The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that author, sustainability entrepreneur and activist Paul Hawken will provide the opening keynote at its annual GreenerBuilder conference taking place at the Marriot Marquis in downtown San Francisco on July 25, 2019. GreenerBuilder is the largest conference dedicated to the green building industry in the Pacific region and brings together hundreds of building professionals, sustainability leaders and change-makers to discuss today’s most pressing sustainability and green building issues. Registration is currently open.

“GreenerBuilder is an opportunity for the green building community in the region to come together and discuss innovations and sustainability opportunities for the built environment,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “Paul’s extensive knowledge of sustainable business, green building and the impacts of environmental degradation on the Pacific region is instrumental for bringing all of our partners to the table and uniting us under one common goal – creating a universal living standard.”

Hawken is a long-time advocate for green building and sustainable development. He is the founder of Project Drawdown, which works with more than 200 scholars, students, scientists, researchers and activists to map, measure and model the 100 most substantive solutions that can reverse global warming through reduction and sequestration of greenhouse gases. Hawken has founded several successful, ecologically conscious businesses, written about the impacts of commerce on living systems, and consulted with heads of state and CEOs on economic development, industrial ecology and environmental policy. His eight books have been featured on national and The New York Timesbestseller lists and have been used to teach sustainable business on college campuses across the country.

USGBC is working to elevate the role of green buildings beyond the environment and economy to focus on the personal health and wellness benefits they provide. In an effort to expand its global green building efforts in the Pacific region and beyond, USGBC launched Living Standard, an initiative that seeks to raise the quality of life for people around the world through research and storytelling. Ramanujam will also provide remarks during the GreenerBuilder Opening Plenary, discussing how the green building industry can identify and promote stories about positive change and access to green buildings on a larger scale.

GreenerBuilder is a one-day conference and expo for green building professionals. The annual event unites the leaders of the Pacific Region’s built environment – such as architects, engineers, designers and contractors – to discuss industry trends, new research and emerging technologies. This year’s event will provide attendees with an opportunity to hear about the industry’s latest innovations, learn about LEED and about the newest version – LEED v4.1 and make important connections with fellow industry leaders and demonstrate how the region is raising the bar when it comes to green building and business practices. Interface is the marquee sponsor of the conference, which is jointly hosted by the USGBC communities in the Pacific Region, including USGBC Northern California, USGBC Orange County, USGBC Hawaii, USGBC Oregon and USGBC Washington.

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in education sessions led by acclaimed scholars and practitioners in green building industry. The GreenerBuilder program is now available online. To register for the event please visit the GreenerBuilder website.