The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), creators of the LEED green building rating system, announced that registration is now open for Rocky Mountain Green 2020. The annual conference will be held April 30-May 1, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency Denver in Denver, Colo. In addition to the launch of the educational programming for the conference, environmental and social equity expert Vien Truong, has been announced as the keynote speaker for the conference.
One of the nation’s most prominent experts on the development of an equitable green economy, Truong has crafted numerous environmental, energy, economic and transportation policies at all levels of government. She has developed strong workforce standards for clean technology sectors, generated direct investments to ethnic and minority cleantech businesses, and created sustainable communities throughout California. Truong is currently serving as the senior advisor on climate justice for Tom Steyer for President. Prior to joining the Steyer campaign, she was the CEO of Dream Corps, which passed historic policies in criminal and climate justice, and created nationally recognized programs to increase tech diversity.
“It is exciting to join the U.S. Green Building Council in a discussion on how we can work together to build an equitable future for all,” said Truong. “We are at a time when we can no longer wait for action. Pollution, poisoned waters, wildfires, floods and natural disasters affect communities across the country. This discussion will look at how we can build a future that is ecologically and socially resilient, sustainable, inclusive and regenerative.”
Rocky Mountain Green is the largest green building conference in the region, and brings together hundreds of building professionals, sustainability leaders and change-makers for discussions about today’s most pressing environmental and green building issues. The conference offers engaging educational sessions that inspire attendees into action while focusing on USGBC’s mission to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated. This year’s program offers sessions around four tracks: All Things Considered – From Housing to Whole Cities, Building for Resiliency and Equality, Nuts & Bolts of Green Building, and Innovative Building Strategies.
“The Rocky Mountain region faces its own unique socioeconomic and climate makeup, and communities across the region are grappling with the best way to develop responsibly,” said Charlie Woodruff, regional director at USGBC. “Rocky Mountain Green is our chance to provide the region’s architects, builders, contractors and sustainability professionals a chance to develop the skills needed to become dedicated green building advocates and improve daily lives for all Americans.”
The Rocky Mountain region is one of the fastest growing areas in the country for green building, and Colorado has consistently been a pioneering leader in the green building movement. The state has made USGBC’s Top 10 States for LEED list since the list’s inception in 2010, and in 2019 ranked number one for LEED-certified space per capita in the U.S. The state certified 4.76 square feet per person as a result of 102 projects totaling more than 23.96 million square feet of space.Continuing education hours will be offered for attendees to help maintain their LEED professional credential. The conference full program is now available online.
