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Sustainability
2020 Green Purchasing Awards announced
2020 Green Purchasing Awards announced
Weitzman’s Megan Ryerson and Engineering’s Cheryl Hickey are awarded for their contributions to sustainable purchasing in travel consumption and kitchen waste streams.
On Galápagos beaches, human presence conclusively affects sea lions
On Galápagos beaches, human presence conclusively affects sea lions
Penn researchers, in conjunction with Galapagueño high school students, found that on more crowded beaches, the endangered animals are less aggressive to people.
Seven ways to be green at home
Seven ways to be green at home
Eco-Reps across Penn offer sustainability tips to save money, help the environment, and consume less during the holidays.
By the numbers: The FY20 climate and sustainability annual report
By the numbers: The FY20 climate and sustainability annual report
Highlights from the report show progress on reducing carbon emissions, expanding sustainable transit, and increasing academic outreach.
Gers and the grid: Combatting air pollution in Mongolia
Gers and the grid: Combatting air pollution in Mongolia
The Center for Environmental Building and Design (CEBD) at The Weitzman School partnered with Mongolian nonprofit GerHub to test out ways of making ger living more energy efficient to reduce air pollution and improve respiratory conditions in Ulaanbaatar.
Latin American Green New Deal
Latin American Green New Deal
Daniel Aldana Cohen, an assistant professor of sociology in the School of Arts & Sciences, organized and moderated an event on the Latin American Green New Deal, rethinking recession recovery and carbon emissions reduction.
A farm for the community
A farm for the community
The Food and Wellness Collaborative, which emerged from the ‘Your Big Idea’ competition, has turned an expanse of turf into a productive growing space.
Architecture’s William Braham on energy, carbon, and buildings for the future
Architecture’s William Braham on energy, carbon, and buildings for the future
For Climate Week 2020, The Weitzman School speaks with Braham about Penn’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan, and what he’s learned about the build environment and its carbon footprint over time.
Can Galápagos businesses be eco-friendly and profitable at once?
Can Galápagos businesses be eco-friendly and profitable at once?
In an effort to try for this, a group of Penn undergrads led by doctoral student Jesse Hamilton partnered with five small enterprises on the islands. Even amidst a global pandemic and local civil unrest, the pilot was a success.
Design travels to South Carolina to plan more protective urban coastlines
Design travels to South Carolina to plan more protective urban coastlines
A Weitzman School team is working with the city of Charleston on an urban seawall plan that combines natural elements with structural systems that respond to the local conditions of the city’s shoreline.
In the News
Gizmodo
Why Joe Biden should trade his buildings plan for a Green New Deal
Billy Fleming of the Stuart Weitzman School of Design spoke about Joseph Biden’s plans to weatherize American homes. “I can’t help but oscillate between despair and frustration with the lack of imagination and ambition in this plan,” said Fleming. “Sure, take care of the low-hanging fruit that Presidents Clinton and Obama left for you on climate. Then, for all our sakes, think about extending your grasp an inch or two higher.”
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Los Angeles Times
Hydrogen fuel could revolutionize airlines. Here’s how that could look
Megan Ryerson of the Stuart Weitzman School of Design advocated for the use of alternative fuels, like hydrogen, in the airline industry. “Without [alternatives], we either have to stop flying or make drastic cuts in other sectors,” she said.
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The Guardian
Revealed: millions of Americans can’t afford water as bills rise 80% in a decade
Howard Neukrug of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke about the rising cost of water in the U.S. “High-cost low-quality water is a national issue. The federal government is clearly not playing the role it needs to play,” he said.
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The New York Times
Shuttered Philadelphia refinery may get new life after fire
Mark Alan Hughes of the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy spoke about the possibility of converting the old Philadelphia refinery into a hybrid plant that also produces renewable fuels. “They’re predicting a steadily declining place for things like the refinery that was,” he said. “The kind of mix that tries to lower the profile of fossil fuel activity is, I think, the most likely outcome.”
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
A thousand new homes are planned next to Graffiti Pier
Dan Garofalo of the sustainability office commented on a proposal for a new housing development near Port Richmond. The project has been critiqued for the stark appearance of its proposed ground-floor parking garages. However, Garofalo notes, the garages’ walls currently are set to face a row of warehouses. “Maybe in 10 years we’ll see a developer come in, take these old warehouses, and put something else there. It’s incumbent upon you to think of the future.”
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