Solar Energy 101

Does solar really work in Pittsburgh? How much does solar cost? What does energy independence mean? Ron Berman of SUNWPA will answer these questions at his presentation at the Peters Township Public Library on Thursday, May 15 at 7:00 p.m.

Register to attend this free program by emailing programs@ptlibrary.org or call 724.941.9430.

Learn if solar could be an option for you from a solar owner who generates 100% of his electricity from the sun. SUNWPA Organizational Members are comprised of the region’s leading solar installation and development companies, support businesses, solar owners, non-profit organizations and solar enthusiasts devoted to proliferating solar in Western PA through awareness, education and legislative advocacy. This program is being hosted by the library’s GO Green Club.

The Great Halloween Costume Swap

Green will the new orange this year at the GO Green Club's “Great Halloween Costume Swap” at the library. Instead of purchasing new costumes each year, the group aims to encourage the community to swap their slightly used costumes to save resources, packaging, transportation costs, and money.

On Friday, October 4, from 3 – 5 p.m. drop off your used but in GREAT condition costumes at the library and get a token for the swap. Come back to the library on Saturday, October 5 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. with your token and shop for your swap.

Volunteers are needed both days to help with the swap. Email ptplgogreenclub@gmail.com to volunteer or for more information.

For more ideas to have a Green Halloween, visit http://www.greenhalloween.org.

Energy Audits: The path to a safe, healthy & comfortable

Have you ever wondered how energy efficient your home is? A recent study of 100,000 homes found that 85% have critical problems adversely impacting the health, safety, comfort and affordability of their occupants.

On Wednesday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. the library will host "Energy Audits: The Path to a Safe, Healthy, and Comfortable Home." In this 30-minute presentation, Richard Rothaar of Conservation Consultants, Inc. will share some of the common health and safety problems found in homes, and explain the benefits of receiving a home energy and safety audit. Everyone attending will receive a $25.00 discount towards an ENERGY STAR audit and a CFL light bulb to begin immediate energy savings.

Conservation Consultants, Inc. is a 501© 3 non-profit organization whose mission is to promote responsible energy and resource use in homes and buildings.

This program is sponsored by the Peters Township Public Library GO Green Club. Register for this program online, at the library's circulation desk or call 724-941-9430.

Earth Day film screening of DIRT! The Movie

The Peters Township Public Library’s GO Green Club will celebrate Earth Day by hosting a free film screening of DIRT! The Movie on Sunday, April 21 at 3:00 p.m. in the library’s Reading Room. DIRT! The Movie is an insightful and timely film that tells the story of the glorious and unappreciated material beneath our feet. One teaspoon of dirt contains a billion organisms working in remarkable balance to maintain and sustain a series of complex, thriving communities that impact our daily lives. The film takes a humorous and substantial look into the history and current state of the living organic matter that we come from and will later return to. Watch the trailer for the film.

Register to attending the screening by emailing programs@ptlibrary.org or call 724-941-9430.

Choosing your best natural cosmetics

Do you know what is in the products your children are using on their skin? What about the ingredients in your makeup? Choosing natural cosmetics is a smart decision for your health and for the health of our planet. Learn more about the products you are currently using and if there may be a better choice available for you. Peters Township Public Library’s GO Green Club will host “Choosing Your Best Natural Cosmetics and Skin Products” on Saturday, February 23 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.


GO GREEN Club member Pam Kuhn will be providing an overview of the newly revised Environmental Working Group (EWG) web site, whose mission is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment. Persons attending the program are asked to bring a cosmetic or skin product with them that they would like to learn more about.

Register for this program online call 724-941-9430.

Off On Our Own: Living Off-Grid in Comfortable Independence

Did the damage on the East Coast caused by superstorm Sandy this week leave you wondering how you would manage without power?

On Saturday, November 3 at 1:00 p.m., the GO GREEN Club will welcome Ted and Kathy Carns. Their home, the Stone Camp, is said to be the most isolated dwelling in Pennsylvania's Southwest Division. The Carns basically produce most of their own power through their unique lifestyle. They are living a 21st century success story of zero waste, total recycling and astonishing inventiveness. Their five-acre home in western Pennsylvania is a warm, inviting showcase of self-reliant living. They have all the comforts of modern life, from flat screen TV to morning smoothies from their solar-powered blender. Ted is the author of "Off On Our Own: Living Off-Grid in Comfortable Independence."

Learn more about the Carns' 36 year evolution to an off grid, self sufficient, sustainable lifestyle by visiting their web site. Their recently published book, "Off On Our Own", will be available for sale ($17.95) and signing after the program. Register to attend this program online, at the library's circulation desk or call 724-941-9430.

Read more about Ted and Kathy in this article in the Post-Gazette http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/westmoreland-county-couple-reuse-recycle-live-totally-off-the-grid-660095/.

Choosing Your Best Natural Cosmetics program postponed

Due to the unavailability of the Environmental Working Group web site, we will need to reschedule the "Natural Cosmetics" program to another date. Check this blog for more information about when we will be able to offer this program.

Choosing Your Best Natural Cosmetics and Skin Products

Choosing natural cosmetics is a smart decision for your health and for the health of our planet. Learn more about the products you are currently using and if there may be a better choice available for you. Peters Township Public Library’s GO Green Club will host “Choosing Your Best Natural Cosmetics and Skin Products” on Saturday, October 20 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at the library.

GO Green Club member Pam Kuhn will be providing an overview of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) web site, whose mission is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment. Persons attending the program are asked to bring a cosmetic or skin product with them that they would like to learn more about. Register for this program online or call 724-941-9430.

3rd Annual Local Foods Potluck Dinner

Celebrate the season’s bounty at the 3rd Annual Local Foods Potluck Dinner at the Peters Township Public Library on Friday, August 3 at 6:30 p.m. The event is being hosted by the library’s GO Green Club and Cooking Club and is open to the community.

Attendees are asked to bring a potluck dish to share made with locally grown foods or some samples from their home gardens. Bring along your recipe to share with the group.

Register online or at the library’s circulation desk by Wednesday, August 1, 2012. For more information, email the GO Green Club.

GO Green Camp for Kids

To introduce young children to green lifestyle choices, the Peters Township Public Library’s GO Green Club will host a new GO Green Camp for Kids at the library on June 12, 13 and 14 from 10:00 a.m. to noon each day. The camp is free and open to children entering grades 3 through 5 in the fall. Registration at the library circulation desk is required as space is limited.

The 3-day camp for kids will offer a different “green” topic each day, and participants can sign up for one, two or all three days of the program. Themes for each day of the camp will include:

Tuesday, June 12: Day One will be all about the WATER CYCLE, featuring speaker Josie Posti from Pennsylvania American Water Company. Featuring the story of our water cycle, an interactive watershed model, creating water cycle bracelets, and a water taste test, you will never think about a glass of water the same way again.

Wednesday, June 13: In Day Two, you will find out RECYCLING from Scott Dellinger from Greenstar. Where does all that stuff you put in your green recycling bin end up? What should you be putting in the bin anyway? Also, GO Green Club member Angie Phares will explain how to turn your food scraps and other materials into wonderful compost – with a little help from some friendly worms.

Thursday, June 14: In Day Three, you will learn all about LOCAL FOODS – and we don’t mean what you buy at the supermarket! You will plant seeds, taste local foods, and prepare simple recipes with Erin Hart of American HealthCare Group. Ms. Hart is also the Director of Farm to Table Pittsburgh. Have you ever visited a local farmer’s market? Find out where you can go to get fresh, local food that tastes great and is SO good for you. Bring a healthy appetite to this program.

Are you a high school student interested in helping with this camp? Email the club, and you will be contacted with more details about volunteering at the GO Green Camp for Kids.

Celebrate Earth Day 2012!

Make a seed necklace, listen to a celebrity storytime, join in a family sing-a-long , and learn how to live your life “greener” at Celebrate Earth Day 2012 at the Peters Township Public Library on Sunday, April 22 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The afternoon of family-friendly activities is being hosted by the library’s GO Green Club.

Kicking off the day’s events at 1:00 p.m. will be a celebrity storytime with Scott Blasey, lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist for Pittsburgh-based rock band The Clarks. Blasey will read The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, followed by a family sing-a-long. Immediately following, those attending can spend their afternoon learning how to live a greener more sustainable life through hands-on activities, games, displays, and library materials in the Meeting Room on the 1st floor.

At 3:00 p.m. a free screening of the film “Bag It!” will be offered in the 2nd floor Reading Room. The documentary follows the story of an average guy who makes a resolution to stop using plastic bags at the grocery store. Little does he know that this simple decision will change his life completely. No registration is necessary for the afternoon drop-in events. To attend the film screening, please register online, at the library's circulation desk, or call 724-941-9430.

Families are encouraged to bring their empty ink cartridges to be recycled, and there will be free earth-friendly giveaways for program participants.


The Peters Township Public Library GO Green Club was established in January 2010 with a mission to provide the community with educational resources through programs, library materials, and volunteer activities to help create a more environmentally- friendly and responsible lifestyle. For more information about the club, email ptplgogreenclub@gmail.com.

"TAPPED" - A look at the Big Business of bottle water

Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right, or a commodity that should be bought and sold like any other article of commerce? Stephanie Soechtig's debut feature, “Tapped,” is an unflinching examination of the big business of bottled water. The Peters Township Public Library’s GO Green Club will offer a free screening of the film on Friday, October 21 at 6:30 p.m. The film will be followed by a presentation by Josephine Posti, External Affairs Specialist from Pennsylvania American Water, who will discuss who Pennsylvania American Water is, where your water comes from, how it is treated and the value of drinking water.

From the producers of Who Killed the Electric Car and I.O.U.S.A., this timely documentary is a behind-the-scenes look into the unregulated and unseen world of an industry that aims to privatize and sell back the one resource that ought never to become a commodity: our water. Register for this after-hours program online, visit the library circulation desk, or call 724.941.9430.

From the plastic production to the ocean in which so many of these bottles end up, this inspiring documentary trails the path of the bottled water industry and the communities which were the unwitting chips on the table. A powerful portrait of the lives affected by the bottled water industry, this revelatory film features those caught at the intersection of big business and the public's right to water.

Director Stephanie Soechtig began her career ten years ago producing documentaries for 20/20, Primetime Live, produced for Good Morning America covering the 2000 presidential elections and worked with ABC's long-form unit to produce "Planet Earth" hosted by Leonardo DiCaprio. She then brought her documentary skills to Fox News Channel where she produced network specials for Bill O'Reilly before moving on to produce his daily show, The O’Reilly Factor.

2nd Annual Local Foods Potluck Dinner

A celebration of locally grown foods will take place at the Peters Township Public Library on Friday, August 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the 2nd Annual Local Foods Potluck Dinner. The event is being hosted by the library’s GO Green Club and Cooking Club.

Attendees are asked to bring a potluck dish to share made with locally grown or produced foods or some samples of the bounty from their home gardens. During the dinner, Liz Kanche from American HealthCare Group will discuss “Eating Locally in Western Pennsylvania.” American HealthCare Group has sponsored the Farm to Table Conference in Pittsburgh for the past 5 years.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has identified a 16% increase in the number of operating farmers markets from 2009 to 2010. "Seeing such continued strong growth in the number of U.S. farmers markets indicates that regional food systems can provide great economic, social and health benefits to communities across the country," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Farmers markets provide fresh, local products to communities across the country while offering economic opportunities for many producers of all sizes." Pennsylvania ranks in the top ten states with the most farmers markets.

Register online to attend the potluck dinner or at the library’s circulation desk by Monday, August 1, 2011.

Electronic Recycling Station now open!

In cooperation with eLoop, we now have an electronic recycling drop off facility at the Peters Township Public Works Department at 750 Bebout Road (at the entrance to Peterswood Park.). Electronics (TV’s, Computers, Monitors, Printers, Toasters, Stereos, Coffee makers, etc.) can be dropped of Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. –11a.m. and  noon-3p.m. You must call 724-941-6161 in advance to ensure someone will be there. All computers will have their hard drive destroyed. The Township has entered into this partnership with eLoop in preparation for the January 2012 statewide prohibition of placing electronics in with your garbage. You can read a complete list of items that can be dropped off. This is a free program to the public. All township residents are encouraged to use this facility now and not wait until the state mandate. Waste Management will be continuing to collect these items throughout this year, but it would be better for the environment to recycle these items.

Two Summer Programs With Candy DeBerry!

Dr. Candy DeBerry, Associate Professor of Biology at Washington and Jefferson College, returns to the Peters Township Public Library to present two free programs focusing on pollination in gardening.

Programs to be offered by Dr. DeBerry include:
“Plant Sex: How The Birds and the Bees Are Responsible for One-Third of the Food You Eat (and What You Can Do to Help Them)” on Thursday, July 28 at 7 p.m. will explain what pollination is, why it is important, which animals pollinate plants, and how your garden can support pollinators. Register online to attend or at the library's circulation desk.

“Plants for the Pollinator Garden” will be offered on Thursday, August 25 at 7 p.m. What brings joy to your garden? Hummingbirds darting among the blossoms? Butterflies flittering above the flowers? The deep drone of busy bumblebees? Bumper crops of tomatoes, squash, raspberries and watermelon? The secret to obtaining all of these will be revealed in this workshop - the very best plants to grow to attract pollinators. Register online to attend or at the library's circulation desk.

These programs are sponsored by the library's GO Green Club.

"Pennsylvania's leading industry – agriculture – is dependent on the work of insects that pollinate 80 percent of the world's crops," explains Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture George Greig. "One-third of the food we eat is a direct result of pollination, so it is critical to remind all citizens they can and should play a role in protecting declining pollinator populations that set fruit and produce seeds for the future."

Candy DeBerry is an associate professor in the Department of Biology and faculty advisor to Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society. She is also a member of the Biochemistry Steering Committee. She regularly teaches general biology, freshman cell biology workshop, cell biology, biochemistry, biochemistry seminar, and experimental biology. Dr. DeBerry is also passionate about ecological gardening, and her property is certified as Backyard Wildlife Habitat #48,3330 by the National Wildlife Federation and listed as a Bird Habitat by the Audubon Society of Pennsylvania.

Recycle your empty ink cartridges at the library!

Did you know in North America, over 350 million cartridges are thrown out each year, and it can take as long as 450 years for a cartridge to decompose in a landfill?

Bring your empty ink jet or laser cartridges to the library and drop them in the blue and yellow Cartridge World collection box in the main lobby. The library will receive a small cash award for each name-brand cartridge that is collected. Do something good for your community and your library!

Peters Township - We need to step-up our game!

In case you were not aware, there is a recycling competition going on in our area! Ten South Hills communities are taking part in the competition: Mt. Lebanon, Scott, Peters, Dormont, Upper St. Clair, Brentwood, Pleasant Hills, Baldwin, South Park and Jefferson Hills.

Read more about the contest in this article from the Post-Gazette!

We are looking for volunteers to help at Community Day this Saturday, June 25! We will be directing Community Day visitors to special bins that will be collecting recycleables that day and educating the community about how they can recycle materials from home everyday. Please email us if you can help for an hour or two on Saturday!

Going Solar in Peters Township

Thinking about solar panels for your home? This article from the Observer-Reporter discusses two families in Peters Township that have installed solar panels at their home and the benefits they are reaping as a result!

Hard to Recycle Collection on Saturday, June 11

In case you missed the Hard to Recycle Collection at Steel City Harley Davidson, the next Hard to Recycle collection is being held Saturday, June 11th at the parking lot of Mall at Robinson. See the attached event flyer for more details. Thanks, Jennifer, for forwarding the information to us!

Organic Lawn Care

With all the rain we have had in the area this spring, there is barely time to cut the grass! Hopefully the weather will improve soon, and we will be able to get outside to work in our yards and gardens.

The subject of organic lawn care has come up several times at our GO Green Club meetings, so I thought I would share this article from the Post-Gazette that I came across - "Lessen your carbon footprint with organic lawn care" by Mykie Reidy. It contains alot of good information about overseeding, good lawn mowing practices, and why go organic for your lawn care.

Take a look at the article now and you will be ready to "go green" when the sun shines again!




Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11104/1139063-47.stm#ixzz1MoTFhkus