Brownfields 2008 Greening Activities

What are the conference organizers doing?

As in past years, the conference is taking significant steps to reduce not only the waste generated by the conference but to advance other environmentally friendly conference features such as increasing the amount of post-consumer recycled paper and soy-based inks for conference mailers, eliminating paper registrations, providing many conference materials electronically rather than by hard copy, reducing duplications on mailing lists, and working with the conference facility and hotels to increase onsite recycling and waste reduction. 

This year, Brownfields 2008 is purchasing carbon offsets – investments in new clean and renewable energy projects.  The offsets, purchased from NativeEnergy and sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, URS Corporation, and Holland & Knight, will counterbalance the enormous amount of energy consumed by the Cobo Center and hotel room blocks, and during mobile workshops in metro Detroit and from disposal of waste from the conference, NativeEnergy invests in new renewable energy programs that will displace fossil-based energy.  The specific program funded by Brownfields 2008 is the Hillcrest Saylor Family Farm Methane Project.  The methane projects help reduce global warming and pollution by reducing the amount of fossil fuels farms use for heat and cooling, and by preventing emissions from methane gas from waste storage lagoons. Please see http://www.nativeenergy.com/brownfields for more information.

GM has also donated several hybrid buses that will be used on the following mobile workshops.

• Redevelopment and Renovation of Historic Sites:  The Monroe Experience - Sunday, May 4, 1:00-4:00 pm
• Ford Rouge and Fairlane Green: Sustainable Manufacturing and Recycled Real Estate - Tuesday, May 6, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Zen and the Art of Redevelopment: Detroit’s Inner-Ring Suburbs - Tuesday, May 6, 1:15 – 4:00 p.m.
• Downriver: Ecorse, River Rouge, and Southwest Detroit - Tuesday, May 6, 1:15 – 4:00 p.m.
• Collaborative Success: Southwest Detroit - Wednesday, May 7, 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.

What is the Cobo Center doing?

Lighting in the Atrium and mezzanine corridors of the Cobo Center cycles on and off based on natural light levels. This operation along with the replacement of 84,000 fluorescent lamps with more energy efficient lighting contributes to the reduction of 23 million kWh of energy annually.

Encouraging the use of public transportation in and around Detroit through the use of the Detroit People Mover, The Cobo Center even has its own station located within facility.

The Cobo Center is beginning to implement a recycling program throughout the facility to collect plastic and aluminum from the hallways and offices.

What can the attendees do?

Attendees have the opportunity to purchase carbon offsets for their travel.  Using the simple carbon calculator on http://www.nativeenergy.com/brownfields you can purchase carbon offsets for worthwhile sustainability projects that reflect the overall spirit of the conference and brownfields redevelopment.

In addition, attendees can:

• Recycle paper and beverage containers as posted in the conference center.
• Participate in hotel water and/or energy conservation programs as posted.
• Take advantage of the Detroit People Mover elevated train that connects attendees from downtown hotels directly to the Cobo Center. (http://www.thepeoplemover.com)
• Take advantage of shared shuttle service to and from the Detroit Metro Airport.  The Brownfields 2008 conference has selected Golden Limousine to provide airport-to-hotel transportation.  For more information and reservations, please see http://www.goldenlimo.com/brownfields.html.
• If you are driving to the conference, share a ride.  Visit the Brownfields 2008 group on http://goloco.org/groups/1726.
• Bring your own coffee mug.

What are the conference hotels doing?

Conference planners have encouraged hotels to adopt environmentally-friendly practices.  Follow the link below to see what practices each conference hotels uses.  We invite attendees with questions to contact the hotels directly.

Detailed Hotel Greening Information

Tips for Presenters and Exhibitors

Brownfields 2008 Conference needs your help to make this year’s conference the greenest ever!

Greening Tip Sheet for Exhibitors

Greening Tip Sheet for Presenters