September 22, 2009

World Green Building Day promotes sustainable structures

Wednesday (Sept. 23) marks the first-ever World Green Building Day, a series of global events aimed at promoting the role sustainable buildings play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The day was created by the World Green Building Council (WGBC), a union of national councils focused on accelerating the “transformation of the global built environment towards sustainability.”

The council’s current membership represents over 50 per cent of global construction activity, WGBC says.

“World Green Building Day is a call to action to ensure green buildings are an international priority, a part of the climate change solution and are in the forefront of decision makers' minds when the world gathers at the United Nations Climate Change Conference this December,” said WGBC chair Tony Arnel.

"The building sector is responsible for more than one-third of total energy use and, in most countries, is the largest greenhouse gas emissions source."

"This makes buildings the greatest and most cost-effective opportunity for tackling climate change, especially when technologies exist that can reduce a building's energy consumption by 30 to 50 per cent,” Arnel added.

Among the number of worldwide World Green Building Day events, in Toronto the WGBC will host a summit Wednesday, bringing together industry leaders and policy makers to discuss the potential of green buildings moving forward.

Speakers will include renowned architect Karan Grover and Frank Biden, an advisor to the Obama administration.

In the Washington, DC, green building proponents will attend the U.S. Green Building Council's Congressional Advocacy Day, where attendees will exchange ideas on “incorporating green building into long-term climate change mitigation legislation,” according to a news release.

In Australia, the WGBC will launch the Asia Pacific Network, providing support for countries as they establish their own green building councils, develop rating tools and roll-out education programs.

For more information visit the WGBC website.

-RCD Digital Media

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