3.21.2008 - 10:59am ET

(CSRwire) GREENFIELD, MA – March 21, 2008 – Joining forces with nearly 4,000 professionals and visitors at the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's (NESEA) 33rd annual Building Energy Conference and Trade Show, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick reinforced his commitment to green building and renewable energy by establishing a task force on net zero energy buildings.

Patrick also called on the green building and renewable energy professionals gathered at Boston's Seaport World Trade Center, March 11 – 13, to continue to develop ways to build green and use sustainable products, energy-efficient techniques, and renewable energy installations to help to reduce the carbon foot print of buildings and, ultimately, help slow climate change.

"Buildings that reduce their energy use by 40% are great, but that is simply not enough," the Governor said. "We need to set our sights lower, in fact, all the way to zero. Therefore I am establishing this task force on net zero energy buildings today and asking them to have their recommendations, including recommendations for construction finance, ready for announcement to you here at the Building Energy conference one year from today."

"Furthermore, I am calling on those of you in this room, the ones who can make this happen, to lead the energy revolution and accept my challenge to help us get to zero. That is the least we can do!"

NESEA Executive Director, David Barclay, could not have been more thrilled, "All of us associated with NESEA have worked for many years to minimize buildings' energy use and carbon footprint. Governor Patrick's announcement and commitment to present the task force's recommendations at the Building Energy Conference next year is a real boost to these professionals and a compliment to their decades of pioneering work."

BuildingEnergy08 hosted an outstanding green and sustainable Trade Show. The floor was buzzing with Conference attendees as well as crowds of general public who had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with over 170 exhibitors. Alex Wilson, President, Building Green, Inc., Brattleboro, VT, gave the Keynote Presentation at the Plenary Session, "Integrated Solutions to the Tangled Problems of Energy, Environment, Water, and Health" providing specific steps toward reducing climate change.

With a theme of Tools, Action, & Solutions, BuildingEnergy08 provided numerous opportunities for attendees to learn, network, and experience first-hand what really works to successfully complete green building, energy-efficiency, and other climate change-related projects. NESEA’s years of experience have helped the organization develop the seeds for the solutions to building green that so many people are utilizing today, solutions that not only help to reduce building emissions, but also to reduce the impact of rising energy costs.

A free Public Forum, "The Boston Green Tea Party: An Energy Revolution!," was moderated by Jim Braude, host of NECN's NewsNight. As a "British red-coat" kept watch, the panelists provided four distinctly different perspectives on actions to be taken against climate change. Panelists were Linda Gunter of Beyond Nuclear, Maryland; James Howard Kunstler, Journalist, New York; Chris Martenson an Economic Analyst, Massachusetts; and Solitaire Townsend, co-founder and Managing Director of Futerra, London, United Kingdom.

Other highlights of BuildingEnergy08 included live and silent auctions of recycled, organic and natural items; a tour of the Seaport World Trade Center's green Seaport Hotel, and showing of Everything’s Cool, a documentary film featuring Ross Gelbspan and Bill McKibben and other prominent global warming messengers.

The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative was the Title Sponsor of BuildingEnergy08. Additional sponsors included: American Solar Energy Society, Arrowstreet, BuildingGreen, Cape Light Compact, Climate Energy LLC, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, Efficiency Maine, Energysmiths, Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, Goody Clancy, Integrated CADD Services, Late July Organic Snacks, Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources, MassEnergy/RI People's Power & Light, Mondial Energy Inc., National Grid-KeySpan, National Fiber, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, NSTAR Electric and Gas, Payette, Presentation Technology, Sasaki Associates, Inc., Solar Design Associates, Inc., Sterling Planet, Steven Winter Associates, Inc., Turner Construction, and UK Trade & Investment.

Media Partners include: Alternative Energy Retailer, ASHRAE Journal/ High Performing Buildings, Climate Solutions, CSRwire, E-The Environmental Magazine, ENN (Environmental News Network), ecoLogical Home Ideas, eco-structure, Environmental Design + Construction, Green Builder, Green Living Journal, High-Profile Monthly, Home Energy, metrogreenbusiness.com, New England Home, New England Real Estate Journal, New Jersey & Co., New York House, Smart HomeOwner, Solar Industry, and Sustainable Facility.

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) advances the practical application and adoption of sustainable and low-carbon energy practices in the Northeast United States. NESEA accomplishes this through a number of ongoing programs and annual events including: the Building Energy conference and trade show, professional education workshops, K-12 Education programs, the Green Buildings Open House Tour, and the Sustainable Green Pages.

For more information on Building Energy, including vendor or sponsorship information for March 10-12, 2009, please visit www.buildingenergy.nesea.org or call 413-774-6051.

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