In a short couple of weeks, one of the country's largest and most successful conferences on green initiatives is coming to Detroit for the first time. The
Greening the Heartland Conference, hosted and co-sponsored by the
Engineering Society of Detroit and the
U.S. Green Building Council Detroit Chapter, will be held from May 31 to June 2 at Cobo Center.
One of the highlights of the conference is a keynote speech by
David Suzuki, world-renowned environmental activist and science broadcaster, who will address the topic of "Economics, Energy and Ecology: Putting them Back Together."
The conference will have four tracks:
- Economic Revitalization
- Public Policy & Resource Management
- Regional Best Management Practices
- Transportation & Technology
Its theme is "ABILITY" -- by illustrating sustainability practices that lead to multiple benefits. Industries represented will include green building, architecture, engineering, automotive, planning, landscape design, contracting, urban design, energy generation and transmission, agricultural production, interior design, building operations, and government offices.
Some of the stand-out sessions with a local angle include: "The Greenest Building Is...The One That is Already Built" (Amen!) by
Quinn Evans principal Carl Elefante; "Growing Solar in Michigan: Ann Arbor's Solar America Cities Partnership" by Andre Brix of Ann Arbor's energy programs; and "Brown is the New Green" by Michael Momenee of
Mannik & Smith -- a talk on brownfields opportunities.
The conference also offers attendees the chance to tour the
Kresge Foundation's Platinum LEED facility and the Ford Rouge Center.
Organizers are expecting approximately 1,000 attendees.
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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