The EIC is even greener with Penn State Center tree wells

Day by day our tenants and collaborators are making the Energy Innovation Center even greener! Last week our tenants at the Penn State Center hosted what to some observers, this may have looked like a ribbon-cutting ceremony for trees. In fact, the event celebrated the EIC’s new tree wells, part of a project led by The Penn State Center – Pittsburgh. Tree wells are used for stormwater management: by capturing and directing stormwater to trees, these wells help reduce runoff and transform pollutants into less harmful substances.

Read the announcement from The Penn State Center – Pittsburgh about this project below.

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Recently completed by The Penn State Center – Pittsburgh, the Green Infrastructure: Energy Innovation Center project echoes the Allegheny County Conservation District mission: “The Allegheny County Conservation District is an urban conservation district that engages and leads through partnerships, innovation, and implementation to conserve, promote, and improve Allegheny County’s natural resources” in that this project is embedded in a very urban area with numerous identified partners promoting conservation of water resources and natural ecology through green infrastructure.

On behalf of its project partners, Pittsburgh Green Innovators, Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation, Sports and Exhibition Authority, City of Pittsburgh Public Works, and Hill House Association, The Penn State Center held a ribbon cutting event, Tuesday, September 22, 2015 for the completion of the two demonstration stormwater tree wells along Bedford Avenue flanking the original entrance to the Connelley Trade School.  This event was attended by, among others, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald who participated in cutting the ribbon.

The Allegheny County Conservation District grant funds Penn State Center – Pittsburgh received to install the Green Infrastructure:  Energy Innovation Center project, were not only dedicated to the actual infrastructure of amended soil, native trees and plants but to create educational signage and marketing messages highlighting the project and promoting benefits of green infrastructure.  In addition, monitoring equipment was incorporated to assess the performance of the installation while data continues to be gathered today.