Landscape Architect Articles

Green Schools Expo Slated For March 31-April 102-18-16 | Education

Green Schools Expo Slated For March 31-April 1
U.S Green Building Council Hosting Conference

Over 1,000 people are expected to attend the U.S. Green Building Council's Green Schools Conference and Expo in Pittsburgh, Pa., in late March.

More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the U.S. Green Building Council's Green Schools Conference and Expo March 31-April 1 in Pittsburgh, Pa.

The USGBC and its Center for Green Schools program are partnering with the Green Schools National Network, and will hold the expo-conference at the LEED Platinum David Lawrence Convention Center.

Green school advocates and leaders in the sustainability movement will join educators, school administrators, nonprofit and corporate executives and elected officials at this event.

Together, they will discuss current green schools programs and how to better promote and advance the philosophy of sustainable educational facilities.

Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and co-founder of the USGBC, will give the keynote address. The USGBC's green building program has been called the "cornerstone" of Fedrizzi's career, and he is especially passionate about the Center for Green Schools, it states on the USGBC website.

"Healthy, high-performing schools by definition rest on the foundation of improved buildings and grounds, but if we stopped there, we'd be doing a huge disservice to our future," Fedrizzi said.

"Embedding the fundamentals of sustainability into curriculum and instruction and providing teachers with the training and tools to do this is our first, best path to real success," Fedrizzi added. "Ensuring that the next generation of leaders will accept nothing less than a world that values its resources and prioritizes the health of its citizens should be our focus."

The theme of this year's conference is "Three Rivers, Three Pillars," because Pittsburgh is located at a spot where three rivers meet, and the green schools movement is based on three basic principles. Green schools reduce the environmental impact of buildings, have a positive effect on student and teacher health and help drive environmental literacy among students and graduates.

Experts in the subject of green schools will talk about best sustainable practices during the conference through summits, breakout sessions and opening and closing speeches. At least five other "master speakers" have been lined up to give oral presentations.

Early bird registration for the Green Schools Conference and Expo has been extended to Feb. 12, 2016. For more details visit: greenschoolsconference.org.

U.S. Green Building Council:
https://tinyurl.com/jfxtb56