Local Group Helps "Green" G20

The environmental stewardship group Sustainable Pittsburgh has been tapped by the Allegheny Conference to look for ways to make the upcoming G20 summit more environmentally friendly. The group chose to focus on four key areas where Sustainable Pittsburgh spokesperson Ginette Walker Vinski says they felt there could be the most impact. Those areas are: transportation, printing, the media center and the welcome reception. Vinski says it is still unclear just what transportation restrictions will be in place but as members of the media and delegate support staff make their way around the city it would be nice to offer them rides in hybrid cars, access to bicycles, and guides to take them from point A to point B on foot. On the printing front, Vinski says using recycled materials and soy-based inks is a logical start. She also suggests embossing materials as often as possible to eliminate ink altogether. Vinski says her group has recommended the use of recycled materials in the media center as well. She says they would also like to see pitchers of water offered to journalists rather than bottled water and if there needs to be any construction done in the first floor of the regional enterprise tower to accommodate the center, it be done in a green way including the use of LEDs. Sustainable Pittsburgh hopes the conference will start off on the right foot by greening the welcoming reception. Vinski says the focus should be on locally produced food grown on sustainable farms. She also recommends the use of biodegradable dinnerware. Vinski says they have provided the Allegheny Conference a list of business that can provide the greener materials and services. Vinski says now that the suggestions have been put in one place, anyone running a convention or large gathering can follow suit. Sustainable Pittsburgh will meet with the Allegheny Conference later today to review the suggestions. Listen to an interview with Ginette Walker Vinski.