Best Volunteer Opportunity With a Tree: How would you like to become a trained volunteer authorized to care for city-owned trees? Tree Tenders is a special group of volunteers who participate in a four-session course, organized by Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest, that equips you with the skills necessary to care for trees. Local tree experts provide instruction, and the course covers everything from tree biology to planting and pruning. Following completion of the course, Tree Tenders-in-Training participate in the program by volunteering to help trees (often at plantings in their own neighborhoods). Info: pittsburghforest.org/TreeTenders
Best Green Community in Planning: This past summer, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for Venango Trails, a new, rural residential village that takes its inspiration from the history and natural beauty of its site. Located in Marshall Township on a former golf course, Venango Trails will be a traditional, walkable neighborhood surrounded by tranquil parks, greenways and preserved open spaces. Venango Trails is working with Allegheny Land Trust to preserve 84 acres of mature woods, allowing them to be enjoyed by residents for generations to come. Although the designs of homes will reflect the Arts and Crafts period, they will offer modern amenities and materials that are both sustainable and energy-efficient. Venango Trails homes are being designed to provide 35 percent better energy efficiency than the current code for the region. All homes are designed with building materials selected for their reduced impact on the environment and longer life cycle, and are healthier for the residents. Model homes are scheduled to open by March. Project architect and land planner is local firm Burt Hill. Info: venangotrails.com
Best Green Slogan: "Just Reuse It." One of Pittsburgh's first green businesses, Construction Junction diverts more than 700 tons of construction materials from landfills annually. This past year, Construction Junction was recognized as the best social-enterprise organization in the region by the Social Innovation Accelerator, a local support organization for social-enterprise nonprofit. Since its founding a decade ago, Construction Junction has created a green, recycling community, and houses many organizations and projects on-site. Free Ride, a project of Bike Pittsburgh, a local group that repairs donated bikes, donates bikes to Third World countries and holds repair workshops. Reclamere and eLoop provide customers with the service of having their electronic trash responsibly recycled. Steel City Biofuels, a nonprofit that promotes biofuels, is awaiting a state grant to install a biofuel pump. The city of Pittsburgh also has a recycling station at 214 N. Lexington St. in North Point Breeze. Info: 412/243-5025, constructionjunction.org
Best Sustainably Savvy Street for Shopping in Pittsburgh: A section of Butler Street in Lawrenceville between 34th and 40th streets has some of the greenest and hippest merchants in the city. Known by insiders as "Sustain Lane," this street attracts those in the know to the businesses that offer lots of style and are eco-friendly to boot. Locally owned shops, cafes and other businesses that are sustainably motivated include Artemis, Coca Café, Divertido, Dozen Bake Shop, Elements, Jeffrey Smith Studio, Pavement, Sugar and Who Knew?. Many are part of the 16:62 Design Zone, Pittsburgh's design district, which includes more than 100 shops, galleries and studios, and stretches from the Strip District to Lawrenceville. Info: 1662designzone.com
Best Way to Be Cleaner and Greener: Host a Green Cleaning Party. This is a fun event where you and your friends learn how to make nontoxic cleaners from common ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda and essential oils. No need to worry if it gets messy during the party, as you'll have all the products and tools you need to clean up. And, you can encourage your friends to do the work by letting them think they are trying out the products. The Women's Voices for the Earth, a national organization that engages women to advocate healthy-living environments, offers "green cleaning party kits," which are the 21st-century equivalent to planning a Tupperware party. Info: womenandenvironment.org/greenclean
Best Way to Live Life in the Green Lane: Cycling isn't just for recreation anymore. While driving your pollution-generating car around town, you probably have seen numerous cyclists on the new bike lanes sprouting up throughout the city thanks to Bike Pittsburgh. So, why not get in on the greenest transportation trend. Even new buildings are required to have bicycle parking. Participating in this year's national Bike to Work Week in May is a great way to start. You will get into better shape and might outlive your car-driving friends, save money on fuel and help the environment. Info: bike-pgh.org
Best Green Rx: Pittsburgh's only green pharmacy is Murray Avenue Apothecary, specializing in compounding treatments for humans and pets. The owner, pharmacist Susan Merenstein, is an eco-thinker. When the store was renovated in 2007, only green construction materials were used; all customers receive their purchases in recycled bags, and the store works with organic products and companies whenever possible. It carries exclusive-to-Pennsylvania organic Vital Therapy skin care and Mineral Fusion cosmetic lines. And, it even hosts wellness seminars for you and your pets. 4227 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill; 412/421-4996, murrayavenuerx.com
Best Way to Keep From Being Humiliated in the Shopping-Center Parking Lot: Using brown paper or plastic for your groceries - unless you recycle the bags - is environmentally unfriendly and deserving of market staff and patrons shaming you in the parking lot. Many local markets have friendly reminder signs posted. Don't be lazy - walk back to your car and use your green grocery bags. Need further incentive? Most stores give you a discount to BYOB - "Bring Your Own Bags." And for the fashion-conscious shopper, many stores sell reusable, sturdy tote bags in cool designs. Some tote bags are even made from recycled plastic bottles.
Best Way to Detoxify and Redesign Your Home: Start by looking at healthy building materials that are eco-friendly. Artemis Environmental Building Materials (3709 Butler St., Lawrenceville) sells high-quality, environmentally responsible, "green" building products. For the past four years, Artemis has expanded the availability and use of green building products in the tri-state region. The products that you'll find at the store were selected because they are better for the environment, perform well and contribute to healthier living. "Don't be afraid to introduce one healthy thing into your space," co-owner Janice Donatelli says. Donatelli provides sage guidance to contractors, architects and home owners to help demystify working with green construction materials. They are not always more expensive - take bamboo flooring, for example. And, going green at home does not necessarily mean going contemporary. There are many green offerings that have a traditional aesthetic as well. Besides, investing in energy-efficient materials up front provides cost savings down the road. That makes living in a green space common cents. Info: 412/353-019, artemisenvironmental.com
Best and Greenest Item in Your Wallet: Forget your credit card - a library card is the best accessory in your wallet. Check out a book at your local Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. With our shifting economy and eco-interests, one of the greenest things you can do to stimulate your mind and save some green in your pocket is to read a borrowed book. Taking advantage of libraries is one of the earliest green acts, and it's back in style. In addition, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is committed to providing healthy, more enjoyable libraries. It has been chosen to use the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building-rating system as part of its effort to renovate and modernize several branch libraries. So, make sure you're a card-carrying reader. Don't have one? It's just a click away on the Web site. Info: clpgh.org
Best Green Spa: Modern spas have their roots in ancient European towns famed for waters that restored one's health. Today, massages and facials are by far the most popular spa treatments in America. Eva Sztupka, a native of Hungary, modeled her business, ESSpa Kozmetika (17 Brilliant Ave., Aspinwall), on the European-style spa. She regards skin care and the spa experience as crucial components of overall health. This past year, the Green Spa Network nationally recognized the spa for its reliance on natural Hungarian skin-care traditions, which include extensive training and use of natural and organic products. The handmade, organic skin-care products and treatments at the spa are brilliant, just like the name of street where it's located. Info: 412/782-3888, esspa.net