News Advisory & Story Suggestion
Synopsis: Public buildings may be going greener but not all facility professionals managing them have heard of LEED. As the guidelines are incorporated into U.S. building codes, every facility manager will be affected by LEED requirements.
Expert interview: What is This Thing Called LEED? – James Newman, managing partner, Newman Consulting Group, LLC, Detroit
Background: Constantly increasing energy costs and other factors have more business owners investing in green buildings. According to Newman, a recent national survey of the commercial real estate sector revealed nearly two-thirds of respondents allocated funds to green initiatives, while the majority said sustainability investment would increase in 2008.
Formed in the mid-90s, the U.S. Green Building Council developed a framework – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – to help design and construct environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient buildings that are healthier workplaces and more economically profitable. Understanding of LEED’s benefits and cost savings is an essential facility manager responsibility.
Where: Mandalay Bay Convention Center – Room H
3950 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas
When: 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 16*
Expand the story: Sell Your Energy Savings/Cost Cutting Programs to the CFO – In this heightened era of corporate energy stewardship, proper presentation of the financial aspects of a proposed energy savings project to a company’s CFO can change the outcome from frustrating to successful.
Interview: Richard Lubinski, president, Think Energy Management LLC, Silver Lake, Ohio. Room J, 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 16
Building a Sustainable Energy Strategy – Economic and environmental incentives are driving business and facility managers to rethink energy purchasing decisions like never before. What role does sustainability play in the context of energy procurement strategy?
Interview: Andrew Singer, senior vice president, Constellation NewEnergy, Inc., Baltimore. Room J, 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 17.
About the show: Facility Decisions Conference & Expo is a new, educational conference and trade show for facility professionals responsible for non-residential building management.
Get the latest scoop on the facility management industry and gain access to the professionals who own, operate and maintain the nation’s buildings. The expected 1,800 attendees uphold public safety, maintain commercial vitality and promote environmental stewardship. More than 50 free educational sessions led by industry experts will help professionals solve their biggest and most timely issues. Members of the media are welcome to attend all sessions and visit the exhibit hall to experience the latest products, services and technologies designed to keep buildings running effectively, efficiently, safely and sustainably.
About the producers: Facility Decisions Conference & Expo is sponsored by ROC Exhibitions, Inc., Lisle, Ill., and Trade Press Publishing, Milwaukee. The companies also co-own the National Facilities Management & Technology Conference/Expo, next slated for March 10-12, 2009, at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Trade Press publishes Building Operation Management and Maintenance Solutions magazines; developed FacilitiesNet (www.facilitiesnet.com), the leading portal for those who design, build, manage and maintain nonresidential buildings; and launched FacilityZone (www.facilityzone.com), the search engine for facility professionals.
ROC Exhibitions produces nine trade shows annually in the United States and Mexico. ROC-produced events serve the fields of facility management, fire and life safety, law enforcement and security, metalworking, plastics fabrication, assembly technology and electronics manufacturing. Visit ROC Exhibitions online at www.rocexhibitions.com.
Media contacts: Sue Markgraf, GreenMark Public Relations, 847-970-9160 or smarkgraf@greenmarkpr.com
Cory Ampe, Trade Press Publishing, 414-228-1134, ext. 448 or cory.ampe@tradpress.com
For information, including press and attendee registration, session information and an exhibitor list, visit www.facilitydecisions.com.
Media onsite: Stop by the press room to register to attend conference sessions and interview presenters. The press room will be open in the registration lobby from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please bring press credentials.
Media Contact:
Sue Markgraf
GreenMark Public Relations
847-970-9160, office
smarkgraf@greenmarkpr.com