Greenbuild 2009 – Main Street Green: Connect to the Conversation

Each year, the U.S. Green Building Council hosts its Greenbuild Conference & Expo, the world’s largest green building conference.  Greenbuild 2009 is heading to Phoenix.  The American Southwest is a region with unique environmental and social challenges and opportunities, and the imperative is clear: green building can and must come home to all people, boosting the quality of life on main streets across the country and the world.  Every year, Greenbuild attracts leading architects, building owners, developers, contractors, educators, students, service providers and manufacturers, providing education and networking opportunities for everyone connected to the building industry.
ith its humble beginnings of 4,100 attendees in Austin, Texas seven years ago, Greenbuild 2009, held November 11-13, 2009 in Phoenix, AZ is expected to attract 25,000 people and boasts over 100 educational sessions and 1,800 exhibit booths on the tradeshow floor. Former Vice President Al Gore will be the keynote speaker at the Opening Keynote & Celebration, followed by a performance by Grammy Award winning musician and environmental activist Sheryl Crow.  While Greenbuild is known to engage the most progressive discussions of the day, it is good to note that Greenbuild is valuable for everyone, whether you’re a green guru or not. There are educational sessions on topics ranging from green leases and valuation to the business case and technical implementation methods of LEED for Existing Buildings.

With the economic downturn forcing more organizations to focus on the existing building stock, USGBC has seized the opportunity to deliver a host of existing building-specific educational sessions.  Sessions include:

“How the LEED for Existing Buildings Certification Process Transforms Your Operations and Engages People”

“The Value of ENERGY STAR®”

“Economics of Corporate Sustainability”

“Greenwashed or Green … Single or Triple Bottom Line?”

“The Green Lease: A Two-Way Street”

“A Revolution in Existing Buildings – LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance”

“Existing Buildings: Opportunities for Development”

“High Profile Green Operations – Marquee LEED for Existing Building Projects”

Greenbuild is a forum to engage professionals from various industries and sectors and listen to peers talk about their experiences The many networking and educational opportunities, along with a first-ever Greenbuild job fair, are among the top reasons to attend Greenbuild,where you can listen to otherswhile making connections with likeminded  businesses.  Greenbuild is where the industry collaborates on sustainability, finding ways to save money, improve performance and reduce environmental impact.

More information on Greenbuild is available at www.greenbuildexpo.organd I hope to see you in Phoenix!