Living Future 08: The Unconference
Today I am on my first US train ride heading up to Vancouver B.C. from Seattle for the Living Future 08 unconference put on by Cascadia Region Green Building Council. In Cascadia’s own words, “Living Future provides a different way of viewing our built environment in a way that requires new tools, new perspectives and better collaboration.”
This will not be like most conferences held where expert figureheads speak of their knowledge and experiences. Quite the opposite, the unconference is intended to be a forum where “deep green” professionals can interact in small groups with a panelist to be actively involved in creating solutions towards Living Buildings and Living Communities.
As the founder of GreenFab, a new sustainable development company waiting patiently for its first project, I have made a commitment and investment to surround myself with and educate myself from today’s progressive leaders in sustainable design, technology and construction. Although expensive, Living Future 08 is one of those opportunities - as a young star-up company - that I cannot pass up.
What really draws me to Cascadia and the unconference is a new challenge to all building owners, architects, engineers, and design professionals to build in a way that will provide all of us and our children with a sustainable future. The Living Building Challenge is a program made up of prerequisites (not credits) that if met, can claim to be the most sustainable in North America.
The hope is to create buildings and sites that are not only informed by their eco-region characteristics but also generate all their own energy with renewable resources, capture and treat all water on site, and use all resources efficiently for maximum beauty. It’s time to move beyond LEED Platinum.
This is exactly where I want GreenFab to be - at the forefront of sustainable development where we utilize and implement the progressive ideas, technologies and designs that educated professionals have poured their heart and soul into developing.
I will give you all a full report of the unconference when I return from our international sister city to the north. For a complete schedule of programs and speakers, click here.
+ Cascadia Region Green Building Council
Say Hi to my co-worker Patty while you’re up there.