Environmental protection is social justice. Too often, low-income residents are disproportionately affected by environmental contamination and pollution. Additionally, these communities are left with few affordable options to support sustainability in their neighborhoods.
Our partners see Green Infrastructure as a powerful tool in reversing the effects of urban blight. We seek projects that support sustainable development, promote equity, and empower people to reclaim their neighborhoods. We provide resources for small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and local residents to improve their environmental impact, using environmental data to create green solutions around water, energy, and food.
Since 2013, our team and partners have worked on dozens of exciting projects throughout Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. We have been successful because of the support from our community, including WorkHard Pittsburgh, the cooperative workspace in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood. We’ve also received guidance and mentorship from New Sun Rising, a social impact and innovation accelerator.
Environmental & Social Impact
New Sun Rising recently helped us quantify our social and environmental impact, which includes more than 80,000 gallons of stormwater diverted annually, more than 100 gallons of food waste converted into compost, 46 drums repurposed for rain collection, 20 homes converted to renewable energy, the monitoring of water quality for 16 sites, water testing for 11 families, and two public events for free soil quality screenings. Over the past three years, we’ve explored various ways to help our community reduce risk of exposure from environmental contaminants while developing solutions to create a healthier natural world.
