Smart(er) Days: Things get real Posted on May 13, 2014 by wpengine So...everybody and their grandmother seems to ride a bike in Amsterdam. No joke. There are close 800,000 residents of Amsterdam and over 900,000 bikes. More bikes than humans...that is how this place rolls! Literally. Not only are there a lot of individuals in physical - self propelled movement, but also there are surging levels of energy from the entrepreneurs and start-up community focusing on sustainability, climate resiliency, renewable energy, smart energy and systems design and behavior change. To put this in…Read More
GTECHer Spotlight: Brian Verdi Posted on May 9, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Get to know...Brian Verdi [one_half] [/one_half] [one_half_last] Role at GTECH: Research Intern for Knots on Lots Hometown: Pittsburgh Alma Mater: Washington and Jefferson College - Cell/Molecular Biology Current Education Endeavor: part-time Duquesne University student in the Environmental Science and Management Master's Program Favorite Burrito Topping: Guacamole [/one_half_last] I started volunteering with GTECH because of the many outstanding projects they help accomplish in Pittsburgh. I plan to provide whatever assistance I can to help this organization continues to enhance and strengthen the…Read More
Pittsburgh Day of Giving 2014 Posted on May 2, 2014 by Grounded Strategies This year The Pittsburgh Foundation switched up the invariably fall giving campaign to this spring - May 6, 2014. Even though it hasn't been a full year we've been up to a thing or two: Trained 10 new Ambassadors in the Hilltop neighborhoods, who together will be turning 12 vacant lots into productive green spaces, including a life-sized checker's board Recycled 741 gallons of waste cooking oil used community-based Lenten Fish Frys Launched a brand new project, where GTECH is giving…Read More
Gravity Posted on April 17, 2014 by wpengine Today, GTECH turns 7. When you think about it, "growth" as a physical phenomenon is not really in our favor. As individual humans, there is an entire atmosphere of stuff (that's a technical term) that weighs down upon us. Not to mention lurking hungry bears - who tire of nuts and berries - ready to pounce out of the shadows. No wonder there is such joy in watching our offspring defy the odds of survival and manage to prosper and…Read More
GTECH launches new program: ReDo Posted on April 1, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Pittsburgh - April 1, 2014 - Growth Through Energy and Community Health [GTECH] Strategies launches new program, ReDo. The focus of the program will be helping community-based hair salons come up with creative reuses for hair clippings. GTECH CEO, Andrew Butcher, formulated the idea during a weekly visit to his barber shop. "I first thought of this idea while at my weekly 4 hour barber visit during my second facial treatment. Many people don't know that I produce an inordinate…Read More
GTECHer Spotlight: Nicole Miller Posted on March 21, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Get to know...Nicole Miller [one_half] [/one_half] [one_half_last] Role at GTECH: Project Coordinator for ReEnergize Pgh Hometown: Pittsburgh Alma Mater: Denison University Major: Religion Favorite Activity: Hiking, skiing, gardening - anything outdoors! Favorite Burrito Topping: Guac (on guac, on guac) [/one_half_last] "I like that we [GTECH] didn't look at energy efficiency and see something that had already been done. We saw it as something that could be done better and something that could better people's lives. I enjoy that we…Read More
GTECHer Spotlight: Ava Weiskopf Posted on March 14, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Get to know...Ava Weiskopf [one_half][/one_half] [one_half_last] Current GTECH Project: Tiny Town Hometown: Pittsburgh Alma Mater: Syracuse University Favorite Activity: running with her dog Cincy Favorite Burrito Topping: Sour Cream (always!) Website: http://cargocollective.com/avaweiskopf [/one_half_last] Working at GTECH has been a wonderful experience! It’s a diverse team with excited and passionate people. They opened the doors to the nonprofit world for me and allowed me to share my design knowledge with them. I got to be involved in a little bit of everything…Read More
GTECH Staff love their communities Posted on February 12, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Love is in the air and on your block. This Valentine's Day week, we are asking everyone to share some loving' for their 'hood. Here is some GTECH Staff some photos from the staff on what they swoon over in their stomping grounds. Want to share you're own? [one_half][/one_half][one_half_last] Sara Innamorato Neighborhood: Lawrenceville "I love that is live in walking distance of delicious croissants" [/one_half_last] [one_half][/one_half][one_half_last] Travis Mecum Neighborhood: Larimer "I really like this bench in the Larimer Green Team…Read More
Grease for Good Posted on December 17, 2013 by Grounded Strategies Pittsburgh Oil Recycling Gets a Makeover. GTECH Strategies and Greenlight Biofuels partner to boost ReFuel Pgh ReFuel Pgh, a program run by Growth Through Energy and Community Health (GTECH) Strategies, up with Greenlight Biofuels for the collection and recycling of waste cooking oil to support sustainable community development activities in Pittsburgh. 100% of the volume of oil collected is processed in Pennsylvania for biodiesel, which has approximately 80% less CO2 emissions than petroleum diesel. Any facility that produces waste cooking…Read More
Appreciating Ambassadors Posted on October 2, 2013 by Grounded Strategies Energy Ambassadors in Action. What hardworking individuals in our Ambassador program mean to their communities. Added Value ReEnergize Pgh ambassadors have been engaging communities and strengthening relationships with their neighbors and community based organizations. One noteworthy relationship exists between Homewood Ambassador, Rhonda Sears, and her ReEnergize community-based organization (CBO) partner Operation Better Block (OBB). To better understand the dynamic duo, we sat down with OBB program coordinator, Jose Diaz, to discuss his experience working with ReEnergize Pgh and Sears. Building…Read More