Newsroom

October 24, 2007

Contact:

Ashley Zawrotny, Green Building Assistant
(480) 312-2245

Julie Stanton (602) 614-7110

Green Building Expo Draws a Crowd, Fills a Demand
By Mick Dalrymple

If there was any question that green building is rapidly going mainstream, 10,000 plus people gave their answer on an early October weekend at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. The 10th Annual Green Building Expo, organized by a group of dedicated citizen volunteers and by staff members of the Cities of Scottsdale, Tempe and Phoenix on October 5th and 6th, offered a cornucopia of green building education to interested professionals and the general public. Over 120 exhibitors displayed products and services ranging from Insulated Concrete Forms to countertops made from recycled glass to new developments that are incorporating green building principles into the overall project.

Ed Mazria, the architect best known for launching the 2030 Challenge (to get the built environment to become carbon neutral by the year 2030 in order to ward off catastrophic climate change) kicked off the Expo with his keynote update on climate change, new sea level change data, and coal. He was preceeded by welcoming statements from Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross and Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman regarding their cities’ stepped-up efforts to incorporate sustainability into city planning.

The free annual event included a chance to test drive a Segway personal transport vehicle, introduced the latest in electric and alternative fuel cars, and served up organic, locally-harvested meals in a food court. Twenty-four educational sessions were complimented by the Cinema Verde Sustainable Film Festival, focused on independent films and videos about sustainability and renewable energy topics.

The large turnout pleased but didn’t surprise the Expo organizers. “We had a 40% surge last year to 6,000 attendees. With all the focus on green and climate change and rising energy prices over the last year, we actually anticipated.about 10,000, “ stated Julie Stanton, Expo Committee member. “It’s nice to see green going mainstream.”

Mick Dalrymple is a partner in a.k.a. Green environmental building supplies, producer of PBS’ Build It Green!, National Board member of USGBC, and serves on the NAHB-ICC Green Building Standard Committee. www.akagreen.com

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