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The outer shell and the design on the ball were made from 3FormEcoresin(TM) material and light emitting diodes (LEDs). Ecoresin is made withrecycled post-consumer content and is not hazardous or toxic to theenvironment. LED lamps last longer and are more energy efficient thantraditional light bulbs, and therefore emit less pollution into theatmosphere.
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The structural steel roof platform and the aluminum framing within theball also contain recycled post-consumer content. Steel is the most recycledproduct in North America because products made from recycled steel can berecycled again at the end of their useful lives.
Sustainable Pittsburgh, a local nonprofit that seeks to bring sustainablesolutions to communities and businesses in the Pittsburgh region, willmitigate the carbon emissions associated with lighting and lifting the ballthrough the purchase of carbon credits from Pennsylvania farm energy systems.Purchasing carbon credits helps build and support new clean and renewablesources of energy, creating sustainable economic benefits for localcommunities. Overall, the ball will use approximately 6,000 watts of energy.
"Creating a healthier environment also helps to create healthiercommunities and healthier people," said Byron Falchetti, president of StandardProperty Corporation, the real estate subsidiary of Highmark. "The Future ofPittsburgh ball is a visible example to the city of Pittsburgh of our goal toimplement sustainable, eco-friendly and green practices to help makePittsburgh a better and healthier place to live."
The ball, weighing approximately 1,000 pounds, reaches 6 feet 7 inches indiameter and touches a height of 74 feet above the roof of Penn Avenue Placein downtown Pittsburgh. The best place to view the launch of the ball will beat the Highmark Stage located at the corner of Stanwix Street and Penn Avenue.The grand finale and countdown to midnight will begin at 10:30 p.m. with alive performance by celebrated Pittsburgh band The Clarks.
"Raising 'The Future of Pittsburgh' has become the biggest highlight ofthe First Night festivities, and we are very grateful to Highmark forspearheading this great Pittsburgh tradition," said J. Kevin McMahon,president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. "The future of theCultural District and Pittsburgh is bright, and there is no better place tocelebrate our successes as a region than at the corner of Stanwix and PennAvenue on New Year's Eve."
A strategic objective of Highmark is to apply traditional processimprovement tools like Six Sigma to the evaluation of resource consumptionacross the company and its effects on the environment. Highmark's sustainable,eco-friendly, green business practices include the operation of a Silver LEEDcertified Data Center near Hershey, Pa., paper and utilities conservationinitiatives and the use of certified green seal cleaning supplies inHighmark's facilities.
As one of the leading health insurers in Pennsylvania, Highmark's missionis to provide access to affordable, quality health care enabling individualsto live longer, healthier lives. Based in Pittsburgh, Highmark serves 4.6million people through the company's health care benefits business. Highmarkcontributes millions of dollars to help keep quality health care programsaffordable and to support community-based programs that work to improvepeople's health. Highmark exerts an enormous economic impact throughoutPennsylvania. A recent study states that Highmark's positive impact exceeded$2.5 billion. The company provides the resources to give its members a greaterhand
