Green$ense 2007 Names Keynote Speaker

The developer of the country’s first green, master-planned mixed-use, arts and residential neighborhood will be the keynote speaker for Green$ense 2007, a conference designed to raise the awareness among real estate developers, building owners and others in the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley regions about the economic benefits of green building.

Susan Eastridge, chief executive officer of Concord Eastridge, will open the March 15 conference at the Westin Convention Center Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh with a discussion of her company’s commitment to building profits through green building. Concord Eastridge is the winning developer of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s RiverParc design/development competition to create a $460 million “green” arts/residential neighborhood within the Cultural District.

The luncheon speaker will be Jim Hartzfeld, managing director, InterfaceRAISE Interface Corp.

“Green building has evolved from a grassroots movement to a thriving industry that is delivering substantial and sustainable results for the bottom lines of its participants and the health of the environment,” says Rebecca Flora, executive director, Green Building Alliance. “Economic forces are fueling the growth in the green building industry. In many cases, green buildings are leasing faster, commanding premium rents and qualify for insurance discounts.”

Winners of the Shades of Green Leadership Awards will also be announced at the Green$ense luncheon. The awards recognize individuals in Western Pennsylvania who have contributed to the region’s environmental transformation.