Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride, the Boston Tea Party, and the extraordinary blossoming of ideas that laid the foundation of the American Revolution were inspiration for the 2008 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, Revolutionary Green: Innovations in Global Sustainability, held Nov. 19–21, 2008, in Boston. That spirit will be reflected not only in Greenbuild’s educational programming, but also in vastly expanded and improved attendee services and logistics.

The Sustainable Facility / Environmental Design + Construction booth for Greenbuild 2008, Boston, anticipates the same steady flow of friends and attendees that we experience every year. >> Photo by Joseph H. Mayton III.

A Revolutionary Spirit

Greenbuild 2008 opens with a keynote presentation from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. A Nobel Peace Laureate, Archbishop Tutu lead a crusade for social justice and racial reconciliation for South Africa, and is revered worldwide as a moral voice for ending poverty and human rights abuse. The transformation of South African society and Archbishop Tutu’s courageous leadership toward social justice are powerful ideas to share with the green building community.

Knowledge and Science

Closing keynote speakers E.O. Wilson and Janine Benyus will challenge attendees with the role of scientific inquiry and technological advancements in environmental restoration. Moderated by National Public Radio’s Kevin Klose, the discussion will illuminate the relationship between the sciences and the humanities, explore the value of biodiversity, and demonstrate how we can find practical inspiration in natural systems.

Greening our Homes

In addition to a dedicated Greenbuild educational track on “Sustainable Abodes,” Greenbuild will feature a special “Green Homes Day” on Thursday, Nov. 20, that includes a special program for single-day registrants from the residential building sector. Paired with a green homes guide to the exhibit floor and, workshops on Nov. 21, Greenbuild has much more to offer homebuilding professionals than in years before.

New Ideas

Greenbuild’s educational program was selected through a peer-review process from among more than 1,000 abstracts. The results include new session tracks and Master Speaker presentations on topics including green venture investing, planning for the impacts of climate change regulation on real estate valuation, and a new educational track entitled “People Power” that examines diversity, affordability and green building in the developing world.

Newly added Master Speakers will include:

• Paul Anastas, director of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale University.
• Stefan Behnisch, principal of Behnisch, Behnisch and Partners.
• Majora Carter, executive director of Sustainable South Bronx.
• Howard Frumkin, director of the National Center for Environmental Health at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More Time with New Products and Technologies

Greenbuild 2008’s exhibit floor is 50 percent bigger than last year’s, and will include more than 1,400 exhibitors showcasing leading-edge green products, processes and technologies. Responding to attendee survey results that have strongly requested more time dedicated to the exhibit hall, Greenbuild will also feature an amended conference agenda that includes longer breaks for exploring exhibits that works with an expanded educational program.

No More Lines

Greenbuild will feature a new kiosk-based check-in process that will eliminate long lines and speed the entire registration process. Registration this year will also include the ability to sign up for educational sessions in advance. Computers throughout the conference center will allow attendees to check their schedules. From these stations, conference goers will be able to manage and update their educational session registrations, and manage other important aspects of the Greenbuild experience. This new system will help in planning and making the most of the trip to Boston well in advance. Moreover, USGBC has reserved the entire Boston Convention Center and thousands of additional hotel rooms, so there will be ample accommodations during the Greenbuild experience.

For more information on the Greenbuild 2008 Conference and Expo, visit www.greenbuildexpo.org.