After a long day walking the expo hall, meeting with green building product manufacturers, and sitting in on some fantastic sessions I headed over to Chase Field to prepare for the Greenbuild 2009 Opening Celebration. After a great speech by U.S. Green Building Council CEO Rick Fedrizzi and representatives from green building councils across the world, Al Gore took the stage to present his keynote address.
Admittedly, I was a little star struck. When Gore made his way to the stage I found that I was grinning. What followed was one of the most inspirational, and at times entertaining, keynote speeches I’ve ever listened to. Once he introduced himself by saying “I am Al Gore, I used to be the next President of the United States” he had most of the audience hooked.
Gore explained that those in the audience, professionals and manufacturers in the green building industry, could help be a part of the solution to the multiple crises we currently face. Green building can help solve the economic crisis by providing good, green jobs. Green building can help solve the environmental crisis by creating more energy efficient buildings that have a smaller impact on the environment. Lastly, green building can help solve the national security crisis by eliminating the nation’s overdependence on foreign oil. Yes, green building can help solve America’s national security crisis.
He lauded the green building movement for progressing in spite of the continuing economic stress but he implored everyone that we need to accept responsibility and act now; if not for us, then for future generations. Gore pledged the following to the children of our nation, “We are NOT going to let you down.”
For the rest of the story, visit my blog on the Mother Nature Network Greenbuild 2009: Al Gore’s keynote address.
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Melissa, thanks for sharing this. I so agree that green building has a HUGE role to play. I’ve been frustrated for years with the archaic building codes, shortsighted approach to building, and lack of progress on this in the USA. There are plenty of tried and tested technologies and designs which can vastly reduce our energy use. Folks who want to use these just come up against tons of barriers at the local level. I just don’t understand why adoption has been so slow. I can only conclude that it’s been more profitable to waste energy and easier for administration of the status quo.
Melissa, I’m so jealous you are at Greenbuild and I can’t wait to hear all about it. Having worked as a contractor for many years and knowing the barriers to better building practices, I’m excited that we are finally looking for better alternatives.