Buildings account for the largest source of energy consumption in America with an estimated 43% of all greenhouse gas emissions compared to 32% for transportation and 25% for industry. This statistic, coupled with population and business growth and the expanding demands for increased residential and commercial building sizes, indicate that our energy demands from buildings will continue to rise. The advances in design and construction and the resulting business case for green building present an opportunity to rectify this imbalance and revolutionize the industry. How can we leverage a green building initiative in Austin to transform our built environment to an energy-efficient, green future, thereby stimulating a green collar economy?
Please join the CleanTX Forum on April 9th to hear a panel of leading green building experts to discuss the opportunity to grow the green building community and resources in Texas to support this ecosystem. Panelists will address many of the leading questions on green building and the industry that can be created around it, including:

• What are the tangible benefits of green building to the community, building owners, tenants, and home owners?
  How is climate change accelerating green building development?
  What opportunities exist in new building construction and the retrofit of existing buildings? What impact will this have on our utilities and our community?
  What building technologies and materials are driving this industry and who are the key players?
  What are the benefits and costs of building green vs. brown?
  What is LEED and Energy Star? How do I know the best way to buy green products?
  How large is the green building industry and how can Austin / Texas leverage its current green building program and existing assets to build a green collar economy around this opportunity?