Phipps Conservatory Receives 2023 Green Power Leadership Award

For Immediate Release: Wed., Sept. 27
Contact: Joe Reed | Senior Director of Communications
412-622-6915, ext. 3801 | jreed@phipps.conservatory.org 

Phipps Conservatory Receives 2023 Green Power Leadership Award
The Climate Toolkit Gains Recognition at the Renewable Energy Markets 2023 Conference

Pittsburgh, PA — On Tues., Sept. 19, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens was awarded a Green Power Leadership Award at the Renewable Energy Markets (REM) 2023 Conference in Washington, D.C., accepted by Phipps President and CEO Richard Piacentini. These awards are presented by Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Phipps’ award was in the category of Leadership in Education and recognized the creation of The Climate Toolkit.  

The Climate Toolkit, launched in 2020, is a collaborative opportunity for museums (which includes public gardens, zoos and aquaria) who want to learn how to aggressively address climate change within their own organizations and inspire the communities they serve to follow their lead. Currently, the Climate Toolkit embraces thirty-two goals for addressing climate change within the categories of energy, food service, transportation, plastics, landscapes and horticulture, investments, visitors and research. To date, 127 institutions serving more than 65,500,000 annual visitors have joined the Climate Toolkit. To learn more about The Climate Toolkit, visit climatetoolkit.org.

“The Climate Toolkit provides an important network for museums to share, mentor, and learn from each other so that they can find ways to address climate change that make sense for themselves and their communities,” says Phipps President and CEO Richard Piacentini. “We’re honored to receive the Green Power Leadership Award, which creates further motivation among our national and international partners to continue to demonstrate the important impact museums can have in the world.”

Green Power Leadership Awards (GPLAs) span the renewable energy industry, recognizing leaders and organizations that prioritize green power development. “Our 2023 Green Power Leadership Award Winners are leaders not just in renewable energy use themselves,” said Jennifer Martin, executive director of CRS, which co-presents the annual awards with the U.S. EPA. “but they are also taking a leadership role in ensuring access to clean energy for underserved communities, and educating consumers about the importance of the transition to clean energy. We are proud to honor their hard work and commitment today.”

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About Phipps: Founded in 1893, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA is a globally recognized green leader with a mission to inspire and educate all with the beauty and importance of plants; to advance sustainability and promote human and environmental well-being through action and research; and to celebrate its historic glasshouse. Encompassing 15 acres including a historic 14-room glasshouse, 23 distinct indoor and outdoor gardens and industry-leading sustainable architecture and operations, Phipps attracts more than half a million visitors annually from around the world. Learn more at phipps.conservatory.org.

Watch TEDx: What We Can Learn From an Old Glasshouse: A look at the evolving way we connect people to nature at Phipps, demonstrate how human and environmental health are inextricably connected, and show that to age gracefully, we must continually reinvent ourselves to evolve with the rest of the world.