Community Programs
Community Outreach Projects
Open to all Pitt undergraduate and graduate students this annual competition challenges University of Pittsburgh students to work collectively on service-oriented projects designed to implement solutions to environmental problems to benefit the university and/ or greater community. Projects are judged on their ability to create public awareness of sustainability issues, improve quality of life in our region and feature a strong public outreach or education element. View 2011-2012 RFP>
2010-2011 Winner: "Stormwater Solutions: Pitt Community Rain Garden"
View additional pictures of the Rain Garden>
View 2009-2010 Winners>
Energy Efficient Building Technologies Challenge
This annual contest sponsored by MCSI asks undergraduate students from universities in Southwestern Pennsylvania to create a technique for “greening” residential or commercial buildings that carry a low-price tag and a quick payoff.
2010-2011 Winners
1st place ($5,000 prize) “TurboFlow”
2nd Place ($2,500 prize) “The Green Space Heater”
3rd Place ($1,000 prize) “Energy Efficient Water Heating System for Existing Buildings”
4th Place ($200 prize) “Development of an Application for Crowd-Sourced Energy Management"
View 2009 Winners>
Curriculum Development
Phelps Architecture, Construction & Engineering High School (Wash., DC)
A group of MCSI graduate students teach 9th grade workshop on green schools
Mt. Lebanon High School
Students depict the use of renewable energy— the sun and wind—in creative, hands-on projects.
Powdermill Nature Reserve
Visitors learn about the green and sustainable technologies found in the new Powdermill Headquarters Building.
Community Collaborations
Carmalt Academy of Science and Technology
Carmalt Academy of Science and Technology is an ideal learning environment infusing science and technology across the curriculum.
Urban Youth Action (UYA)
MCSI partnered with Urban Youth Action (UYA) to present a series of green lectures to provide 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students a general understanding of sustainability principles.
Manchester Academic Charter School (MACS)
Sustainable Schools Competition
MCSI was delighted to work with the Manchester Academic Charter School http://www.macsk8.org/ on our first sustainable schools competition.
MCSI partners with Kingsley Association
The Kingsley Association is located in the Larimer neighborhood of Pittsburgh, part of the city’s East End and representing 12% of the total population.
Ceramic Filter Project
MCSI faculty and students are working on the development and implementation of low-cost ceramic water filters for poor communities around the world.
350.org
Students, faculty, and staff partnered with a neighborhood tree planting and two Western Pennsylvania Conservancy community gardens on October 24th in a day of service.
Future City Competition
Mentors help seventh- and eighth-graders present their visions of a city of the future.
Vandergrift Improvement Project
Local citizens grow the town of Vandergrift using principles of sustainability.
Carnegie Science Center Exhibit
Building Green gives young people a hands-on opportunity to learn about green design and its impact on human health and the environment.
Phipps’ Center for Sustainable Landscapes
Phipps works on designs for a building that generates all of its own energy, treats its own water, and uses resources efficiently.
Connect to Excellence
Hosted by the Carnegie Science Center, MCSI faculty serve as mentors to middle school students interested in learning about the importance of green building and sustainability.
