BPG Participates in Collecting Packaging Waste for TerraCycle

GVF is a tenant of BPG Properties, located in King of Prussia.  In effort to be more sustainable, BPG partnered with TerraCycle an in effort to encourage its tenants to collect their packaging so it can be recycled. 



 

TerraCycle's , located in Trenton, NJ, goal is to help eliminate the idea of waste. They do this by creating collection and solution problems for all kinds of waste, by creating waste brigades and turning the collected waste into new products, ranging form park benches to backpacks. TerraCycle operates all around the world so please check out if we are in your country.


To learn more about the different brigades, click here.  There are brigades for many different waste steams ranging from candy wrappers to pens. While some brigades have a cost many are free, where TerraCycle pays the shipping and for every unit of waste you send to them, TerraCycle will pay at least $0.02 to a charity or school of your choice.

TerraCycle recently expanded its brigade to collect packaging waste for tortilla and cheese bags.  Tortilla brands Mission and Guerrero, both run by Gruma Corporation, package their tortillas and tostadas in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic bags. While technically recyclable, LDPE, identified by the #4 resin code, is not commonly collected in recycling programs.  The New Jersey-based upcycling company will take the tortilla packaging and use it to make new tortilla holders and other consumer products. It will also collect packaging from the companies' dips and salsas. To read the entire article, click here. 

GVF is participating in BPG's brigade, which is collecting chip, cookie and candy wrappers.  BPG will be donating the proceeds to Juvenile Diabetes Assocation.

GVF Takes an Active Role in the Transit Benefit Parity Status

GVF has been working diligently, in conjunction with the National Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT), in advocating to keep parity among the transit and parking benefit. 

Last year, the transit benefit was increased from $120/month to $230/month, the same as the commuter parking benefit.  This increase allowed hundreds of thousands of workers to use a greater share of their pretax income to pay for commuting, saving them up to $1,000 or more on taxes each year!  This increase also benefited employers through payroll tax savings providing much needed resources for both employers and families during difficult economic times.  This increase also established equity for those who choose to take transit rather than drive to worker encouraging more employees to switch to transit resulting in less congestion, lower energy use and improved air quality.

The transit benefit increase is set to be reduced back to $120/month at the end of this year unless Congress acts to make it permanent. GVF has written several letters of support to legislators encouraging them to support this parity as we feel it is a crucial benefit for our partners and their employees.  

ACT reported that on December 9th, the Senate introduced a revised and negotiated extension of tax cuts. Included in that legislation is a provision which extends parity between transit/vanpool and parking at $230/month for 1-year. The package is expected to be voted on in the Senate early next week and then in the House. There are a number of hurdles which remain, but there are far fewer hurdles today then there were last week. ACT is hopeful that by this time next week we can say that it has officially been approved.

Stay tuned for an update next week!

GVF's Climate Change Task Force Tours Tastykake Factory Tour

GVF's Climate Change Task Force, in collaboration with Liberty Property Trust, offered a complimentary tour of the Tastykake Baking Factory, located in the Philadelphia Navy Yard.  We had over 25 people attend this private guided tour of this green bakery, which was held on Wednesday, December 1st.  In addition to learning fascinating facts on the different sustainability initiatives occuring at this site, the group also received complimentary tastykakes! 

                                

What went into planning this site?
First, Liberty Property Trust and Tastykake took an abandoned industrial site and re-used the buildings as foundation material for the new bakery, which avoided clearing a forest and reduced construction waste.  Secondly, the bakery was built with several features in order to target LEED-Silver certification.  LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and acts as a report card for the environmental friendliness of a building.  Once Tastykake achieves this status, it will be the only baking company in the country with LEED Silver certification.

Below is a picture of one of the LEED standards offered at the site - designated upfront parking for individuals who drive fuel efficient vehicles.  

Moreover, a list of the additional features that are included under LEED standards are:

* A white, reflective roof, which minimizes heat-absorbing surfaces that contribute to global warming.

* No-mow, drought-resistant grass that uses less water.

* All wood doors and half of the wood used in the building come from certified sustainable sources that work to conserve trees.

* Paints and carpeting with low chemical content that reduce ear, nose and throat irritation.

* Refrigeration equipment using environmentally friendly refrigerants to minimize emissions that contribute to global warming.

* Covered parking lot lights that reduce light pollution; bike racks and access to public transportation that reduce vehicle usage and pollution.

* Solar panels on the roof that provide power to several of the building’s systems.

GVF Advocates for Bike Lanes

GVF recently submitted a letter of support to PennDOT requesting that their Bicycle Occupancy Permit (BOP) be amended. 

The Bicycle Occupancy Permit is a document required by PennDOT for a municipality to stripe bicycle lanes on state owned roads.  The municipality desiring bicycle lanes must then be responsible for policing, maintenance (including the removal of snow), and proper traffic signing and marking of the bikeway according to the BOP.  The Bicycle Occupancy Permit is included in Chapter 16 of PennDOT’s Publication 13M (DM-2).  BOP has created unintended confusion and is preventing projects across the state from installing bicycle lanes and facilities.   


GVF along with PEC, PA Walks and Bikes, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, PPAC, Doylestown Borough are among the agencies that have signed on as supporters and are hoping to meet with PennDOT to further discuss this issue. 


As one of the many alternative modes for commuting, biking enables individuals to save money by biking to work, as well as intergrating a healthier way of living.  One program where GVF encourages people to bike to work is with its Bike to Work Challenge, which concluded its second season in August. 


Below is a video of how transportation planners in Portland, Oregon are taking their famous bicycle boulevards to the next level - by adding more routes!  GVF wants to see our region increase bicycle lanes and facilities into its projects and not have them be eliminated because of PennDOT's BOP. 

  

Philadelphia gets grant for electric car chargers

Below is the full article of the recent $140,000 grant Philadelphia will receive to purchase and install chargers for 20 electric vehicles that will serve PhillyCarShare, Zipcar and the public. 



City of Philadelphia Receives Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant from Pennsylvania DEP to Add Electric Vehicles to Local Car Share Fleets

Philadelphia, November 16, 2010 – Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced today that the City of Philadelphia’s Mayor’s Office of Sustainability will receive a $140,000 Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) to purchase and install chargers for 20 electric vehicles (EV) in Philadelphia. The chargers will serve 18 EVs that PhillyCarShare and Zipcar will add to their fleets and provide two parking spaces with charging services available the public. By displacing 18 traditional car share vehicles, the project is expected to cut CO2 emissions by 61,000 pounds per year.

“Greenworks Philadelphia sets a goal to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2015,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “Adding electric vehicles to Philadelphia’s successful car share programs will give thousands of Philadelphia drivers an affordable opportunity to experience new EV technology and help the City reach our ambitious sustainability goals.”

Electric vehicle technology is well suited for car share use because the average car share trip is between 30 and 40 miles long, well within the range of one battery charge. Using EVs in high-mileage fleet settings such as car share programs also increases the environmental benefit of the vehicles by replacing a large number of traditional fuel vehicle miles driven.

The project is an important first step in strengthening Philadelphia’s EV infrastructure. It will help the City understand and improve EV charger installation permitting, give PECO valuable information about how chargers interact with the existing grid, and provide data on how electric vehicles perform in Philadelphia’s weather and traffic conditions.

“This project starts solving the chicken and egg problem by creating an electric car public charging infrastructure that will then encourage people to purchase and use electric cars,” said DEP Secretary John Hanger. “The project also shows that Philadelphia can be a leader in the electric car revolution that will create enormous health, environmental and economic benefits.”

Ever want to see where Tastykakes are made?

GVF’s Climate Change Task Force, with the help of Liberty Property Trust, is offering a tour of the new Tasty Baking Company’s facility located in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. A requirement of both Liberty and Tasty Baking, was to make this project as sustainable as possible. Utilizing the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) specifications, the building is targeting a Silver Certification.

Upon certification, the facility will be the largest LEED® certified bakery in the nation! Sustainable features of the building and the baking process include:

• Responsible construction diverting 90% of waste from landfills
• Use of recycled materials in construction
• Redevelopment of a Brownfield site
• Highly efficient HVAC systems
• An intelligent building automation system
• Rainwater harvesting system used for landscape irrigation
• Low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) materials
• Innovative thermal oil system utilized in the baking process

GVF's Climate Change Task Force is happy to offer this tour, which will take place on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 10:00AM. LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE! Please contact Lauren Peak at 610-354-8899 if you are interested in attending this event. *This event is open to GVF partners only.

GVF’s Climate Change Task Force will be an advocate for its partners by taking proactive measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy costs, protect air quality and public health and improve the environment throughout our region.

The vision of the Task Force is to:

• Provide continuous and up to date information on climate change issues that are affecting our partners and assist with identifying the appropriate steps of action.
• Host roundtable discussions on specific issues and concerns our partners are having and where they would like assistance.
• Work collaboratively with a panel of experts, such as DEP, EPA, DVRPC, Montgomery County and Chester County and other participants, on a variety of issues that will inform our partners on the necessary action items to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

If you are interested in more information on GVF's Climate Change Task Force or the additional services we can assist your business with, please contact Maureen Farrell at 610-354-8899.

GVF to launch Commuter Challenge BINGO!

Founded in 1990, GVF is a not-for-profit organization created to advocate and promote a viable transportation network for the region’s economic vitality. To maximize awareness and develop sustainable support, we partner with public and private entities.


GVF's mission is to achieve a desirable quality of life and a healthy, competitive economic environment by developing multi-faceted transportation strategies.

Beginning January 3, 2011, GVF will be launching a fun and interactive way to change your commuting habits, along with winning some great prizes while doing it called Commuter Challenge Bingo! 

The purpose of the Commuter Challenge is to improve mobility and sustain the environment by utilizing commuting alternatives. GVF encourages all residents of the Delaware Valley to walk, cycle, take transit, carpool, telecommute and/or utilize relevant commuter resources to make commuting easier and more sustainable.


Here’s how it works:

Each participant will receive an electronic bingo card in the form of a PDF that shows different commuting alternatives and ways to improve commuting overall. Once a participant “gets bingo” (completes all of the challenges in straight or diagonal line) they will submit the completed card to GVF. The first 10 participants to submit a completed card will win a prize.

The Challenge will run from January 3, 2011 until March 31, 2011. Cards received prior to the start date or after the end date will not be valid.  Look for another upcoming blog entry with some of the prizes we've secured, as well as more details on the Challenge before we launch it on January 3rd! 

For more information on this Challenge and/or the other programs and services GVF offers, please visit http://www.gvftma.com/ or contact us at 610-354-8899.