The latest green building and green school technologies, achievements and leadership will be highlighted

The annual Green Schools Conference & Expo (GSCE), the nation’s premier event for the green schools movement, and the annual IMPACT regional conference, the largest green building conference in the Midwest, are co-locating for two days in St. Paul, Minnesota. GSCE is committed to advancing sustainable schools for all and will bring together some of the industry’s top green school leaders, while IMPACT attracts building professionals and sustainability leaders from across the Midwest. Both conferences will include inspiring keynotes, immersive education sessions and informative workshops on the latest strategies and trends that support a sustainable transformation of the region’s schools, commercial and residential buildings and more.

In the Twin Cities, buildings are a significant factor in meeting climate action goals and at one time were the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Minneapolis. Green buildings, like those that are LEED certified, help reduce GHGs, conserve water and provide people with better air quality and access to nature. In Minnesota, there are more than 450 LEED-certified commercial buildings and a workforce that includes nearly 3,000 LEED professionals.

When:

Monday, April 8, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Includes the GSCE Plenary, the expo hall opening, education sessions and the Women in Green Power Hour
Tuesday, April 9, 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.  – Includes joint plenary, expo hall and education sessions

Where:

St. Paul RiverCentre, 175 West Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102

Who:

• Emmanuel Pratt, executive director of the Sweet Water Foundation, will provide the keynote at the GSCE plenary.
• Zaria Forman, renowned climate change artist, whose mammoth works of art depict the grandeur of our natural environment, will provide the keynote at the joint conference plenary.
• David Bluestone, founder and partner of ClearPath Strategies, will discuss new wide-reaching research that is informing us about attitudes and behaviors toward green building and sustainability.
• Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of USGBC and GBCI, will discuss USGBC’s Living Standard campaign and the work we are doing to create a universal living standard for all.
• Tara Kulkarni, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Norwich University, will be the featured speaker at the Women in Green Power Hour.

Green building leaders, architects, engineers, developers, school administrators, students, and people who lead, operate, build and teach in U.S. schools.

For a full list of programming visit impact.usgbc.org and greenschoolsconference.org.