Green building in US may get a new boost

It has come to the knowledge that both Rick Fedrizzi and the U.S. Green Building Council, are firm and will definitely bring more than 25,000 people to Phoenix in order to converse the latest in green building.

Speaking on this, Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chairman of the USGBC, spoke to Valley Forward Association at a luncheon Tuesday on what they can look forward to with the arrival of the GreenBuild International Conference and Expo next month as well as the state of green building in general.

Fedrizzi said emphatically that already seven years have passed ever since the first GreenBuild, and this year’s event is designated to be as popular as ever with more than 1,800 exhibitors and a keynote from former Vice President Al Gore. The event, to be held Nov. 11-13 at Phoenix Convention Center and at sites around the city, is the culmination of a green movement decades in the making. It finally is joining with businesses to develop a sustainable movement, Fedrizzi said.

“What we’ve brought to the party is the belief that business is the way we will get these things done,” he said.

There is hardly any doubt that USGBC has been a driving force in developing standards for the building community. Its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program is one of the most adopted by commercial builders and architects in developing sustainable projects. Cities such as Phoenix have adopted the program as a guideline for municipal structures.

Fedrizzi seemed to be confident when he said in spite of a stagnant economy USGBC is perceiving more interest as builders look at new ways to develop projects. The GreenBuild conference will have more vendors this year than last, he said. More companies are looking to get involved at a time when the economy might not be good to have an advantage when it finally does turn around. “This is going to change, and when it does, you want to be on the other side of the event,” he said. “You don’t want to get there and say maybe it’s time to start learning about green.”