GREENBUILD: IT'S A BOSTON-STYLE PARTY

publication date: Nov 25, 2008

Boston was the temporary home to nearly 30,000 construction and design industry professionals last week who flocked to Greenbuild and Build Boston in search of learning, discovering, teaching and networking. While Build Boston also had its share of publicity in the construction-centered frenzy, Greenbuild's sustainability emphasis overshadowed the local show.

Designing with the environment in mind is no longer optional - that's the message the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) wanted to get out in its annual convention, aptly titled "Revolutionary Green: Innovations for Global Sustainability." People are increasingly realizing that the places we live, work and play affect our health, the health of our children, and the health of the planet. Embracing sustainable practices is an inevitable step towards business longevity and stability, and as Greenbuild 2008 made it clear, the only way to be part of the future.

For more than two centuries, American building methods have remained largely unchanged, and despite technological advances, resources are still used without consideration. Because climate change has already affected our harvests and the world food supply, the situation calls for a redesign of conventional thoughts and habits. This is where Greenbuild comes in, acting as a forum to educate, equip and inspire the force that will drive the green revolution. Boston's Convention and Exhibition Center was the convening locale for industry experts and influential leaders from all over the world to converse and proactively work towards a more sustainable earth.

Words from a Nobel Peace Laureate
Keynote speaker Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Laureate, set the mood for Greenbuild. Tutu credited the environmental movement for bringing about change in both the political and moral climates. "What you did here in this movement helped usher in a new era," he said. "Not to care about the environment is like not caring about human rights violations." He credited Greenbuild participants, among others, for bringing eco-awareness to the foreground of political debate and world discussion.

After much praise, an estimated 10,000 people listened as Tutu pleaded with them to reach out to humanity and let them know that "they are members of one family."
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino echoed that sentiment: "Green building is about more than policy, it's about people," he said.

A Sustainably Sound Economic Solution
Accessible and affordable sustainability was a main focus for this year's industry speakers. Master speaker Van Jones, founder and president of Green For All, addressed a near capacity crowd about how today's uncertain economic and political climates relate to green design and how we can create a more sustainable future. While it can start as a grass roots effort, it cannot grow without the involvement of government and corporations, which have the funds needed to change the infrastructure of America.

Jones outlined what he called the three fallacies that defined the nation's failed economy: consumerism, debt, and the notion that "we can run the economy based on environmental destruction rather than environmental restoration." Jones suggested that the country needs to focus on domestic production, thrift and environmental restoration. Ten years ago, making eco-conscious choices was a personal decision that came with a label, such as tree hugger or activist. Today, sustainability is no longer an alternative; it is vital to the survival of the human race.

So what can the United States produce to stabilize the economy and create jobs? Jones suggested green energy. America has the land and workforce needed to harvest renewable energy, from solar to wind power. Shrinking consumption and repowering us is key to economical stability and energy independence. This is beyond what the building industry alone can do; it will take people from all fields to rally and demand government and corporate support.

Finally, the biggest polluters need to be addressed directly, for too long they have been allowed to freely pollute the air and land of those who pay fines for simply littering. Legislation favors the polluters and often offers free services that either directly or indirectly destroy the environment. As Van Jones put it, "We need to stop paying the polluters and start making the polluters pay."

Hats Off to Mother Nature
The non-profit organization that stood out from the rest was the Biomimicry Institute. Biomimicry is the process of learning from and imitating nature to create sustainable designs. The institute's brochure demonstrates why this approach makes sense:

"After 3.8 billion years of research and development, life has learned what works, what is appropriate, and what lasts here on earth. More than 30 million species represent a deep reservoir of wisdom - blueprints, recipes, and strategies for how to live gracefully in place, in ways that create conditions conductive to life. What better models could there be?"

What we can learn from Mother Nature has no limits since we continue to discover new species and new revelations about each living organism. The Biomimicry Institute aims to educate biologists, innovators and future generations through an online library of nature's ideas compiled with graphics, videos and layman explanations.

In her address to Greenbuild participants, Biomimicry Institute founder Janine Benyus said, "Biomimicry is a new way of both viewing and valuing biodiversity. It changes our relationship to the natural world from one of conqueror, from one of colonizer, from occupier of that meadow, to student - sitting with the mentors of that meadow and saying, ‘May we share this with you?'"

Sustainability on Display
One of the biggest highlights of Greenbuild 2008 was the exhibit floor, which conveniently gathered the necessary tools that architects, designers and builders need to implement what they have learned in theory. As one expo attendee put it, "We need to start a green section in our firm library. I don't want this to get lost among other resources."

This year, many companies that typically exhibit at Build Boston flocked to Greenbuild to peddle their green wares; and if they did not have one, they created one. For those that have embraced sustainable practices from the beginning, the expo was the natural place to be. And, it was a great venue for smaller businesses looking to join the green revolution.

One such company, Rain Harvesting, featured tools and products to help homeowners and builders collect and store a sustainable water supply from rainwater. The idea of catching free-falling pure rainwater makes sense, yet we continue to rely heavily on expensive and often outdated municipal water supplies. Local cost savings would be staggering even if only one out of every 10 suburban and rural households would implement this simple and cost effective system. Rainwater goes through a natural cleansing process that can never be matched by treatment plants and their chemicals.

Another emerging company is Bio Based Insulation, which markets spray foam insulation. Instead of traditional petroleum-based products and chemical blowing agents, this cost-effective polyurethane insulation relies on renewable resources such as Agrol, a 96 percent pure soybean oil-based polyol and water as a blowing agent. It is highly energy efficient and is a healthy alternative to traditional insulation, which can be hazardous.

Greenbuild's major sponsors and key players covered the construction industry spectrum. While these companies -- Steelcase, Trane, Kohler and Sherwin Williams -- have been around for years, it is only in the past decade that they have ventured toward sustainable manufacturing and products. Steelcase now produces contract furniture with a Cradle to Cradle certification. Trane emphasizes its energy efficient HVAC products. Kohler targets water conservation. Sherwin Williams now manufactures GreenGuard Indoor Air Quality certified coatings, as well as low and zero VOC products.

Thoughts from the Field
Greenbuild 2008 exceeded my expectations as a professional in the industry. The tenor was timely in light of world events. Green living is no longer optional and an alternative for the select few. Rather, it is the responsibility of those few already in the know to educate and provide opportunities for the rest of the world to survive and prosper on sustainable building and living principles.