The Largest U.S. Conference Ever to be Green-e Certified Took Place This Fall

SAN FRANCISCO, November 12, 2014 /3BL Media/ - TerraPass, a provider of Green-e Certified carbon offsets and renewable energy credits (RECs) that meet LEED requirements, was pleased to partner again this year with the  2014 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo to reduce its environmental footprint through Green-e’s new Event Certification Program. Green-e is a LEED-approved certification leader for renewable energy and carbon offsets. 

Greenbuild is the nation’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building design and construction and took place in New Orleans Oct 22–24 at the Morial Convention Center.

Greenbuild’s commitment to a prosperous and sustainable future has enabled them to become a leader in sustainable events. The conference has been offsetting its carbon footprint since 2002, and from 2002-2013 has offset over 85,221 mT of CO2e, and continued their commitment for the recently held 2014 event. The previous carbon offsets are equivalent to the CO2 emissions from electricity from 11,722 homes for one year, or the greenhouse gas emissions of over 17,941 passenger vehicles for one year (EPA).  This year will mark the first Green-e Certified carbon offset and REC purchases for the expo, and will support the Hernando Landfill project in Florida and the Rio Grande Landfill project in Texas.

“We are proud to be able to work with Greenbuild once again to ensure their leadership in sustainable events and help them host a 100% carbon neutral event by providing Green-e Certified carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates (RECs) for their emissions and electricity usage at their first Green-e event certified expo,” says Nancy Bsales, Manager Sustainable Solutions at Terrapass.  “We work hand-in-hand with our partners to ensure we meet their sustainable and certification needs.”                                                                                                               

Greenbuild prioritizes efforts to reduce its carbon footprint first. This year it is introduced a new Net Zero Zone, where 1500 square feet of the show floor was powered by solar panels located on the Level 2 balcony of the Morial Convention Center. Even through all of their efforts, some activities such as travel still emit greenhouse gases. Carbon offsets are a way to minimize the impact of these greenhouse gases by building projects in communities across the country that reduce emissions beyond what the Greenbuild can achieve through reductions alone. Offsets make environmental and economic sense: for emissions that are impossible to reduce you can use funds to help reduce emissions elsewhere.

"Green-e is pleased to partner with the Greenbuild and TerraPass on reducing the impact of Greenbuild, the largest event to receive our certification,” said Jennifer Martin, executive director of Center for Resource Solutions, which administers the Green-e program. “Their leadership in offsetting the total greenhouse gas and electricity impact is an example we believe is the future for sustainable events."

About Greenbuild
Greenbuild, owned and operated by Hanley Wood and presented by USGBC, is the nation’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building design and construction. The conference, aptly themed ‘Leadership Jazz’ for 2014, attracts 23,000 attendees and 600 exhibitors annually from across the green building sector, spanning commercial and residential professionals, architects, building owners and operators, students, advocates and educators. Greenbuild 2014 took place Oct. 22-24 in New Orleans. Greenbuild 2015 is scheduled for Nov. 18-20 in Washington, D.C.

About TerraPass
TerraPass, a provider of environmental products since 2004,  is one of Just Energy Group’s green energy initiative that can help us all work towards a better future by pursuing emission reductions  and sustainable energy solutions that support projects across North America. The Company's TerraPass products and services provide consumers and businesses with the options and ability to reduce the environmental impact of their everyday energy use through understanding,  carbon offsets, and renewable energy credits. TerraPass is a registered trade name of Just Energy Resources LLC.

About Green‑e
A program of Center for Resource Solutions, Green‑e is North America's leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market. Green‑e offers certification and verification of renewable energy and greenhouse gas mitigation products through Green‑e Energy, a renewable energy certification program; Green‑e Climate, a greenhouse gas emission reduction certification program; and Green‑e Marketplace, a program that provides forward-thinking organizations a simple, nationally recognized logo they can use to communicate their renewable energy and climate commitment to their customers and stakeholders. To learn more about Green‑e Certified products and programs available in all 50 states and Canada, visit www.Green‑e.org.

For more information please contact:

Kathryn Sarkis, TerraPass at: ksarkis@terrapass.com or by phone at (415) 635-5629
Shelby Hausler, Greenbuild at: shausler@hanleywood.com or by phone at (972) 536-6318.