ROCIS News & Events
November 2017
ROCIS Collaboration with Green Workplace Challenge Wins Points for Participants
The ROCIS Low Cost Monitoring initiative was proud to collaborate with Green Workplace Challenge during the 2016-2017 iteration. 

GWC encourages businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, and colleges/universities in Southwest Pennsylvania to make sustainable actions through a friendly competition.

Through our collaboration, GWC participants were able to earn points by monitoring homes or workplaces. Air quality tasks helped the Millvale Community Library win more than 100 points!

ROCIS will participate again next year! Please note that you will still earn points from participation in the Low-Cost Monitoring Project between the end of GWC 4.0 and SWC 5.0.

Congratulations to these winners:

  • Highmark (Large Business Division Winner; Top Water Saver)
  • Township of Upper St. Clair (Small Municipality Division Winner)
  • Ann Jones Gerace Building - PRC & CCI (Top-Scoring Building Team)
  • CCI (Small Nonprofit Division Winner) 
  • Green Building Alliance (Top Legacy Energy Saver) 
  • Allegheny County (Top Legacy Water Saver; Large Municipality Division Winner) 
  • Millvale Community Library (Micro Nonprofit Division Winner; Top Energy Saver)


In addition to those listed above, thanks to the following organizations who also participated in both the GWC and the ROCIS Low Cost Monitoring Project.

AE Works 
Allegheny Land Trust
Carnegie Mellon University
City of Pittsburgh
evolveEA
FedEX Ground
Mall of Robinson 
Pennsylvania Environmental Council
PRC
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
Robert Morris University
Sustainable Pittsburgh

Air We Breathe Summit Makes News
Asthma in Pittsburgh children 3x national average
More than 130 people attended September's 2017 The Air We Breathe Summit where Dr. Deborah Gentile, of Pediatric Alliance presented results from her three-year study revealing that children from the Pittsburgh region have a rate of asthma cases three times the national average. 

Check out the media coverage here:



23rd Cohort Kicks Off
Low Cost Monitoring Project Celebrates 2nd Year
The Low-Cost Monitoring Project celebrated two years of air quality monitoring in the Pittsburgh region last month with a kick-off for our 23rd cohort. 

Several organizations including Sustainable Pittsburgh, Homewood Children’s Village, CCI (Conservation Consultants Inc.), and Women for a Healthy Environment sent representatives to participate in this month’s cohort. 

Many of the participants will try low-cost DIY strategies to improve indoor air quality through box air fan interventions and air handler interventions. 
Interested in participating in the Low-Cost Monitoring Project for future cohorts?  

We are currently recruiting participants for our 25th Cohort which begins Thursday, December 7th to Friday, January 5th, 2018.


Note that participation in the LCM Project is time intensive. Attendance to the Kick-off and Wrap-up meeting is required.

Coming Events
Smart City Air Challenge: Data Use in Community Air Quality Projects II
October 31, 2017
Noon - 1:15 pm EDT
Free Webinar hosted by US EPA

ROCIS is on the agenda!
Healthy Buildings Summit 2017: Research to Practice & Navigating Changing Industries 
November 2 - 4, 2017
Seven Springs, PA
Hosted by IAQ Training Institute / Cost Varies

Fracking & Indoor Radon Levels: Cause for Concern?
November 8, 2017
Noon - 1:30 pm EDT
Pittsburgh, PA
Free Event hosted by the Shale Gas Governance Center

Saving Money & Protecting Health with Preventative Maintenance
November 9, 2017
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EDT
Free Webinar hosted by US EPA "Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools"

BPI Healthy Home Evaluator Training & Testing
November 13, 14, 15, 2017
8:30 am - 5:00 pm EDT
Pittsburgh, PA
Hosted by CCI & DEAWP

Residential Makeup Air Systems & Requirements Webinar
November 14, 2017
1:00 - 2:00 pm EDT
Webinar hosted by PHRC
Free or pay $20 for CE credit
Check out the 50+ archived webinars

2018 NY Regional Home Performance Conference & Trade Show
February 13-14, 2017 (All Day)
Saratoga Springs, NY
Hosted by Home Performance Coalition / Cost Varies

2018 Maine Indoor Air Quality & Energy Conference
May 1-2, 2017 (All Day)
Online from Portland, ME
Hosted by Maine Indoor Air Quality Council / Cost Varies
September ROCIS Presentations
Slides and materials are available for some past presentations.

The Air We Breathe: A Regional Summit on Air Pollution & Asthma in Our Community
September 8, 2017, Pittsburgh
"ROCIS: Low Cost Monitoring Insights & Interventions"

68th Sustainability Salon
September 9, 2017, Pittsburgh
"ROCIS: Low Cost Monitoring Insights & Interventions"

U.S. EPA Smart City Air Challenge Webinar, Data Use in Community Air Quality Projects
September 14, 2017
"ROCIS: Particle Data Explorations & Insights"

SCA Fellows Air Quality Training
September 22, 2017, Pittsburgh
"ROCIS: Low Cost Monitoring Project: Insights Interventions, & Implications"
Thanks to The Heinz Endowments for support of the ROCIS initiative. 
(Reducing Outdoor Contaminants in Indoor Spaces)