Greenbuild 2017 wrapped last Friday with a fantastic closing plenary from Neil deGrasse Tyson. The night before we heard from President Bill Clinton. These talks couldn’t have been more different. Clinton’s was heavy on policy, while Tyson’s was more of an allegory; Clinton’s was tightly scripted while Tyson’s was more extemporaneous and peppered with asides; Clinton discussed the LEED-rated orphanage being built in his name in Haiti while Tyson discussed his facility in New York. But they both did a great job of driving home the theme of Greenbuild 2017: “All In.”
Clinton and Tyson also did a spectacular job of illustrating the connected nature of the work being done by the US Green Building Council and its constituent members and how each of us can be “All In.” Mohawk’s George Bandy brought this to rousing life as he spoke Thursday night, declaring all the ways to be “All In.” And USGBC President and CEO Mahesh Ramanujam reminded that while we all have our roles to play, we can only achieve the sustainable goals we are reaching for if we are “All In.”
In the coming days and weeks, we’re going to be sharing a lot from this one-of-a-kind conference, but I wanted to strike now while the spirit was fresh to implore anyone who works in sustainability, innovation, construction, or who just has the opportunity due to geography or timing to make an effort to attend this amazing event. The fresh ideas are infectious, and the tech is truly amazing. Plus, the speakers are out of sight. Couple that with a great city to explore — Boston this year and Chicago next — and you have the recipe for a great event.
On top of that, Greenbuild’s basic value proposition is easy to understand. Sustainable building practices and work and living environments are good for the bottom line. These aren’t a bunch of extremists suggesting that we go live in thatched huts and turn our backs on civilization. These are business people who see the opportunity to help improve the planet we live in and grow a successful enterprise. With the platform Innovation & Tech Today has and the associations with USGBC, Sustainable Brands, The Green Sports Alliance, and others, we’re proud to help tell these stories and definitely will be “All In.”
