Party like there IS a Tomorrow!

Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008, 11am-6pm
2nd & South Streets

Save the Planet. Save Money. Save the Date.

Sponsored by:

Beat the heat with PhillyCarShare under the Symposium & Film Tent.

Food Symposium

12:00pm
Delaware River Basin Commission
Carol R. Collier, P.P., AICP
Executive Director

Ms. Collier was appointed Executive Director of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) on August 31, 1998.  The DRBC is an interstate/federal commission that provides a unified approach to water resource management without regard to political boundaries.  Before joining DRBC Ms. Collier was Executive Director of Pennsylvania’s 21 st Century Environment Commission.  Governor Tom Ridge formed the Environment Commission in 1997 to establish the Commonwealth’s environmental priorities and to recommend a course of action for the next century. At the time Governor Ridge asked Ms. Collier to serve as executive director for the 21 st Century Environment Commission, she was Regional Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Southeast Region.  Prior to PADEP, Ms. Collier served 19 years with BCM Environmental Engineers, Inc., Plymouth Meeting, Pa., beginning as a student intern and ultimately becoming Vice President of Environmental Planning, Science and Risk. Ms. Collier has a B.A. in Biology from Smith College and a Masters in Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania.  She is a Professional Planner licensed in the State of New Jersey, a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).  In 1997 she was presented the Touchstone Award from the Society of Women Environmental Professionals and in 1998 the Woman of Distinction Award from the Philadelphia Business Journal.  In 2007 the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) presented her with the Mary H. Marsh Medal for exemplary contributions to the protection and wise use of the nation’s water resources. She is a member of her township’s environmental protection advisory board, teaches environmental management courses at the University of Pennsylvania and has published on environmental and water-related topics.  She has testified before the House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Legislature.  In 2004 she was a member of a nine person U.S./China/Japan team to assist the Peoples Republic of China with river basin management.  She has also participated in water management and sustainable forest practice events along the Yangtze River in China and in the rain forests of Ecuador. She thinks proper management of water resources is the key to our economic and environmental future. Email: carol.collier@drbc.state.nj.us

What's Happening In Your River? 
Keeping the Clean Water Clean and Reducing PCBs

The Delaware is a very diverse river starting as  pristine headwaters and becoming a real working river in the estuary.  I will discuss what DRBC does for the people of Philadelphia, highlighting our efforts to "Keep the Clean Water Clean" in the non-tidal waters and the clean-up of PCBs in the estuary. PCBs are bio-accumulative toxics that cause of fish consumption advisories around the Philadelphia area.

 

12:30pm
Delaware Valley Green Building Council
Laura A. Blau, AIA and Paul A. Thompson, AIA
Committee Members

Laura A. Blau, AIA and Paul A. Thompson, AIA, are LEED Accredited Professionals. They are principals of BluPath Design Inc, an architecture firm focusing on sustainable design practices for residential, cultural and non-profit clients. Laura and Paul have taught sustainable design and architecture courses at Philadelphia University and Temple University. They are active in Delaware Valley Green Building Council and are members of the Residential Circle and other committees of the DVGBC. Prior to founding BluPath Design, Laura was the project architect at MGA Partners, Architects, for the award-winning lobby renovation of the Byrne Federal Courthouse in Philadelphia. Paul was a senior architect at MGA Partners, and the project manager for the LEED silver-targeted Swope Music Building for West Chester University in West Chester Pennsylvania. Their rowhome in South Philadelphia was awarded the 2006 Commonwealth Design Award for Sustainable Design and the 2007 IIDA Honorable Mention for Sustainability and Energy Efficiency. Email: dvgbc@blupath.us

Residential Water Use

Where does water come from, how does it get in our houses, how much do we use? It looks like we have plenty of water in Philadelphia- did you know that sewage is dumped into our rivers several times a year? We will discuss water security, water use both inside and outside our homes, and strategies for reducing and reusing water.

 

1:00pm
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
Jennifer Adkins
Executive Director

Jennifer Adkins was appointed to the position of executive director of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary in October of 2007 after serving as interim executive director for approximately four months. Previous to this she also served as the nonprofit’s Schuylkill Watershed Initiative Grant coordinator for over two years, during which she managed a $1.15 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fund a series of projects undertaken by the Schuylkill Action Network in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In her new role, Adkins will work to partner with, and secure funding from, two regional offices of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; three states, including Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey; four major metropolitan municipalities, including the Cities of Camden, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Wilmington; and a laundry list of organizations and businesses spread across more than 6,700 square miles of the Mid-Atlantic region. Adkins has been active in conservation planning and collaboration in the Mid-Atlantic region for more than 15 years, during which she has served as Blackbird-Millington Corridor project manager for The Nature Conservancy of Delaware, Mid-Atlantic region director for the Land Trust Alliance, and planner for the Brandywine Conservancy’s Environmental Management Center. She has also worked as a self-employed contractor and consultant for a number of non-profit organizations in the region. Adkins is a graduate of the University of Delaware and holds a master of public administration degree, specializing in environmental and energy management, as well as a bachelor of science degree in economics. Today she resides in the City of Wilmington near the Partnership’s Riverwalk headquarters. Email: JAdkins@DelawareEstuary.org

State of the Delaware Estuary

“In its role as a National Estuary Program, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary collects and compiles information from experts the tri-state region to give residents a comprehensive look at the health of the watershed in State of the Delaware Estuary 2008.  This report, released in July, tells a story of mixed environmental conditions in a watershed with a long history of supporting people, natural habitats, and industry.  Ms. Adkins will provide an overview, highlighting successes and future challenges for this unique and resilient estuary.”

 

1:30pm
Villanova University Urban Stormwater Partnership
Robert G. Traver, Ph.d., PE, D.WRE
Director
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dr. Robert G. Traver has been a member of the Water Resources and Environmental Engineering Program at Villanova since 1988.  He is a registered professional engineer, and a Diplomat of the American Academy of Water Resource Engineers.  He teaches graduate courses in hydrology, hydraulics, urban storm water management, and undergraduate courses in all facets of water resources.  He is a retired LTC of the US Army Reserves, and a veteran of Desert Storm. While at Villanova Dr. Traver has conducted research on topics that include modeling of stream hydraulics, urban hydrology, water quality, and measures to mitigate adverse stormwater effects.  He constructed the Stormwater Best Management Practice Demonstration and Research Park on the Villanova Campus, and founded the Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership to enable continuing long term stormwater research.  Dr Traver believes that research supports and enhances the undergraduate and graduate educational experience. Immediately after the tragic failure of the New Orleans Hurricane Protection System, Dr Traver was asked to serve on ASCE’s External Review Panel (ERP) of the Corps investigation of Hurricane Katrina.  He continues to serve on the ERP, and was awarded the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal for his commitment and contribution by the Commanding General of the Corps of Engineers. Recognizing the link between policy and engineering, Dr. Traver continues to be involved with the implementation of stormwater policy.  He participated with a team study (sponsored by PaDER) to review the effects of Pennsylvania’s water regulation on watershed sustainability (1994), and was appointed by the Secretary of PaDep to to the oversight committee for Pennsylvania’s  2006 Stormwater BMP manual.  Dr Traver has served as Chair for the 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007 Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Symposium’s held at Villanova.  Most recently he was honored by his appointment to a National Academies Project Entitled Reducing Stormwater Discharge Contributions to Water Pollution. Email: Robert.Traver@Villanova.EDU

Designing for Stormwater Sustainability

Stormwater Management has changed dramatically in the last several years, as it has moved away from a flood control perspective toward sustainability of our rivers and watersheds. We have moved from detention basins, to incorporating stormwater wetlands, to pervious pavements, green roofs and bioretention and Low Impact Development utilizing green technologies. It must be understood that without considering all components of the physical processes and tools to include landplaning, this can not be realized, and that we are just beginning to understand the linkages and unit processes needed to apply this design concept.

New design practices and innovative technologies are being explored that address runoff volume and quality. Many of these systems incorporate green technologies, and are called “Best Management Practices.” These BMPs include green roofs, porous pavements, bioinfiltration and retention systems. Many of these BMPs have been constructed and are under study at Villanova University.   Dr. Traver will discuss the issues, and results from these studies. Further information on these research sites is available at www.villanova.edu\VUSP.

 

2:00pm
Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program, Penn State
Philadelphia School and Community IPM Partnership (PSCIP)
Michelle Niedermeier
Program Coordinator

Michelle  has worked with the Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program for the past eight years as an outreach educator, community organizer and program manager. In this capacity she has developed programming for multiple audiences on pest identification, less-toxic approaches to pest management, and health and ecosystem impacts of pests and pesticides. For the past 3 years, Michelle has been the coordinator of the Philadelphia School and Community IPM Partnership - motto: "Empowering individuals and communities to safely manage pests through education and training." Michelle holds  a B.E. in Elementary Education from the University of Toledo and a Masters of Science in Human Dimensions of Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University. Email: mxn14@psu.edu

How Pesticides Impact Drinking Water

Pesticide use outdoors can contaminate our streams and drinking water as well as pose health problems for wildlife and our own families. Pesticide use indoors can lead to our long-term exposures to chemicals, exacerbate asthma and increase the risk of accidental poisoning. IPM is a common-sense, effective, preventative approach to pest situations that takes health and the environment into account.   This talk will provide a short overview of the most risky pesticide products and human behaviors as well as provide simple alternatives for specific pest problems and risk-reduction using an IPM approach.

 

2:30pm
Energy Coordinating Agency
Liz Robinson
Executive Director

Liz Robinson has served as the Executive Director of the Energy Coordinating Agency of Philadelphia since its inception in 1984.  She has over 25 years of experience in energy services, community development, and education. The Energy Coordinating Agency is a non-profit organization which provides a full range of energy services to residential and small commercial customers in the Philadelphia area.  ECA and its network of Neighborhood Energy Centers serve more than 35,000 low income households every year.    ECA is a leader in energy efficient, sustainable housing, both affordable and market rate and is both a LEED for Homes provider and an ENERGY STAR Homes rater.  ECA is also working to make existing homes more energy efficient by piloting the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program. Email: LizR@ecasavesenergy.org

Save Water, Save Energy and Help the Planet

This session will provide immediate water and energy saving advice for home and business owners, and for those building new homes or commercial buildings.  Participants will learn why the expiration of PECO’s rate caps will drive up not only their electric rates, but their water rates as well.  Come learn how to immediately lower your water bill, electricity, gas and other energy costs, and lighten your carbon footprint to boot!!

3:00pm
Philadelphia Water Department (TBA)

Also check out the Eco-Film Forum to learn more about Water issues

 

top of page

Save the planet! Save money! Save the date! Sunday, Sept. 7.