3.20.2007 - 12:58pm ET

(CSRwire) GREENFIELD, MA — March 20, 2007— As the nation struggles to come to grips with the realities of Climate Change, a record 3,000 people at the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's (NESEA) 32nd annual Building Energy Conference and Trade Show learned about practical, feasible solutions to the global problem that are in place and working.

"Solutions, after all, is what NESEA is, and always has been, all about," said Paul R. Epstein, M.D., of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School.

With a theme of Building for a Changing Climate, BuildingEnergy07, held March 13-15 at Boston's Seaport World Trade Center, provided numerous opportunities to strengthen knowledge about climate change and ways to incorporate proven methods for reducing building emissions through workshops, sessions, networking and a trade show with over 150 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge green technologies and services. Attendees included architects, engineers, builders, city and town planners, building systems designers, developers, facility managers, investors, policy makers, and real estate professionals, as well as students and others interested in renewable energy and green building practices.

"This was without a doubt our biggest and most successful Building Energy event ever," said NESEA Executive Director David Barclay. "There's no question that the growing realization and concern about climate change has more and more people looking for solutions. I think it is safe to say that those who came to BuildingEnergy07 found that significant solutions exist; the big challenge is to increase their use."

A full-day workshop entitled Climate Change: 1,000 Solutions highlighted ways to build a better, zero-carbon world. "When I saw the name of this workshop, it occurred to me that the city of Boston seems to be chasing all 1,000 of these solutions," said James Hunt, Chief of Energy and the Environment for the City of Boston, who represented Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino at the workshop.

Mayor Menino recently announced that Boston will become the nation's first major city to require strict green building standards for building projects of 50,000 square feet or more with a goal of making all new buildings more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly.

Reacting to a statement that the average European uses about half the energy of the average American with essentially the same lifestyle, renowned climate change communications expert Solitaire Townsend of the United Kingdom noted, "The rest of the world knows that once America decides to tackle this problem in a serious way that you’ll do it better than anyone. Whenever America chooses to do something, you always do it the best. I think we’ve been disappointed that you’ve not taken a leadership role in this area and we’re looking to you to do so."

Ed Mazria, AIA, an internationally recognized architect, educator, and author of The Passive Solar Energy Book, delivered a hard-hitting keynote address at BuildingEnergy07. Mazria showed dramatic visuals, based on computer models, of what the east coast could look like in 2030, given the effects of climate change with "business as usual.". With a predicted seawater rise of as much as 18 feet, cities such as Boston, Kennebunkport, ME and Norwalk, CT could be either all or mostly underwater.

"The time for action is now" said Mazria who received a standing ovation from the audience of nearly 1,000. "Cities and towns can adopt ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the real challenge is to actually take the needed steps towards making buildings carbon-neutral."

A free Public Forum entitled, Wind Power in the Wild, hosted by Jim Braude of NECN and 96.6 FM, featured a lively, and often contentious, debate on the difficult decisions faced when considering the placement of wind turbines in undeveloped natural areas. Panelists were Bill McKibben, recognized authority on climate change and author of The End of Nature; Michael Kellett, RESTORE; Eleanor Tillinghast, Green Berkshires, Inc.; and Steven Terry, Green Mountain Power.

"In the best of all possible worlds, we wouldn’t put turbines in these places," said McKibben, "but unfortunately we are no longer dealing with the best of all possible worlds."

Other highlights of BuildingEnergy07 included the debut of PowerHouse Enterprises' revolutionary PowerPod™, a 20' x 30' autonomous building made from sustainable materials with working energy efficient systems with multiple uses in domestic and commercial settings; a compelling visual arts exhibit with images of Climate Change from around the world; an alternative transportation showcase; live and silent auctions of recycled, organic and natural items; Global Meltdown, an ice sculpture of the Earth representing global warming as it melted throughout the day; a tour of the Seaport World Trade Center’s green Seaport Hotel and the premier of Transforming Energy, a documentary film about alternative energy as a solution to climate change.

The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative was the Title Sponsor of BuildingEnergy07. Additional sponsors included: The Alternate Energy Center, Arrowstreet, Inc., BuildingGreen, Cape Light Compact, Cape Wind, Choctaw Ridge Print Group, Energy Star, Federal Home Loan Bank, Foley Hoag, Henry P. Kendall Foundation, IBEW Local #103, KeySpan, Maine Public Utilities Commission, Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources, New York State Energy Research & Development Authority, NSTAR, Raytheon, Presentation Technology, and UK Trade & Investment.

Media Partners included: Alternative Energy Retailer magazine, BCC Research, CSRwire, E/The Environmental Magazine, ecoLogical Home Ideas, Environmental Design + Construction Magazine, Green Builder Magazine, Green Chip Review, Green Energy TV, Green Living Journal, GreenBiz.com, High-Profile Monthly, Home Energy magazine, New England Real Estate Journal, RenewableEnergyAccess.com, and Smart HomeOwner magazine.

NESEA facilitates the widespread adoption and use of sustainable energy by providing support to industry professionals and by educating and motivating consumers to learn about, and adopt sustainable energy and green building practices. NESEA accomplishes this through a number of ongoing programs and annual events including the Building Energy conference and trade show, its Sustainable Green Pages, K-12 educational materials, and award-winning public education events such as Green Buildings Open House.

For more information on BuildingEnergy07: Building for a Changing Climate, or on NESEA, please visit www.buildingenergy.nesea.org.

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