AGC Offers a Record Number of Green Construction and Environmental Sessions at its Upcoming 90th Annual Convention/Constructor Expo

Join us at the San Diego Convention Center on March 4-7, 2009, for AGC's 90th Annual Convention/Constructor Expo and attend 12 programs that focus on green construction and environmental regulatory issues. The Constructor Expo will also feature a "green pavilion" showcasing environmentally-friendly technologies, materials and products. Below are descriptions of the many special programs on green construction and environmental issues as well as the five programs held as part of the Green Construction Professional Development Track. Registration for the 90th Annual Convention/Constructor Expo is online at http://www.agc.org/2009Convention. Special Sessions Wednesday, March 4, 8:30AM - 10:00 AM The Environmental Challenge for Construction: New Issues on the Horizon Industry experts and government officials will provide an update on significant environmental issues currently facing the construction industry and new, more stringent rules coming down the pike. Hear first-hand the latest on the environmental movement and its agenda for the next decade. Highlights will include the latest news on California's landmark diesel retrofit mandate, groundbreaking changes to the national construction stormwater runoff program, as well as new clean air and climate change initiatives. Learn how AGC is taking action to protect your business interests. Get bottom-line answers to your questions. Thursday, March 5, 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM The Green Building Marketplace: Focus on Contractors and Trends that will Impact their Business (Part of the Constructor Expo) Harvey Bernstein, McGraw-Hill Construction The green building marketplace is rapidly evolving, changing the way our industry conducts business. This session will provide an overview of McGraw-Hill Construction's latest market research, with new trends in commercial and institutional building, cutting edge insights into green home building activity, the impact of the down economy on home buyer preferences, and the growth of the global green building marketplace in seven major global regions. Attendees will learn about the drivers impacting contractors in today's market and the major factors shaping construction in the future. Thursday, March 5, 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Federal Forum: Let's Build Your AGC Relationship with Federal Owners and Regulators that Impact Your Business Learn about federal owner and regulatory agencies at this special forum where officials from GSA, USCIS, Wage and Hour, OFCCP, EPA, Corps of Engineers, NAVFAC and other agencies will discuss their programs in 30-minute sessions on Thursday, March 5, 2009. The EPA Construction Industry Liaison, Peter Truitt, will present at the EPA session at 2:00 PM-2:30 PM. Friday, March 6, 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM How to Market Green (Part of the Marketing Professional Development Track) J. C. Burton, Woodline Solutions In order to be competitive in the ever changing world of construction management, general contractors are finding sustainability the avenue to differentiate their firms. In this session participants will learn how to market, sell, estimate and manage green construction. Friday, March 6, 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM A Look at the Contractor's Role in Green Building (Part of the Constructor Expo) Tom Glavinich, The University of Kansas Thomas Taylor, Vertegy, An Alberici Enterprise Attendees will have a unique opportunity to meet with the author of Contractor's Guide to Green Building Construction and hear some of the highlights of the guidebook. Joining the author, a contractor member will share his experience on 15 certified and 44 in process green building projects. Written specifically for contractors, this "how-to" book enables you to meet the challenges of green building construction. It introduces how the "green" or "sustainable" elements of a project may impact construction management practices and how the contractor's role on a green project may vary based on the project delivery process. The book discusses the impact green aspects could have on contractor decisions throughout the entire project, including contract phase, when working with subcontractors, while managing the design process (when applicable), during construction operations, and closeout. Friday, March 6, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Water Infrastructure Needs (Part of the Municipal and Utilities Contractors Division Session) Following approximately 30 minutes of division business, Steve Allbee from the EPA will deliver a special 30-45 minute presentation on water infrastructure needs and EPA's role in assessing and providing financing for clean water and drinking water infrastructure and the substantial challenges that face the nation. Friday, March 6, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Stormwater Pollution Prevention and Erosion Control on the Construction Site Katherin Steinbacher, KSPE Consultants, LLC As construction companies struggle to make sense of the vast array of environmental laws that apply to their operations, many contractors find themselves confused about their legal responsibility to control stormwater that runs off their jobsites. This session will explain the requirements - and potential legal liabilities - pertaining to erosion and sediment control on construction sites in a straightforward, easy to understand manner. The presenter will share first-hand knowledge of how to administer a compliant stormwater pollution prevention program on all your projects. Also learn about federal rules in the works that could ultimately dictate the amount of sediment that you can lawfully discharge from active sites. Green Construction Professional Development Track Wednesday, March 4, 1:15 PM - 2:30 PM Let's Build Green: Challenges and Opportunities for the Green Built Environment Catha Pavloff, March USA, Inc. Steven Charney, Peckar & Abramson Michael Feigin, Marsh USA, Inc. In this session participants will gain insight into how their peers, clients and other members of the green built industry perceive the challenges and opportunities facing them. The session will be divided into two segments: the first will describe the current state of the market and potential for the future and the second session will consist of sharing with the audience the results of at least two green built forums. Thursday, March 5, 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM Green-N-Site: Green Building for Developers, Designers, and Contractors Cynthia Fairchild, Fairfield Development, LP Michael Fairchild, Fairfield Development, LP Green-N-Site demonstrates how to establish effective environmental goals for a project, with an emphasis on the use of the LEED® Rating System. Through practical dialog, the presenters, both LEED Accredited Professionals, will demonstrate the education programs they have implemented for a national multifamily development and construction company. Thursday, March 5, 10:30 AM - Noon The Liability of Building Green Ujjval K. Vyas, Alberti Group As the building industry matures in implementing sustainable practices, an understanding of legal application, risk management and regulatory policy is needed to ensure the continued success of building green. This presentation will give attendees a deeper understanding of this complicated emerging issue and help them understand how it can affect the way they do business. Thursday, March 5, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Going Green Inside & Out: A Case Study in Sustainable Change Mary Laurie, Nabholz Construction Michael Parker, Nabholz Construction Going Green Inside & Out will introduce participants to a successful, step-by-step approach for bringing a sustainable focus to their organizations or departments. Participants will be introduced to a planning and implementation framework that will guide them from start to finish. Friday, March 6, 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM Climate Change and Construction Michael Nesteroff, Lane Powell, PC Grant Degginger, Lane Powell, PC Tom Nelson, Mithun State and local regulations are being proposed and adopted at a rapid pace and will have wide-ranging impacts on construction and development. Green Building codes, development restrictions, transportation requirements and consideration of greenhouse gas emissions in permitting decisions will become a significant part of any project.