Nov 25 2009
For the third consecutive year, the Green California Schools Summit and Expo will be conducted at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California, from December 9 to 11, 2009. The Summit, which is the nation’s largest green schools conference, will focus on school gardens, green schools, recycling programs and energy efficiency retrofits.
The Summit will include pre-conference workshops, sessions conducted by innovators and stakeholders in the green schools movement. The stakeholders and innovators include David Thorman, State Architect, other architects, government agencies, curriculum experts, and green school rating organizations.
More than 100 companies from the area of sustainable services and products will participate in the exhibition. A green modular schoolroom at the entrance of the convention center will be erected by American Modular Systems. American Modular Systems, the primary sponsor of the Summit, has designed and built institutional, commercial and educational facilities.
The Los Angeles Unified School District will sponsor a garden display at the exhibition floor. A Resource Center by the Office of the State Architect will be set up at the exhibition hall. The Center has representatives from the California Building Standards Commission and Department of Education, California Energy Commission and the Metropolitan Water District, and also representatives from state agencies which can assist green programs.
At the Pathways to the Future Teacher’s Institute, the Summit has organised events for teachers as well, aimed at helping teachers learn about real-world applications and sustainability. Professionals from green fields including recycling and green building, and transportation will show hands-on exploration of curriculum resources.
At a reception, scheduled for December 10, 2009, the Summit’s annual Leadership Awards will be presented. The award will honor companies, school districts, and also individuals who have contributed to California’s green schools movement.
Alec Loorz and Bharat Patel are some of the keynote speakers at the conference. Alec Loorz has gained international attention for helping his peers to understand global warming. Bharat Patel, who is an expert in sustainability and green building, has worked on building projects in Asia, Europe, America, and has played an active role in fields including carbon trading, finance and job development.