On Tuesday, March 21, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed a proclamation declaring March 20-24, 2006, Green Week in Georgia. The Governor acknowledged Southface’s history of collaboration with GEFA and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, particularly citing Geenprints and its related activities as a valuable forum for educational opportunities and other activities centered around sustainable design and construction practices, as well as ways to protect and improve the environment.
Some highlights of Green Week included three LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) workshops on Wednesday. More than 100 design and construction professionals, as well as manufacturers and service providers participated. John Adams with Greenguard and The Department of Energy, Paul Shahrsihari from Green Light Strategies and Southface’s own Mike Barcik shared many of the intermediate and advanced principles associated with the U.S. Green Building Council’s program.
Twenty-two individuals took advantage of a pre-conference tour of Serenbe on Wednesday morning. Hosted by Serenbe founder Steve Nygren, participants toured the sustainable community hearing first hand of its creation. They also enjoyed lunch at the Serenbe Inn, feasting on a meal of organic, comfort foods. Pam Sessions of Hedgewood Properties met the group for lunch and explained Hedgewood’s commitment to the EarthCraft House program. Participants also went inside a home to see the benefits of an EarthCraft house.
Wednesday evening, 500 business, civic and environmental leaders supported Southface and “savored the sustainable table” at the eighth annual Visionary Dinner. Co-hosted by Southface and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Visionary Dinner is the only event which draws this particular cross-section of Atlantans (and Greenprints attendees from across the nation) for a seasonal meal prepared with regional ingredients by the Whole Foods Chef's Panel and their staffs. The evening also included a message from Jonathan Lash, President of World Resources Institute. Lash delivered a presentation on global poverty and the effects of poverty on the environment.
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Martin Melaver of Melaver, Inc. delivered the opening keynote to start off the Greenprints conference.
Martin Melaver’s keynote made first pass at a theme that was addressed throughout the Greenprints experience… what is the point of sustainablity?
His point was driven through an analagous story starting with a stock boy in a grocery store that evolved to a grander picture of how we “take stock” of the environment and the multiplicity of relationships that are accountable in the process.
As Melaver stated, “Sustainablity really begins with the process of inquiry, taking stock of place and people… Sustainabilty is in large part getting comfortable with unique aspects that a particular place has and not trying to mimic what other people and places are doing elsewhere. It doesn't mean that we don’t try to change and improve things in our community and learn from best practices. But it does mean that we adapt what others have done to local conditions… The process of taking stock is more effective when it starts from within, by looking at the human dimension first before branching out to the natural dimension… It's more compelling and more personal to map out the personal and social aspects of place first and then move on to the environmental.”
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The evening also saw a special presentation of the Argon Award for Success in Sustainability.* Sponsored by Atlantic Station and Jacoby Development, the award has been presented each year since 2000 to a Georgia-based business leader or institution demonstrating environmental leadership. This year Melaver Inc. received the Argon Award for its outstanding dedication to environmental and quality of life issues. Martin Melaver, CEO of Melaver Inc. and Colin Coyne, COO of Melaver Inc., accepted the award on behalf of the company. “We are honored by this recognition as we work toward migrating the deeply rooted values of our family-owned company into a 21st Century way of understanding our place in the ecosystem," stated Melaver.
Melaver recently renovated the Whitaker Building in Savannah, one of the first properties in the U.S. to receive status as both a registered historic landmark and silver certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) green building rating system. This year Melaver will hold a grand opening ceremony for one of the first and only all LEED® retail shopping center complexes in the country, Abercorn Common in Savannah. The company is a proud partner of the EPA Climate Leaders program and the EPA Green Power Partnership as well as a member of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Greenprints activities continued through the learning opportunities offered Thursday and Friday, when design and construction professionals, policy makers and concerned citizens gathered for engaging, hands-on education at the eighth annual Greenprints Conference. At the opening plenary session, Greenprints Co-Host Elizabeth Robertson, Director of the State Energy Office (GEFA), asked for a show of hands from first-time attendees. Almost half the hands in the ballroom went up. This is a great testament to Southface’s ability to continue attracting new and talented individuals committed to creating a sustainable future.
Martin Melaver, CEO Melaver Inc. delivered the opening keynote address. Melaver’s address entitled, “Taking Stock: Thoughts from an errand boy sent by a grocery clerk,” set a meaningful tone for the conference. He discussed how, through passionate vision, he has overcome obstacles to sustainable development. The Greenprints audience embraced the message and engaged in discussion after the keynote.
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So many points of view—so little time. Residental, Commercial and Communities Tracks pulled in speakers representing the best in their fields. L-R : Duncan Prahl, IBACOS; Reed Thomas, R. J. Griffin and Company; Lisa Wise, Initiative for Affordable Housing; Dr. Ernest Burdette, Chair, Mayor's Visionary Council, Pass Christian, MS; Pam Sessions, President, Hedgewood Properties; Betsy Pettit, Building Science Corp.; Karl Bren - GreenVisions Consulting
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Greenprints attendees chose sessions from four educational tracks, residential green building, commercial green building, sustainable communities and site session tours. Session formats ranged from talented presenters and teams providing collaborative and informative topical presentations, to charrette-based interactive sessions, to site visits that gave attendees first hand looks and interpretations of green building projects throughout Atlanta.
In addition to the learning, there was plenty of time to visit the Green Tradeshow, where 52 exhibitors shared the latest green products and services with the group. Thursday evening, The Home Depot Foundation sponsored the exhibit hall grand opening and reception. Friday evening, Acuity Brands sponsored the closing reception and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Show. Along with good food and networking opportunities, folks learned about the latest biodiesel, electric and hybrid automobiles.
The week’s activities concluded with the Spring Atlanta Home Show, where more than 10,000 visitors learned about the EarthCraft House program through a model home and our EarthCraft House exhibit. EarthCraft House staff answered questions and distributed materials on energy saving tips, indoor air quality, renovation advice and new building procedures.
By combining efforts of like-minded, sustainable development organizations—EarthCraft House, GEFA, USGBC and Southface—Greenprints 2006 proved to be a valuable educational success. Through the support of our numerous sponsors, the conference presented a fantastic value to newcomers and seasoned professionals in the field of sustainability.
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The charrette format proved successful for many of the Communities session tracks. Shannon Kettering and William York look on as a charrette team member explains a point. |
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The table-talk luncheon provided an opportunity to relax and engage in conversation with like-minded conference-goers. Thematic tables provided relevant topic discussions. |
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Exhibitors met with conference attendees to “show their wares.” The focused audience at Greenprints provided an environment that was beneficial for both attendees and exhibitors. |
Over 1,100 people from across the nation participated in Green Week activities, marking another banner year for delivering the Southface mission through these premier events. To our participants, thank you for your energy and insights, but most of all, we appreciate what you will accomplish in your communities as you take back what you learned. To our sponsors and exhibitors, thank you for your support of our work and the role you play in transforming the market for sustainable development. We look forward to next year when we will have more opportunities to come together and set the stage for the future.
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