For Immediate Release: May 4, 2007
DBEDT Release News 07-08

The State of Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism's (DBEDT) 2007 Hawai‘i Build & Buy Green Conference & Expo will be held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center on May 8 and 9, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

"Green building is integrating energy efficiency, comfort, health and sustainability into homes, schools or commercial buildings," said Theodore E. Liu, DBEDT Director. "By designing green building features, materials and equipment into the home or building from the very beginning, value is added to the buildings and communities, and our 'aina, air and water are preserved."

The conference will feature the latest in greening approaches, programs and products for consumers, building and design industry professionals, military, health care, education, and federal, state and local government.

The conference begins May 8 with a workshop entitled, "Green Communities, Greening Affordable Housing, and Renewable Energy in Hawai‘i." It will cover green communities; designing, building, and financing affordable Hawai‘i housing; and photovoltaic applications in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

On May 9, three concurrent tracks of seminars feature panels of local and national green building design and engineering professionals who will share their expertise in green home building; LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for homes, commercial buildings and schools; Energy Star(r) homes; Green Guide for Health Care; construction and demolition waste and re-use; and photovoltaics and netmetering.

The second day of the conference also includes tabletop exhibits of green products and services in Hawai‘i.

Seminar attendees are eligible to earn about six hours of AIA continuing education units each day.

The cost of attending the conference:

Both days: $190 per person
May 8 only (Green Communities, Greening Affordable Housing, and Renewable Energy in Hawai‘i): $95
May 9 only (Build & Buy Green Seminars & Expo): $110
Special Student Rate: $35 a day, or $60 both days.

Co-sponsors include:

• The General Contractors Association of Hawai‘i
• The Honolulu Chapter of the American Institute of Architects
• Construction Specifications Institute
• HonBlue
• Building Industry Association of Hawai‘i
• Hawaiian Electric Company
• State of Hawai‘i Department of Health
• U.S. Department of Energy
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Urban Land Institute
• Cement & Concrete Products Industry of Hawai‘i
• U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
• Masonry Institute of Hawaii, Hawaii Lumber Products Association
• Hawai‘i Pacific Steel Framing Alliance
• Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute
• American Society of Interior Designers
• International Interior Design Association
• Aloha Chapter of the National Kitchen & Bath Association
• Rebuild Hawai‘i
• The Illuminating Engineering Society

For information on the conference and a registration form, visit the program website at www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/energy/events/hawaii, or contact the program coordinators, Dean Masai, 587-3804, or Gail Suzuki-Jones, 587-3802.

For more information, contact:
Dave Young
Communications
Phone: (808) 587-1212
Email: dyoung@dbedt.hawaii.gov