Seven in Philadelphia Region Honored for Environment
News March 4th, 2008
Seven in Philadelphia region honored for environment
A regional tree-planting effort, a youth group that refurbishes bicycles, and a solar-home builder are among seven regional “sustainability innovators” recognized last night by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.This was the second year for the awards program, designed to “celebrate these leaders and encourage more to follow,” said Patrick Starr, vice president of the organization’s southeast region.
Fourteen finalists were selected from 47 nominees representing facets of “sustainability,” from the environment to economic and social justice.
Hal Taussig, founder of the Untours travel business in Media, received the lifetime achievement award. Taussig’s Untours Foundation has given more than $5 million in low-interest loans to economically deprived entrepreneurs locally and worldwide.
Other winners are:
Treevitalize, a regional program through which more than 20,000 trees have been planted.
Wissahickon Charter School, where students - most of them minorities or from low-income families - learn environmental stewardship in urban settings. The middle school helps make 2,000 gallons of biofuel a year.
Neighborhood Bike Works, through which Philadelphia youths reclaimed 20 tons of bicycles last year and refurbished 800.
Philadelphia builder Don Bradley, who specializes in solar and zero-energy homes.
Willingboro Public Library, designed to remediate a brownfield site. It is part of the municipality’s master plan, which showed how a redeveloped building can anchor a diverse town center.
Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, a community of 100 people, some with disabilities, in Chester County. It incorporates an organic garden and dairy, solar power, a constructed wetlands wastewater system, and geothermal heating and cooling.
The awards were announced during a ceremony at the Convention Center timed to the annual Philadelphia Flower Show.
For more on the Philadelphia Sustainability Awards, go to http://go.philly.com/sustainabilityFor more on Hal Taussig’s work, go to http://go.philly.com/taussig
Contact staff writer Sandy Bauers at 215-854-5147 or sbauers@phillynews.com.