eighth annual Sustainable Design Competition. Dream up ways to make your favorite community meeting place more energy efficient, manage stormwater more effectively or increase the spread of sustainable living information to your neighbors. If you’re a student or young professional interested in eco-friendly design, share your innovative ideas with the DVGBC for the chance to win $1,500! Registration is currently open to the public at dvgbc.org and the final day for submissions is April 30 by 12 p.m. A panel of judges will evaluate the entries and choose the winners who will be awarded at a ceremony May 3.

- Missy Steinberg

City Spending: The Merchants Fund offers grants for Philly businesses

Image via technicallyphilly.comThe current economic situation can make running a successful business these days a challenge. But for established Philadelphia merchants, there is a local option for help. The Merchants Fund, a private foundation established in 1854, offers financial assistance to current Philadelphia merchants demonstrating legitimate financial need. In the past they’ve given grants to city favorites like Metropolitan Bread, Fabric Horse and Feast Your Eyes Catering. This winter their offering two grant opportunities: a $10,000 Business Stabilization grant and a $10,001 to $20,000 Business Loan Matches grant.

The application deadline is Wednesday, February 15. However, all applicants must complete a preliminary discussion about their project and application prior to that date. This preliminary meeting helps focus and strengthen applications. For more information about The Merchants Fund and how to apply for the upcoming grants, visit merchantsfund.org. For printable applications and detailed guidelines, contact the Fund directly at info@merchantsfund.org or call 215-399-1339.

Sustainable 2012: An Eco-Expo to start a green new year

Looking to brush up on eco-friendly practices in the new year? Then join Congregation Beth Or this Sunday, January 22 at their Eco-Expo. 

A day-long celebration of sustainability, this free, non-religious event features more than 30 environmentally-friendly exhibitors in renewable energy, composting, agriculture, transportation and more. A LEED-certified architect, will be offering green construction and renovation tips at a special “Ask the Architect” booth and there will be activities for kids, like paper-making and seed-planting.

The expo is also hosting various speakers, including the keynote Michel Krancer, Pennsylvania’s secretary for environmental protection, who’ll talk about the controversial natural gas drilling happening in the state.

And don’t forget to bring your alkaline batteries and hard-to-recycle packaging materials, like Styrofoam, for the special recycling collection. 

For a full list of speakers and times, visit here. The Eco-Expo is happening Sunday, January 22, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth Or (239 Welsh Rd., Maple Glen, Pa.) 

- Anna Louise Neiger

Growing Up: Take your gardening skills to the next level

A green roof by Bio Neighbors (bioneighbors.com)Interested in expanding your garden skyward? Stephanie Alarcon, a Penn State Master Gardener, is here to help.

“People are excited by the idea of using the dead space on a roof for several sustainability improvements at once,” says Alarcon. “Vegetated roofs and walks reduce storm water runoff, tame indoor temperature swings, cool down the urban heat island effect, and create habitat for insects and birds.”

This Saturday, Alarcon, with Urban Ecoforms and Bio Neighbors, local companies that builds green roofs and living walls, will dive into the technical details for starting your own green roof.

 “It’s fun to think about recreating their habitat in a challenging place,” says Alarcon, And don’t worry if you’re a city dweller. Alarcon says that even for those who rent and don’t have free rein over rooftops, green roofs can be a realistic possibility.

The program, part of Penn State Extension’s Philadelphia Master Gardeners’ Second Saturday series, is happening this Saturday, January 14 at the Fairmount Horticultural Center from 9:30-11:30 a.m. The cost is $10 and pre-registration is recommended. Find out more here.  

-- Anna Louise Neiger

Come on, get happy! Grid's hosting a movie night!

Has the post-holiday, back-to-work grind given you the blues? Join us on Thursday night from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Trinity Memorial Church (22nd and Spruce) for a dose of cheer. We're sponsoring,  in conjunction with Sustainable 19103 and the Office of Sustainability, a screening (just an excerpt), followed by discussion, of The Economics of Happiness. The film features some of our big heroes -- Vandana Shiva, Bill McKibben, Michael Shuman -- discussing the benefits of localization and the perils of globalization. Light appetizers & beer provided, BYO wine. Cost is $5, and you can buy tickets here.

The Local Tweet: Philly birds in the news

Image via allaboutbirds.orgHere's something worth tweeting about: The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education is doing a bird census this Saturday, January 7, and they're looking for volunteers. Don't worry, budding ornithologists, no experience is required. You can join their birding team to help collect important data about wintering bird populations. My phone is predicting a beautiful day, sunny and 51 degrees, and to sweeten the deal, the SCEE will provide coffee, tea and light breakfast foods.

In other bird news, the Spruce Hill Bird Sanctuary, who we'll be covering in our next issue, is looking for some help, too. Located at Spruce & Locust, 45th & Melville Streets, this unique urban green space is a neighborhood spot, but open to the public as well (the entrance is next to 233 S. Melville). They're looking for bird food, plant material and cold, hard cash. 

Oh, Christmas tree, what lovely mulch you'll make

Image via earth911.comJust because it's 2012 don't kick your Christmas tree to the curb! Recycle it! Building on the success of previous years' treecycling efforts, more than 20 local, civic and nonprofit organizations are working together to recycle trees this year. If you leave your tree out at the curb to be picked up by the city, it will go to a landfill or incinerator. Instead, bring your tree to one of the treecycling events happening throughout the city?  

Bartlett Tree Experts and Schectman Tree Care are sponsoring volunteer groups this weekend, January 7 and 8, to give trees a second life as mulch in local dog runs, community gardens and parks. Find your neighborhood event below, and help keep those trees out of the landfill.  (A $5 donation is suggested to help defray costs, and all decorations must be removed.)

Click to read more ...

Change is Coming: Philadelphia zoning code finally revised

Image via phila.govIn August, we wrote about signing a petition for new zoning codes. And looks like you must’ve stepped up to the plate! On December 15, city council unanimously passed new codes. This was shortly followed by Mayor Nutter, who on December 22 signed the legislation, enacting new laws to officially take effect in August 2012.

So what, exactly, has changed? Considering the last major revision of Philadelphia’s zoning code happened in 1962, a lot, including a special focus on sustainability. Here are some examples:

• Reducing vehicular traffic and promoting walking with regulations for mixed use districts (so people can live closer to work), creating Transit Oriented Development (for an example), and allowing retail buildings to be located closer to each other in more walkable patterns.
• Encouraging renewable energy and energy conservation by allowing small wind energy systems and solar collectors.
• Promoting water conservation through required compliance with the Philadelphia Water Department’s storm water regulations.
• Adjusting zoning to be friendlier to urban farmers for community gardens, animal husbandry and greenhouses, among others.

To learn more about zoning in Philadelphia and the new codes process, visit zoningmatters.org.