Congratulations to Jane Wegscheider!

 
“A Table Set for Forever”
Honoring our Winner

Jane Beatrice Wegscheider 

 
All Contest Submissions

 

 


Trish Crapo


David Maynes


RJ Magoon


Lisa Ganci 


Nicholas Taupier
 

Cassandra Holden and Jill St. Coeur

Owen Williams
 
The Vegan Bus
Derek Goodwin

Jane Beatrice Wegscheider 

Garrett Connelly

Maya Apfelbaum
 
   

Jasmine Stine

 Leslie Cerier
   
Kelly Gallagher Kenneth Leaning
   
Erica Wheeler David Fessenden 

 

 

 

 

Weblinks for Sustainability Information

Here is a list of weblinks where you can find information on sustainability. There are lots of them. Please feel free to contact us to tell us which ones you like and to suggest additional sites–cmiller@pvpc.org. If anyone wants to volunteer to organize them, please contact me. Thank you.

Playbook for Green Buildings and Neighborhoods
The Playbook provides local governments with guidance and resources to rapidly advance green buildings, neighborhoods and infrastructure.

Green Museum
Welcome to the Toolbox for Communities. This introduction is part of an ongoing resource designed to highlight and help encourage public participation in the creation of environmental art. If art is fundamentally about communication, community-based art can help ensure that what gets made fits the people and the place and contributes to a sense of public empowerment.

PV BALLE- Poineer Valley Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
Here in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts we are blessed with great natural beauty and a vibrant local living economy made up of independent businesses, wonderful family farms, educational institutions and active community organizations. It’s a rich and diverse culture and one that the Pioneer Valley Business Alliance for Local Living Economies is dedicated to protecting and strengthening.

Foundation for Global Community
The Foundation for Global Community (FGC) is the current manifestation of a series of prior organizations, all of which have made their contribution, both financially and in terms of a legacy of experience and collected wisdom, to FGC. All these organizations, Sequoia Seminar, Women to Women, Building the Earth, Creative Initiative, Beyond War, and the Foundation for Global Community, have been iterations of a fundamental philosophy.

Sustainability Institute
The Sustainability Institute. We focus on understanding the root causes of unsustainable behavior in complex systems to help restructure systems and shift mindsets that will help move human society toward sustainability. Our staff includes biologists, writers, social scientists, system dynamics modelers, and facilitators bringing a wide variety of experiences and skills to our work.

New American Dream
The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice.

International Institute for Sustainable Development
The International Institute for Sustainable Development, IISD champions sustainable development around the world through innovation, partnerships, research and communications.

ICLEI
ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability
is an international association of local governments and national and regional local government organizations that have made a commitment to sustainable development.

SSNE
Sustainable Step New England helps organizations to grow and thrive within a changing global environment
.

Center for Creative Community Delopment
The Center for Creative Community Development (C3D) – a joint project of Williams College and MASS MoCA made possible through a major grant from the Ford Foundation – will serve as a national focal point for research, education and training on the role of the arts in community re-development.

Center for Ecoliteracy
The Center for Ecoliteracy is dedicated to education for sustainable living.

CERES – Investors and Environmentalists for Sustainable Prosperity
Ceres is the largest coalition of investors, environmental and public interest organizations in North America.

climatestar.org
A partnership of Earth Communications Office and the Union of Concerned Scientists.

CNU – New Urbanism and the Booming Metropolis
The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU)
is the leading organization promoting walkable, neighborhood-based development as an alternative to sprawl.

Rocky Mountain Institute
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) is an independent, entrepreneurial, nonprofit organization. We foster the efficient and restorative use of resources to make the world secure, just, prosperous, and life-sustaining.

The Conservation Economy
The conservation economy pattern map offers a visual guide to the sustainability patterns that provide a framework for developing a conservation economy.

UNEP – Creative Gallery on Sustainability Communications
A creative gallery on sustainability communications–a database of ads from around the world.

Sustainable Business
SustainableBusiness.com provides global news and networking services to help green business grow, covering all sectors: renewable energy, green building, sustainable investing, and organics.

davidsuzuki.org
Since 1990, the David Suzuki Foundation has worked to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that sustains us.

Redifining Progress – The Nature of Economies
Redefining Progress is the nation’s leading public policy think tank dedicated to smart economics. We find solutions that ensure a sustainable and equitable world for future generations.

oneearth.org
A website of inspirational environmental messages.

Ecological and Environmental Economics
A listing of more wesbites related to environmental and ecological economics.

Eco Steps – Sustainability Partner
An Australian website of sustainability consultants.

SEDAC – Environmental Sustainability Index
An Initiative of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy (YCELP) and the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) of Columbia University, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission-provides access to the Sustainability Index.

Futerra Sustainability Communications
Futerra is a communications company. Since 2001 Futerra has built a unique expertise in communicating sustainability with clients such as Sky, Greenpeace, Royal Dutch Shell, Yorkshire Forward, the United Nations and Ben and Jerry’s.

Tufts University
Tufts University Global Development and Environment Institute.

Global Community Initiatives
Global Community Initiatives (GCI) helps communities move forward with confidence and enthusiasm to achieve their vision for a healthy environment, a vibrant economy, good governance, and a sense of connection to their neighbors and the world.

Global Footprint Network
Global footprint network–supporting a sustainable economy by advancing the ecological footprint, a measurement and management tool that makes the reality of planetary limits relevant  to decision-makers throughout the world.

Harvard Innovations – Energy Resources
The Government Innovators Network is a marketplace of ideas and examples of government innovation for policy makers, policy advisors, and practitioners.

Grass Roots Recycling Network
The grassroots recycling network.

Green Media Toolshed
Resources for successful comunications campaigns for the environmental movement.

Fostering Sustainable Behavior
Resource for community-based social marketing–fostering sustainable behavior.

MBDC – Cradle to Cradle Community Forum
MBDC is a product and process design firm dedicated to revolutionizing the design of products and services worldwide. William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart founded MBDC in 1995 to promote and shape what they call the “Next Industrial Revolution” through the introduction of a new design paradigm called Cradle to Cradle Design, and the implementation of eco-effective design principles.

New Ecology Inc.
New Ecology, Inc. (“NEI”) was founded in 1999 to spearhead sustainable development in distressed urban communities in New England.

ImproveNet
A website full of energy conservation calculators.

Sustainable Development Indicators
A website full of links to sustainable development indicator websites and research.

Local Government Commission
The Local Government Commission (LGC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership organization that provides inspiration, technical assistance, and networking to local elected officials and other dedicated community leaders who are working to create healthy, walkable, and resource-efficient communities.

Northeast Recycling Council
Northeast Recycling Council–NERC’s mission is to advance an environmentally sustainable economy by promoting source and toxicity reduction, recycling, and the purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services.

Iowa State University
Measuring Community Success and Sustainability: An Interactive Workbook
was initiated as part of a project by the Aspen Institute’s Rural Economic Policy Program, funded by the Ford Foundation.

Green Communities
Minnesota Green Communities is a collaboration of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, the Family Housing Fund, and Enterprise designed to foster the creation of affordable, healthier, and more energy efficient housing throughout Minnesota.

National Association of Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States.

Arbor Day Foundation – National Tree Trust
The Arbor Day Foundation–inspiring people to plant, celebrate and nurture trees.

U.S. Department of Energy
United States Dept. of Energy– Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website.

Network Weaving
A social network blog about the creation of robust & vibrant economic and community networks… using network mapping, weaving and leadership development.

Sustainable Living Choices
Government of South Australia–sustainable living choices information.

One Day – City of Vancouver
One Day is about taking small steps to reduce energy use, at home and on the road, to make Vancouver the cleanest, greenest, healthiest city in the world.

ACEEE – American Council for and Energy Efficient Economy
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection.

Policy Link
P
olicyLink is a national research and action institute advancing economic and social equity by Lifting Up What Works®

Regional Progress
Provides a forum for measuring the San Francisco Bay Area’s progress toward the achievement of regional sustainability: a healthy environment, vibrant economy, and equitable society. Some of the people involved with the Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network have been thinking we would like to replicate this kind of a resource for our region.

Research Institute for Managing Sustainability
The Research Institute for Managing Sustainability at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration is committed to tackling the societal, political and economic challenges which arise in the context of sustainable development with interdisciplinary approaches in research, education and consulting.

Recource Renewal Institute
The Resource Renewal Institute facilitates the creation, development and implementation of practical strategies to solve the entire complex environmental problem by addressing it comprehensively.

RoadMap 2020
Saskatoon Canada’s road map for sustainability.

Sustainable Communities Network
The sustainable communities network. Communities with the greatest and most diverse citizen participation are often resilient and strong. Engaging citizens to address common issues is essential for educated decision-making. This area provides resources for encouraging civil discourse and involvement.

Score Card
The pollution information site–U.S.
Get an in-depth pollution report for your county, covering air, water, chemicals, and more.

Scottlan’ds Footprint
A resource flow and ecological footprint of Scotland.

Second Nature
Second Nature was founded in Boston in 1993 by a small group of forward-thinking leaders that included Dr. Anthony D. Cortese, Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA), Teresa Heinz Kerry, Bruce Droste, and others. This group sought to establish an organization dedicated to bringing about the change in society that is vital to the success and livelihood of every current and future living being: a change for a just and sustainable future.

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council
The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) was founded by the major building trade associations in 1980 as the Passive Solar Industries Council. While we continue to be an association of associations committed to high-performance design and construction, we have since changed our name to more accurately reflect the full scope of our efforts in the allied fields of architecture, engineering, building systems and materials, product manufacturing, energy analysis, and “whole building” design.

sustainable-development.gov.uk
United Kingdom government webiste to embed, monitor and report on sustainable development across Whitehall and the UK.

Starting Points for Sustainable Development
Best www starting points for sustainable development-many more weblinks!

Sustain Web
Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity

Sustainable Measures
Everything you want to know about indicators of sustainability.

ATA – Alternative Technology Association
The ATA (Alternative Technology Association) is Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisation, promoting sustainable technology and practice in order to protect our environment.

The Commons
The Commons: open society sustainability initiative. An independent platform for new thinking and worldwide collaborative problem solving.

The Conservations Fund
The Conservation Fund is the nation’s foremost environmental nonprofit dedicated to protecting America’s most important landscapes and waterways for future generations.

The New Rules Project
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) proposes a set of new rules that builds community by supporting humanly scaled politics and economics.

Center for Sustainable Innovation
Center for Sustainable Innovation, CSI, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation created in 2004 by its founder, Mark W. McElroy. Its purpose is to conduct research, development, training, and consulting for, and with, companies around the world interested in achieving sustainability in the conduct of human affairs, especially their own.

RE-Sources
RE Sources is a non-profit environmental education organization founded in 1982 as Bellingham Community Recycling, now promotes sustainable communities.

tdrinc.com
What Eugene Tsui has done is create a wholly new paradigm for architectural understanding—that humanity and nature must become design partners to create a world of beauty and noble dignity fit for human beings—and we human beings have a moral obligation to create from the lessons of nature in order that both ourselves and nature can live in beauty and peace; each helping one another with ingenuity and creative insight; the imperative of the 21st century.

Sustainable Development
Worldwide web virtual library on sustainable development.

Tools of Change
Welcome to Tools of Change! This Web site, founded on the principles of community-based social marketing, offers specific tools, case studies, and a planning guide for helping people take actions and adopt habits that promote health and/or are more environmentally-friendly.

Urban Land Institute
The mission of the Urban Land Institute is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide.

COWS – Center of Wisconsin Strategy
Center on Wisconsin STrategy, COWS is a national policy center and field laboratory for high-road economic development — a competitive market economy of shared prosperity, environmental sustainability, and capable democratic government.

Economic Development Council of Western MA
Economic Development Council of western MA–Founded in 1996, the EDC successfully brings together the three-county, Western Massachusetts region’s public and private leadership with one voice to create a positive environment for responsible economic growth.

Wiser Earth
Wiserearth serves the people who are transforming the world. It is a community directory and networking forum that maps and connects non-governmental organizations and individuals addressing the central issues of our day: climate change, poverty, the environment, peace, water, hunger, social justice, conservation, human rights and more.

Cullbridge
CULLBRIDGE™ is a  research, marketing and communications consulting firm focused on social marketing, sustainability, green buikdings and more.

Future Friendly
Future friendly is a new initiative, a partnership between brands and leading sustainability experts, designed to help us do what we do every day in a way that promotes sustainable living without compromising on the performance we expect.

Fixing The Planet

Berkshire Pioneer RC&D

Frequently Asked Questions

 

The Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network is a formalization of many informal networks of  sustainability experts in the area which acts as a vehicle to bridge the gap between practitioners and researchers in the area of sustainable development, with an initial emphasis on sustainable land use and energy use.  

 
Current active participants include representatives from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
        Professor John Gerber – Plant Science and Sustainability Studies         
    
Hilltown Resource Management Cooperative
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Westfield State College–Sustainability program
 
Partnership for a Healthier Springfield
 
 
Pioneer Valley Sustainable Investing Summit
 
SolarWrights
 
Who is a part of the Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network?
A group of leaders in the network, from the organizations listed above, are meeting quarterly staffed by representatives from UMass and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC). Early work includes creating a regional list of value-based sustainability metrics, developing decision-support tools, and educating the public about what sustainability means in the Pioneer Valley.  
 
How can I be a part of the Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network?
The Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network is accessible online. If you would like to be a part of
the network you can:

  • Get Involved! Contact PVPC to learn about the Network
  • Define sustainability! 
    • Engage in an online wiki (editable forum) at pvsustain.com which will provide opportunities to define what sustainable values are shared in the valley, what’s happening and what sustainability means to us (coming soon)
  • Be a leader! Contact PVPC to be a regular representative at quarterly Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network meetings 

What is a Sustainability Metric?
A sustainability metric is a set of quantifiable outcomes to a particular action that can be measured and compared between different projects.  The amount of air pollution created by an action may be an indicator of the sustainability of a particular project and thus be valuable in a set of metrics that seeks to quantify sustainable outcomes.
 
Who do I contact to get involved or find out more?
Contact Catherine Miller at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission

Email: cmiller@pvpc.org
Phone: 413/781-6045