8:17 a.m., Jan. 25, 2011----Those who are concerned about the future of green building and economic development in Delaware should consider attending the inaugural “The Power of Green” building conference to be held March 21-22 at Clayton Hall on the University of Delaware's Laird Campus in Newark.

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Hosted by the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. of Delaware (ABC Delaware), in partnership with the University of Delaware, the two-day conference highlights economic opportunities available in green building and design, as well as educational and economic programs available within the state.

“Sustainability is as much about building strong relationships as it is about building a healthier and more sustainable environment,” explains Jon Lavin, director of education for ABC Delaware.

“ABC Delaware and its partners are committed to the mission of achieving a better educated and economically sound future for our community. The Green Conference brings together leaders from the academic, manufacturing, public and private sectors to share their vision for the betterment of our community throughout Delaware and the region.”

Other conference partners include the University's Center for Energy and Environmental Policy (CEEP), Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO), Delaware Technical and Community College, DEMEP, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Integrative Graduate Education and Research (IGERT) and the New Castle Vocational-Technical School District.

The conference focuses on four major areas of growth in sustainable development and design in Delaware:

• Funding opportunities for workforce development -- including programs available in education and training grants targeting incumbent and dislocated workers at Delaware's trade schools and 2- or 4-year colleges and universities.

• Sustainable research and development -- currently being achieved through UD's CEEP and IGERT programs.

• Green building products -- state-of-the-art manufacturing and product development in Delaware and the region.

• Funding opportunities for redevelopment and up-grades -- to improve energy efficiency of public buildings, colleges and universities, schools and housing.

“Our objective is to create jobs -- green jobs -- paramount to economic recovery in Delaware and the nation,” Lavin says. “Green initiatives are growing. We want to engage and inform the community and prepare the current and future green workforce to excel in this expanding job sector.”

Featured speakers

Gov. Jack Markell is expected to share his vision for a more sustainable Delaware future, which Lavin says dovetails nicely with UD President Patrick Harker's strategic vision for a green campus.

Other featured speakers include:

• Alan Levin, director of the Delaware Economic Development Office;
• John McMahon, Delaware secretary of labor; and
• Colin O'Mara, Delaware secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and Energy (DNREC)

Keynote address

John Byrne, a renowned authority on climate change and director of UD's Center for Energy and Environmental Policy, will deliver the keynote address.

A 2007 Nobel Peace prize recipient for his role as a member of a working group within the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Distinguished Professor of Energy and Climate Policy at UD, Byrne brings global perspective as he discusses green initiatives essential to impacting worldwide climate change.

His work focuses on sustainable development and energy policy, with an emphasis on solar power and energy conservation. Byrne conceived the Sustainable Energy Utility, a first-of-its kind nonprofit agency, and created the first American graduate and undergraduate degrees in the combined field of energy and environmental policy.

The event also includes four breakout panel sessions. UD faculty Robert Opila, a professor with dual appointments in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Ajay K. Prasad, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of UD's Center for Fuel Cell Research, are part a panel session on graduate education and research at UD.

Opila will report on graduate programs and innovative state-of the art sustainable research currently being conducted in his department. Prasad will inform attendees about advances in hydrogen fuel cells.

For more information or to register, visit the ABCDelaware website. LEED Accredited Professionals (AP) can self-report this conference for Continuing Education Credential Maintenance Credit.

Article by Karen B. Roberts