The Pitt Green Spotlight is a monthly series highlighting people advancing sustainability, including Pitt Green Ambassadors and Pitt’s Green Offices & Labs!
We hope these spotlights will inspire you to try out new sustainable practices in your own campus experience! Want to be included in our next highlight? Contact us.
Pitt Green Spotlight:
Brynne Bashioum, Corinne Bechtel, and Karen Sebolt, Heinz Memorial Chapel
Karen Sebolt and Brynne Bashioum in Heinz Chapel. Not pictured, Corrine Bechtel.
Heinz Memorial Chapel is a small team committed to sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity. Under the guidance of Karen Sebolt, Director of Heinz Memorial Chapel, we have implemented practical eco-friendly initiatives, encouraging environmentally conscious wedding celebrations. We promote Pitt’s Sustainable Event Guide to help couples easily incorporate sustainable practices. We have also introduced the Chapel’s “Unplugged Ceremony Sign” to reduce paper waste and coordinate vase reuse with local florists.
Karen supports creative, inclusive programming, including upcoming pollinator garden tours highlighting pollinators and native plants, and guided tours during Women’s History Month celebrating the influential women featured in the Chapel’s stained glass windows.
Behind the scenes, we maintain Heinz Memorial Chapel’s sustainability standards, earning it a Green Office designation at the University of Pittsburgh. We also foster wellness and mindfulness through regular meditation sessions, contributing to the Chapel’s role as a welcoming and inclusive space.
What got you interested in sustainability and acting on climate change?
Working in a meaningful space like Heinz Memorial Chapel, we felt a responsibility to align the Chapel’s operations with sustainable practices. After regularly observing repetitive waste from ceremonies and recognizing the opportunity to make practical changes, like reducing printed signs. We witnessed firsthand how small, thoughtful adjustments could significantly reduce environmental waste and motivated us to advocate sustainability. To us, acting on climate change isn’t just a responsibility; it’s a chance to practice mindfulness, community involvement, and a healthier future for all.
Start small and build from there, simple steps can make a big difference. Explore existing resources like Pitt’s Sustainable Event Guide or participate in campus programs and sustainability initiatives. Pitt’s campus is full of knowledgeable and passionate individuals who are eager to help and share their expertise. Don’t hesitate to connect with others who share your interests; collaboration makes sustainability achievable and enjoyable.
What sustainability challenge would you like to tackle next, and what would you like to see the university address?
Looking forward, we aim to further reduce energy waste through continued updates to Heinz Memorial Chapel, such as the recent lighting improvements that have reduced emissions equivalent to removing 40 cars from the road. We also seek solutions for making the iconic red doors more seasonally effective by addressing air leakage. Additionally, we encourage departments that are hesitant or seeking guidance on achieving the Green Office designation to reach out to Heinz Memorial Chapel for support and advice.
Thanks to Brynne, Corinne, and Karen for all your efforts to advance sustainability at Pitt!
Join the Heinz Chapel team and Pitt Sustainability for “Pollinators in the Light“, a tour of the flora and fauna in the chapel’s stained glass this pollinator month!