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.
“We can build a better building that functions better, uses less energy for less money, that time is here."Larry Eighmy, founder of The Stone House Group, a Bethlehem-based building consultant
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.
"So, it's no longer about doing less harm. It's about doing good.”John Costlow, chief executive officer of the Sustainable Energy Fund
“But it's about doing something good. So it's no longer about doing less harm. It's about doing good.”
PPL Chief Operating Officer Dave Quier spoke about the hefty energy needs of artificial intelligence, including several data centers that have popped up inside the company’s service area.
While the average home uses about 10 kW, and a new hospital uses 10 to 20 megawatts, or MW, a data center requires a lot more energy.
“Our first data center application came in a little bit better than a year ago,” Quier said. “I remember when it came in, we were looking at the application — it was for over a gigawatt.”
A gigawatt is equal to 1 billion watts.
If every home, business and company in the Lehigh Valley were combined, the total energy consumption still is not a gigawatt, Quier said.
“Just the power consumption in itself is just something completely game-changing for the industry,” he said.
“From PPL’s perspective, we’ve been in business for 100 years. It took us 100 years to get up to a peak demand of 7 gigawatts. We are going to more than double that in five years.”
Other speakers included Joe Parks, president of Penn Lighting, and Matt Albertazzi, director of industrial services at Casella.
‘It means a lot’
Between presentations and speakers, several environmental innovation awards were announced.
The first, the Lehigh Valley Environmental Innovation Nonprofit Award, was given to The Fahy Commons for Public Engagement and Innovation at Muhlenberg College.
“Every detail of Fahy Commons reflects Muhlenberg’s bold commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation in education, not just locally, but across the world."Tori Morgan, a member of the chamber’s energy and environment committee
“Every detail of Fahy Commons reflects Muhlenberg’s bold commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation in education, not just locally, but across the world,” said Tori Morgan, a member of the chamber’s energy and environment committee who presented the award.
“We commend Muhlenberg College for setting a new global standard and sustainable building and for inspiring the next generation of change-makers.”
It’s the latest award for Fahy Commons, 2400 W. Chew St. Opened in January 2023, the building was designed and built with sustainability in mind.
Rick Waligora, Muhlenberg College's capital projects manager, accepted the award on behalf of the college.
“We’re very excited, of course, to win this award,” Waligora said after the program. “It means a lot to Muhlenberg College. Sustainability has become a major part of our programming.”
Also during the summit, the Lehigh Valley Environmental Innovation in Small Business award was presented to EBC Printing and Signs in Allentown.
The Lehigh Valley Environmental Innovation Large Business Award was presented to Mack Trucks.
