Colleges and universities are taking the lead among institutional real estate owners to green their properties by retrofitting old buildings, building new, greener buildings and planning for sustainable growth. Many have also taken on the educational mission of weaving sustainability throughout their curriculum. PLANYC has been involved in a challenge to the colleges and universities of NYC to reduce carbon emissions and become more sustainable. Join us to find out about the initiatives in place at Pratt and Columbia and at other colleges.

Sponsor: AIA COTE

INTRODUCTION
Pat Sapinsley, AIA, LEED AP, Good Energies

SPEAKERS
Nilda Mesa, Assistant Vice President of Environmental Stewardship, Columbia University . Nilda’s work includes incorporating green building standards into construction and operations, working with green roofs, establishing a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, a surplus reuse program that keeps furniture and equipment out of landfills, as well as organizing recycling and energy competitions and initiatives, and developing energy-saving strategies to reduce carbon emissions. The department was established in the fall of 1996. Prior to joining Columbia, Nilda held various positions in the Clinton/Gore Administration, working with the EPA and the White House Council for Environmental Quality. She was Assistant Deputy for the Environment at the US Air Force and worked in the California Attorney General’s office doing Environmental Law. She is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and is a practicing artist.

Debera Johnson, Academic Director of Sustainability at Pratt Institute where she is also the Director of the Design Incubator for Sustainable/Social Innovation. She served as Chairperson of the Industrial Design department from 1998 through 2005 and remains on the ID Faculty and as chair of the New York City chapter of the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). Debera has recently founded the non-profit “Design in Kind” a collaborative network of designs who work with people doing world changing projects in heath care, education and the environment. She graduated from Pratt with a bachelor’s degree in industrial design in 1986.

Melissa Wright, Policy Advisor on Energy and Special Projects NYC Mayor's Office of Long-Term Planning & Sustainability, PlaNYC 2030. Melissa Wright is a Policy Advisor on Energy and Special Projects with the New York City’s Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability. Melissa’s portfolio includes the development of citywide sustainability metrics, management of the Mayoral Challenge to local universities and other institutions in reducing their carbon emissions, expansion of lighting training resources, and other energy and broad sustainability initiatives. Before joining the Bloomberg Administration, Melissa worked for a regional urban planning and land conservation organization in the San Francisco Bay Area. Melissa is a graduate of Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and Oberlin College.

Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 6:00–8:00pm

Location: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place (north of Bleecker Street)

RSVP: AIA-NY Member Price-Free, Nonmember Price-$20

AIA New York Chapter CES LUs: 1.5, CES HSW: 1.5

On July 17, 2008, Al Gore challenged America to produce 100% of its energy from renewable, clean, and carbon-free sources in 10 years. What does this challenge means for New York City? We need to break the mold and push our thinking toward a greater sense of urgency, based on current scientific understanding of impending climate change. As "First City" to the world, New York can show how to leap ahead in dealing with renewable energy production and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

Sponsors: Green Science and Environmental Systems, a PS&E program at the New York Academy of Sciences Environmental Sciences Section

Moderator: George Hendrey, Queens College, CUNY

Speakers:
Klaus Lackner, Columbia University;
Sanjoy Banerjee, The City College of New York/CUNY;
Charles Komanoff; Komanoff Engineering Association

RSVP: NYAS

Reception To Follow.

Don't miss Considering the Cost and Benefits of Nuclear Power: Pros and Cons of New Plants.

Today, the challenges of global warming, geo-strategic problems of access to fossil fuels and increasing world-wide demand for energy resources have ignited renewed controversy and a new sense of urgency over questions about expanding our reliance on nuclear power plants.

Sponsors: The Sallan Foundation, the Energy, Environmental Law and International Law Committees of the New York City Bar Association, and the Environmental Law Institute are event sponsors.

Introduction: Edna Sussman, Houget, Newman Regal & Kenney, LLP

Panelists:
An International Perspective
Maggie Lemmerman, Energy Policy Advisor, Global Issues Group, British Embassy, Washington, DC

Pro's and Con's of New Domestic Nuclear Energy
Robert Alvarez, Senior Scholar, Institute for Policy Studies
Carey W. Fleming, Senior Counsel, Constellation Energy Nuclear Group LLC
Dr. Edwin Lyman, Senior Staff Scientist, Global Security Program, Union of Concerned Scientists
Caren Byrd, Executive Director, Morgan Stanley, Investment Banking Division

Moderator: Eileen Millet, Gibbons PC

Closing Remarks: Nancy Anderson, Ph.D., Sallan Foundation

Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 8-11:30 am (with breakfast 8:30- 9 am)

Location: New York City Bar Association, Great Hall, 42 West 44th Street

RSVP: The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register, e-mail Judith Wallace, wallace@clm.com. For any additional information, please contact Chris Fazio, fazio@clm.com or 212.238.8754