Discover Local Green BusinessesRegional Causes
Get Involved with Regional Causes
Air
According to the American Lung Association's "State of the Air 2011" report, Pittsburgh ranked as the third most polluted metropolitan area for short-term particle pollution. These organizations are working toward getting Pittsburgh off the list entirely.
Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, Penn Future: A high profile environmental group concerned with a broad spectrum of environmental issues
Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP): Southwestern Pennsylvania citizens' group working for a healthy, sustainable environment since 1969
Animals and Wildlife
Pittsburgh is home to the highest concentration of animal charities of any market. These nonprofits offer lovers of animals and wildlife a vast array of ways to get involved through voluntarism and education.
Animal Friends: Mission to ensure the wellbeing of companion animals, while ending overpopulation, abuse, and unwarranted euthanasia
Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania: Works for the betterment of animals, domestic and wild
Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania: Inspires and educates the people of southwestern Pennsylvania to be respectful and responsible stewards of the natural world
Burgh Bees: Dedicated to the promotion of urban beekeeping
Pittsburgh National Aviary: Home to over 600 birds of more than 200 different species, many rare or endangered in the wild
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Oversees, educates, and conserves Pennsylvania’s wildlife and natural resources, including forests, trails, and rivers
Pennsylvania Game Commission: Managing Pennsylvania wildlife and its habitat for current and future generations
Pittsburgh Zoo: A vibrant conservation organization with projects in Pittsburgh and throughout the world
Western Pennsylvania Humane Society: A network of open-door shelters that will never turn away an animal in need and offers training, education, volunteer and foster opportunities
Buildings
As of December 2007, Pittsburgh ranked 5th among cities with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings. This is thanks, in part, to our strong network for sustainable building organizations and community development nonprofits working to create stronger neighborhoods
Community Design Center of Pittsburgh: Offers education, advocacy, and technical assistance to encourage awareness of the built environment and its critical contributions to public life
Green Building Alliance: Advances economic prosperity and human well-being by driving market demand for green buildings and green building products
Community Development
Every community in Pittsburgh offers its own set of challenges and strengths. Community development organizations aim to build a better environment through advocacy and policy
GTECH (Growth Through Energy and Community Health): Social enterprise growing new opportunities to fuel sustainable community development
Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group: A coalition of community leaders working for economic justice, equitable investment practices and sufficient financial resources to revitalize communities throughout Allegheny County
Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development (PPND): Supports the revitalization of the Pittsburgh region's distressed neighborhoods into desirable and diverse communities by raising funds and leveraging opportunities to participate in the regional economy.
Sustainable Pittsburgh: Affects decision-making in the Pittsburgh region to integrate economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental quality to provide sustainable solutions to communities and businesses
Food and Agriculture
Western Pennsylvania enjoys a climate ideal for gardening and farming, yet many families still do not get enough to eat. These nonprofits are working to localize food production and share the harvest to keep the community and the economy healthy.
Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank: Collects and distributes food through a 380+ member network in 11 counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania
Grow Pittsburgh: Envisions the day when growing and eating healthy, local food is commonplace by demonstrating, teaching and promoting responsible urban food production
Healcrest Urban Community Farm: Providing Pittsburgh with green opportunities and education for school-aged children and their families. Serves Garfield and East End area with educational programs
Just Harvest: Works in Allegheny County to end hunger and poverty by advocating, organizing and serving the community
Pittsburgh Public Market: The Public Market in the Strip District encourages environmentalism and economic growth by gathering local farmers in one place in the historic Strip District
Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture: Transforming agriculture and food systems in a way that makes Pittsburgh farmers more viable to improve the land and restore the wellbeing of all citizens
Energy
Energy is universal and everybody's cause. These organizations educate the public on efficient usage, as well as promote the production of clean, sustainable energy in Western Pennsylvania.
Diagnostic Energy Auditors of Western Pennsylvania: A network of diagnostic energy efficiency professionals who complete performance-based energy audits on residential and commercial buildings based on the highest standards of Resnet/ BPI and Energy Star
Energy Alliance of Greater Pittsburgh: Advocates for policies that will encourage green energy industries to flourish in Western Pennsylvania by attracting investors and encouraging commercialization of local innovations
West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF): Promotes the adoption of clean energy technologies through PA Home Energy
Land Use
Land is a finite resource, and using it efficiently and successfully builds stronger neighborhoods and environments. These organizations keep the land of Western Pennsylvania healthy.
Allegheny Land Trust: Helps county residents save local land that contributes to the scenic, recreational, educational, and environmental wealth of our communities
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy: The Parks Conservancy has raised nearly $50 million toward park improvements to preserve thriving city green spaces
Student Conservation Association: Engages local high school students in environmental education, conservation service in local parks, and green jobs training
Tree Pittsburgh: Dedicated to enhancing the City's vitality by restoring and protecting City trees
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy: Protects and restores exceptional places to provide our region with clean waters and healthy forests, wildlife and natural areas for the benefit of present and future generations
Recreation
Camping, kayaking, hiking—Pittsburgh has it all. These organizations help people enjoy the beautiful outdoor environments that Western Pennsylvania has to offer.
American Rivers: Protecting and restoring rivers and clean water in the Mid-Atlantic
Venture Outdoors: Working to make it easy for you to get outside into safe outdoor environments
Recycling and Reuse
Sustainable practices begin with reducing waste sent to landfills and breaking the cradle to grave cycle. These organizations encourage the elimination of waste through the recycling and reuse of materials and resources.
Construction Junction: Promotes conservation by keeping usable building materials out of landfills and providing them to consumers at a very low cost
Global Links: Improving health and promoting environmental stewardship by offering an alternative to disposal of still-useful surplus medical equipment, supplies and furnishings for reuse in resource-poor communities locally and abroad.
Pennsylvania Resources Council: A state and national leader in waste reduction and recycling. Focuses on litter and visual blight prevention, watershed awareness, and composting
Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse: Mission is to promote resource conservation, creativity, and community engagement through material reuse
Restore: The Habitat for Humanity ReStore sells reusable house building and home improvement materials to the public
Transportation
Pittsburgh is an incredibly walkable and bike-friendly city. These organizations help expand Western Pennsylvania's sustainable transportation options.
Bike Pittsburgh: Envisioning our city as a thriving metropolis built on a dynamic multimodal transportation network that facilitates biking throughout the city
Three Rivers EVA: Dedicated to the promotion of electric-drive technology and to the support of owners of electric vehicles.
Free Ride: A bicycle educational facility with repair services and classes
Water
With three beautiful rivers, Pittsburgh has no shortage of water. These organizations work to keep our fresh waters clean and improve our aging sewer systems.
Clean Water Action: A one million-member organization of diverse people and groups joined together to protect our environment, health, economic wellbeing and community quality of life
Nine Mile Run Watershed Association: Works to ensure the restoration and protection of the Nine Mile Run Watershed through citizen engagement, demonstration projects, and advocacy
Pennsylvania Environmental Council: Protects and restores the natural and built environments through innovation, collaboration, education, and advocacy. Believes in the value of partnerships with the private sector, government, communities, and individuals
Three Rivers Rain Garden Alliance: Working together to encourage and facilitate the installation of rain gardens as one method of addressing the combined sewage overflow (CSO) and other wet weather runoff issues that plague Southwestern Pennsylvania
Three Rivers Wet Weather: Committed to improving the quality of Allegheny County's water resources by helping communities address the issue of untreated sewage and storm water overflowing into the region's waterways
