Countries to Celebrate First World Green Building Day

The World Green Building Council (WGBC) has announced that it has organized the first World Green Building Day to be celebrated Sept. 23, 2009, in Toronto. The WGBC is a coalition of several established, emerging and applicant green building councils from around the world and endorses green building rating systems, commitment to education and training and advocacy for the worldwide adoption of sustainable building practices.

"The building sector is responsible for more than one-third of total energy use and, in most countries, is the largest greenhouse gas emissions source," says Tony Arnel, chair, WGBC. "This makes buildings the greatest and most cost-effective opportunity for tackling climate change, especially when technologies exist that can reduce a building's energy consumption by 30 to 50 percent. World Green Building Day is a call to action to ensure green buildings are an international priority, a part of the climate change solution and are in the forefront of decision makers' minds when the world gathers at the United Nations Climate Change Conference this December."

To celebrate the inaugural World Green Building Day, the WGBC will be holding a variety of events, including its Leaders’ Summit and reception, where it will bring together world industry leaders and policy makers to hear from experts about the potential green buildings offer nations as they work to reduce their carbon emissions. There will also be a session spotlighting Canadian initiatives and the opportunity for governments to be the leading advocates for green buildings on the international stage. Speakers include architect, Karan Grover, advisor to the Obama Administration, Frank Biden and Andrew Bowerbank, executive director of the WGBC.

Additional events will be held around the world to celebrate World Green Building Day in Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, Taiwan and the United States.