November 8, 2002—The first annual International Green Building Conference and Expo, hosted by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), is taking place in Austin, Texas, on November 13-15, 2002. The event is designed to serve as the annual meeting place for green building professionals. More than 2,000 attendees are expected to attend a diverse educational program.
Marilyn Black, PhD, will speak at this year’s convention, focusing on recent technological advances in building construction techniques, building operation, and material manufacturing that allow for better indoor environments. She will present the latest information on how to address indoor air pollution by designing, constructing, furnishing, and operating buildings with the goal of protecting the health of the occupants. Participants will be introduced to the GREENGUARD Certification Program for the selection of low-emitting construction materials and indoor furnishings.
Recent studies by the National Academy of Sciences indicate that indoor pollution and substances such as volatile chemicals, e.g. formaldehyde, small particles, and toxic molds are significant contributors to a sharp increase in respiratory illnesses.
According to the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, these problems can plague all buildings including offices, schools, day care centers, and healthcare facilities. People spend more than 90% of their time indoors and, in doing so, are exposing themselves to these “toxic brews.” The indoor pollution results from numerous sources including building products, construction processes, furnishings, and building processes.
According to Dr. Black, indoor environments can be significantly improved with materials and processes already available and with minimal additional costs. For a free GREENGUARD Product Guide, visit GREENGUARD.
