News Releases - 2002

Governor Ryan's Conference On "Building Green" Highlights Environmentally-Sustainable Building Practices

Urbana, Ill. -- Governor Ryan's first Conference on Building Green today increased the awareness of good environmental building practices among state agencies, building architects, engineering firms and university officials.

The more than 300 who registered for the conference at the University of Illinois Illini Union heard from a variety of leading experts on cutting-edge building techniques that conserve natural resources, increase energy efficiency and improve the workplace environment.

The conference is one of the initiatives under Governor George H. Ryan's "Green Illinois" program to encourage state government and local communities to serve as a role model for environmental leadership and protection.

"Because green buildings use key resources like energy, water and materials more efficiently, the Governor believes that such buildings can save resources such as utility costs, create a better work environment and increased productivity and reduce overall environmental impacts," said Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Renee Cipriano, who co-chairs the Green Government Coordinating Council.

The Council organized today's conference and is also pursing other green building initiatives, including a pilot project at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale that will include low-polluting building materials, an integrated building recycling system and photovoltaic solar panels to help generate electricity.

The Council is also working with the Illinois Capital Development Board to develop green building performance guidelines that will help make future state building projects more environmentally and energy sound.

The conference featured experts on green building practices from across the nation, as well as Illinois. Keynote speaker was California architect Sim Van der Ryn, a leader for 35 years in sustainable building design.

Other sessions included case studies, practical application, strategies and national trends in green building design, as well as green building products.