SEF Blog

ALLENTOWN, PA., June 26, 2017 – Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski will present a conference breakout session at Energypath 2017 on July 27 at DeSales University. His session will take place from 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.

Mayor Pawlowski will discuss the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda and how his participation is strengthening Allentown and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “Climate change is real and the evidence is there for anyone to see,” said Pawlowski. “I hope to spur the conversation that we need to educate the populace about the serious challenges ahead.”

Registration is now open for the Conference, which will be hosted at the Gerald White Conference Center at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania on Thursday, July 27, 2017. Energypath is the region’s largest sustainable energy event attracting industry professionals, policymakers and academia throughout the region and across the United States. This year’s conference theme “For Our Future: Carbon Reduction” encourages attendees to examine the impact of their daily lives on the environment by examining what we eat, what we buy, and the energy we consume.

Since his first day in office in 2006, Pawlowski has delivered on his promise to “Build a better Allentown” by making City Hall a catalyst for change.  

Under his leadership the city has replaced all lighting control devices in City Hall and Public Safety buildings with vacancy sensing sensors and energy efficient fixtures. Lighting typically accounts for 35-40% of the electrical energy consumed in a building.  By reducing the lighting to a truly as needed usage, the city has reduced consumption in some areas by up to 90%.

The city has installed fuel catalysts on approximately 185 diesel trucks and larger equipment and 135 unleaded fuel vehicles with a mix of pickups, cars and smaller pieces of equipment. Allentown has completed Traffic Signal Modernization – replacing 78 existing controllers with new high tech sensors, allowing for improved traffic flow.

The Recycling Bureau has initiated an electronics recycling program for the free recycling of televisions, computers and other electronics for Allentown residents in response to state law banning these items from landfills.  In 2015, 316,935 pounds of electronics were recycled. The city switched to Single Stream recycling and in three months realized a 23.8% increase in recycling overall. All trash trucks in Allentown now run on Compressed Natural Gas reducing the city’s carbon footprint.

Recognized as a Tree City USA for 37 years, Allentown is planting 167 street trees this year!

Pawlowski received his master’s degree in urban planning and public policy from the University of Illinois and his bachelor’s degree from the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

“We are very excited to feature Mayor Pawlowski at this year’s Conference,” said John Costlow, president and CEO of Sustainable Energy Fund. “We look forward to hearing the Mayor’s insights into the benefits of the Climate Action Agenda.”

Energypath 2017 is presented by Sustainable Energy Fund and is generously sponsored by West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund, Community Energy Solar, Berkshire Asset Management, UGI Utilities, The Stone House Group, PPL Business Energy Efficiency Program, Energy Systems Engineering Institute at Lehigh University, Bergey’s Electric and Central PA AEE. The goal of Energypath is to increase the knowledge of and passion for sustainable energy in the leaders of today and tomorrow. For more information, please visit www.energypath.org.

About Sustainable Energy Fund

Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF), a nonprofit organization, assists energy users in overcoming financial, educational and regulatory barriers to a sustainable energy future. SEF provides a variety of services including financing energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects; educating the leaders of today and tomorrow to create a passion for sustainable energy; and representing the interests of energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy in proceedings before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Visit www.thesef.org