|
Green Building Conference in St. Louis March 25-27
 Registration is now open for the ninth annual NAHB National Green Building Conference in St. Louis March 25-27.
Attendance at this premier event for the green home building industry has grown steadily every year, and conference organizers predict record crowds in 2007 as interest in sustainable building techniques continues to grow among home builders, home buyers, regulators and elected officials.
The conference is geared to a wide audience, ranging from the novice to the experienced green practitioner, said Matt Belcher, chair of the annual event, principal of Belcher Homes and president of the Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri, the conference host.
The HBA launched one of the very first green building programs based on the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines when they were introduced in January 2005.
St. Louis HBA members will show off their green building skills during the annual Tour of Green Homes on Sunday, March 25. Both new and remodeled homes in various stages of construction will be on display. One home features panelized construction, another is built with insulated concrete forms, or ICFs. Three homes will be ready for touring in the Vision Community, an infill development in nearby Kirkwood, Mo., from builder Belcher and sponsor Green Builder Media.
 Monday morning’s keynote speaker is William McDonough, the Charlottesville architect and originator of the “Cradle to Cradle” philosophy of sustainable design who was named a “Hero of the Planet” by Time magazine for his vision of socially and economically intelligent architecture.
Two new educational tracks will also debut at this year’s conference: an advanced track for “Houses That Work” from the Energy and Environmental Building Association, a recognized leader in green education; and a green remodeling track, with seminars on deconstruction techniques and evaluating existing structures.
Also new is a half-day pre-conference educational session on “Building With Trees” from the National Arbor Day Foundation on Saturday, March 24, focusing on techniques for retaining existing trees and other natural features in construction and land development practices.
Returning from last year will be the pre-conference “Green Building for Building Professionals,” a two-day course from the NAHB University of Housing that provides designation credit toward the Certified Graduate Builder and Certified Graduate Remodelor™ programs and continuing education for additional certification programs.
The largest exhibit hall yet with more than 70 vendors and service providers will be open Monday and Tuesday, March 26-27, with breakfast and lunch provided.
In addition, a Saturday afternoon tour of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery will provide great networking opportunities and a chance for attendees to get to know each other before the serious work of the conference begins, said Belcher.
Download the conference brochure and register online at nahb.org.
|
