Ecologic Institute and the Center for Energy
[https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/cfe/] and the Energy Grid Institute
[http://grid.pitt.edu/] at the University of PITTSBURGH, within the
framework of the ENERGY FUTURE EXCHANGE PROJECT, host a workshop about
the future of sustainable ENERGY, highlighting local and regional
economic, social and environmental benefits of ENERGY EFFICIENCY
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AND EMERGING INNOVATIVE BUSINESS MODELS,
strengthening COMMUNITIES FOR A RESILIENT FUTURE. Speakers from
PITTSBURGH join experts from Germany and Croatia to start a vibrant
conversation. Ecologic Institute Washington, DC, along with
consortium partners Ecologic Institute Berlin and ACEEE, initiated the
ENERGY FUTURE EXCHANGE (EFEX) project, a two-year transatlantic
conversation on the future of ENERGY, financed in large part THROUGH
THE EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION TO THE UNITED STATES TRANSATLANTIC CIVIL
SOCIETY DIALOGUE PROGRAM. EFEX comprises conferences, study tours,
workshops, webinars, pop-up actions and online forums in the US and
Europe. More information can be found at http://energyfuturex.org/
[http://energyfuturex.org/]
9:00 Coffee, pastries and registration
9:30 Welcome remarks by Carrie Snell (Coordinator, Center for
Energy, University of Pittsburgh) and Brendan O'Donnell (EFEX,
Ecologic Institute)
10:00 Energy efficiency as fundamental to the US and European energy
transitions (Max Gruenig, Ecologic Institute)
10:20 Energy efficiency as part of social innovation in Munich (Ramon
Arndt)
10:50 Creating a people-driven energy regime in Zagreb (Vlatka Vlahek
and Zoran Kordic)
11:20 Q&A on energy efficiency in Europe
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Energy as a driver for urban renewal (Katrina Kelly, University
of Pittsburgh)
1:20 Case studies of social energy ventures and other innovative
energy ventures in Pittsburgh with Zaheen Hussain, Millvale
Sustainability Coordinator + Director of Sustainability at New Sun
Rising
2:00 Q&A on energy efficiency in Pittsburgh
2:30 Coffee break
3:00 Panel discussion: how to balance energy equity and energy
efficiency? (with all speakers)
3:50 Closing remarks
4:00 End
RAMÓN ARNDT is a Spanish-German urban ecologist who has been
instrumental in the effort to integrate ecological practices and
concepts into the strategic urban planning process at the city of
Munich for nearly three decades. In addition to his role as Senior
Expert in the Department of Urban Planning in Munich where he is,
among other duties, responsible for the development and assessment of
circular economy initiatives and the city’s energy transition,
Ramón is a board member of Green City, a civic-engagement
organization that encourages citizen participation in the broader
transition to a sustainable urban future.
ZORAN KORDIĆ is cofounder and President of Green Energy Cooperative,
an umbrella organization for the emerging field of energy cooperatives
in Croatia and the West Balkan region. The projects are centered
around citizen engagement and use the post-carbon transition to
reimagine the interplay of energy, economy and environmental
preservation. Zoran coordinated the Good Energy in Social
Entrepreneurship project funded by the European Social Fund and serves
as a board member of REScoop.eu, the European Federation of Energy
Cooperatives. He works to create a ‘good economy’ model in which
social good rather than consumable goods measure success.
VLATKA BERLAN VLAHEK is head of the city development department in
Ivanić-Grad, Croatia, where she is responsible for a comprehensive
portfolio of sustainability and development initiatives and goals,
including city infrastructure reconstruction, the Sustainable Energy
Action Plan targets and cooperation with ministries, government
agencies and international institutions. Vlatka has led municipal
efforts to, among other things, involve local civic organizations in
future strategy building processes and activities related to
environmental protection and sustainable energy. She is also
implementing the city’s Living Streets Project which helps support
and grow the local circular economy that empowers the citizens.
DR. KATRINA M. KELLY-PITOU is a Research Associate, Resilient ENERGY
AND POWER SYSTEMS, Swanson School of Engineering and Manager,
Strategy and Business Development, Center for ENERGY AND ENERGY GRID
INSTITUTE.
Katrina currently holds dual roles as both a Research Associate in
Resilient Energy and Power Systems at the Swanson School of
Engineering, also acting as Manager of Strategy and Business
Development at the Center for Energy at the University of Pittsburgh.
She has joined Pitt to work alongside Dr. Gregory Reed in the
development of next generation grid solutions for the US, the state of
Pennsylvania, and the City of Pittsburgh. Her work takes a systems
approach and works on understanding both the policy architecture and
financial mechanisms that are needed to deploy resilient and
sustainable energy systems. Katrina currently helps to lead the
research on the University’s “District Energy” research grant
(in partnership with the Department of Energy/NETL, supported by RK
Mellon), and on the “Comparative Energy Governance for Smart
Cities” project, conducted in partnership with the Danish Ministry
of Energy, Utilities and Climate (supported by the Danish Ministry of
Energy, Utilities, and Climate).
MAX GRUENIG is the President of Ecologic Institute US and has been
with Ecologic Institute since 2007. His work focuses on sustainable
development in the energy and transport sector, as well as urban
sustainability and resilient cities.
BRENDAN O’DONNELL is a Fellow at Ecologic Institute. His work
focuses on sustainable urban development, especially the visibility
and accessibility of diverse communities in the decision-making
process; post-carbon finance, including the development of vehicles
and policies to support sustainable investing; and the future of
environmentalism, particularly how art and other cultural influences
inform the concept of nature and inspire environmental policy.
ZAHEEN HUSSAIN is leading the charge for sustainability and equity in
Millvale. Prior to Millvale, he worked at GTECH strategies as the
project manager, leading the ReEnergize Pittsburgh Coalition to
strengthen residential energy efficiency through collaboration and
community-level advocacy. He has taken those skills of community
building to Millvale, where he works with the Millvale Community
Library and the Millvale EcoDistrict Collaborative. He is a shared
community resource to advance the EcoDistrict goals of food, water,
energy, mobility, air quality, and equity.
FAQS
ARE THERE ID OR MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER THE EVENT?
Any age is welcome.
WHAT ARE MY TRANSPORTATION/PARKING OPTIONS FOR GETTING TO AND FROM THE
EVENT?
The University Club is located at 123 University Place in the heart of
Oakland and is situated on lower campus, next to the Soldiers and
Sailors Museum and Garage. We highly recommend that all guests for
all events park in the Soldiers and Sailors Garage.
Or, even better, you get there by public transport, bike or walk.
HOW CAN I CONTACT THE ORGANIZER WITH ANY QUESTIONS?
Please email us at office@eius.org
* Ramon Arndt
City of Munich
Senior Expert in the Department of Urban Planning
* Dr. Katrina M. Kelly-Pitou
University of Pittsburgh
Research Associate, Swanson School of Engineering and Manager, Center
for Energy and Energy GRID Institute
* Zoran Kordic
Green Energy Cooperative
President
* Vlatka Berlan Vlahek
City of Ivanić-Grad
head of the city development department
culture
Museum
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workshop
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25/09/2018 Last update