The Green Building Expo Online Event Series continued yesterday with a multi-hour event focused on Remodels and Retrofits. The event was a big success and started off with a round table discussion answering attendee questions live on everything from home performance tips to tax incentives for energy efficient construction. From there the event moved towards an individual presentation by Jean Carroon on sustainable preservation. It's amazing to think that our current building stock accounts for around 40% of total energy use and carbon emissions in this country.

Following Jean's presentation was a talk tailored towards home performance, and Lucas Johnson shared words of wisdom on the necessity for a home performance assessment. More states are making these necessary before a home or building is sold, but there is a lot of work left to do in this arena. Audience participation yesterday was very high, and I found myself running out of time posting questions to Jean. It seems that there is a large number of professionals out there interested in or already involved in the reuse market that are seeking guidance.

The grand opening of Green Building Expo was a great success with over 3000 attendees during the two day event.

We will be running monthly smaller shows through out the rest of the year and will be adding new booths to the virtual marketplace too so you'll always find great new information about green building products and techniques.

The American Society of Lanscape Architects (ASLA) announced recently that they would offer classes and workshops at their upcoming annual conference that are applicable towards LEED credential maintenance. For the first time ever the courses and workshops will grant LEED accredited professionals continuing education hours towards maintaining their accreditation. This is a wonderful step forward in terms of organizations coming together and providing for environmental professionals. When all these rating systems and organizations first started they were closed off in terms of their own standards, accreditation systems, etc.

Now that the ASLA is beginning to provide for LEED professionals at their annual conference, let's hope this act filters throughout the green building arena. Continuing education is so desperately needed at this time, to keep us current on issues and present answers to age-old problems with integrated solutions. I know being involved with my local USGBC chapter, we are currently trying to put together an education track for our members. Trying to institute programs that not only are educational, but apply to credential maintenance is a tough battle.