Sustainable Investment Group (SIG) sent four team members to the GREENBUILD 2013 conference in Philadelphia to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of conference sponsor, US Green Building Council (USGBC), the membership-based nonprofit organization that promotes and certifies sustainability in building design, construction, and operation. USGBC is most prominent for development of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating systems and sponsorship of the annual GREENBUILD International Conference and Expo dedicated to green building.

SIG’s Senior Sustainability Consultant, Asa Posner, recalls the 2013 GREENBUILD conference as organized very well, particularly several educational sessions on LEED Version 4 (v4). SIG’s Sustainability Consultant, Ashish Bagle, found GREENBUILD 2013 most exciting when presenters showed how LEED has become more of a baseline than an end-goal. For SIG’s Senior Sustainability Consultant, Monica Gonzalez, GREENBUILD 2013 LEED v4 recertification courses sparked her personal interest. And SIG’s Director of Technical Services, Scott Baker, was excited to see how mandatory ENERGY STAR reporting requirements affect building energy consumption favorably.

SIG will be present again in force at Greenbuild 2014 in the Big Easy at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center from October 22nd through the 24th, three days of inspiring speakers, industry product showcases, LEED presentations and workshops, tours of Big Easy green buildings, and unique networking opportunities. Join thousands who see green buildings as good for business, meet with green building colleagues, and exchange thoughts with experts from around the world.

Each year, GREENBUILD develops a roster of coordinate events to complement the conference and expand the scope of the expo. Two such events on the 2014 roster, the Women in Green Power Breakfast and the LEED Certification Work Zone, may be of special interest to many in attendance.

The third annual Women in Green Power Breakfast will explore the role of sustainability within the economy to fashion a future way for women out of poverty and into economic equality and opportunity. Female leaders from around the world working to improve living standards in their communities will be breakfast panelists. Questions to be discussed:

• What is the role of sustainability in economic empowerment of women around the world?
• How do we use sustainability best economically and socially?
• How resilient are our systems if we do not push for opportunity for all?

USGBC Vice President of Conferences & Events Kimberly Lewis will moderate the discussion.

In the LEED Certification Work Zone project teams interact with project reviewers. Anyone with questions about an LEED project review or about the certification process can meet one on one with an LEED reviewer to discuss specific projects or general requirements. LEED Certification Work Zone sessions will be in Morial Convention Center Room 260-262 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Wednesday and Thursday and from 9:00 to 11:00 AM Friday.

At GREENBUILD the green building community shares and compares plans and ideas with mutual passion and palpable energy. Inspired and invigorated, conferees return to their work with a renewed sense of purpose. Sustainable Investment Group’s (SIG) participation will be again vigorous and visible. Come to the GREENBUILD 2014.