ARTICLE
‘Critically important’: Summit highlights sustainability, economic growth in the Lehigh Valley LehighValleyNews.com | By Molly Bilinski UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — The Lehigh Valley needs development and growth, but there also needs to be a balance to protect green spaces, Chris Kocher said Tuesday. “We long recognize … the value, from an economic perspective, that our healthy, clean environment provides in way of environmental services, in way of recreational value, but also in the value of connecting and bringing businesses into this community,” said Kocher, president of Wildlands Conservancy. “And acknowledge workers want to come where there's clean air and there's clean water and livable communities and walkable communities and parks. Kocher was among three local leaders to speak on a panel during this year’s Lehigh Valley Sustainability Summit at DeSales University. Led by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Sustainable Energy Fund, the annual summit drew economic and industry leaders from across the region to engage on topics such as waste reduction, energy and economic growth. “A community that values those natural spaces is a community that businesses want to relocate to, where workers want to come," Kocher said. "So a clean environment is critically important for the economy of the Lehigh Valley.” The panel, “Balancing Economic Development, Growth and Sustainability,” also included Susan Myerov, director of environmental planning for the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, and Larry Eighmy, founder of The Stone House Group, a Bethlehem-based building consultant. Eighmy said “we’ve passed the tipping point” when it comes to sustainable buildings. “We can build a better building that functions better, uses less energy for less money,” Eighmy said. “That time is here. The cost of energy is lower. “An environmentally sound building that's not only good for the environment, but good for the people inside it, it has productivity gains. You have the technology to do that.” 'It's about doing good' During his welcome address, John Costlow, chief executive officer of the Sustainable Energy Fund, said, “we’re in the world of sustainability.” “We're meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of future generations,” Costlow said. “Where are we going? We're going to regenerative whether it's regenerative energy, regenerative building.
LehighValleyNews.com | By Molly Bilinski
UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — The Lehigh Valley needs development and growth, but there also needs to be a balance to protect green spaces, Chris Kocher said Tuesday.
“We long recognize … the value, from an economic perspective, that our healthy, clean environment provides in way of environmental services, in way of recreational value, but also in the value of connecting and bringing businesses into this community,” said Kocher, president of Wildlands Conservancy.
“And acknowledge workers want to come where there's clean air and there's clean water and livable communities and walkable communities and parks.
Kocher was among three local leaders to speak on a panel during this year’s Lehigh Valley Sustainability Summit at DeSales University.
Led by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Sustainable Energy Fund, the annual summit drew economic and industry leaders from across the region to engage on topics such as waste reduction, energy and economic growth.
“A community that values those natural spaces is a community that businesses want to relocate to, where workers want to come," Kocher said.
"So a clean environment is critically important for the economy of the Lehigh Valley.”
The panel, “Balancing Economic Development, Growth and Sustainability,” also included Susan Myerov, director of environmental planning for the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, and Larry Eighmy, founder of The Stone House Group, a Bethlehem-based building consultant.
Eighmy said “we’ve passed the tipping point” when it comes to sustainable buildings.
“We can build a better building that functions better, uses less energy for less money,” Eighmy said. “That time is here. The cost of energy is lower.
“An environmentally sound building that's not only good for the environment, but good for the people inside it, it has productivity gains. You have the technology to do that.”
During his welcome address, John Costlow, chief executive officer of the Sustainable Energy Fund, said, “we’re in the world of sustainability.”
“We're meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of future generations,” Costlow said. “Where are we going? We're going to regenerative whether it's regenerative energy, regenerative building.