USGBC has organized an entire track for folks interested in Higher Education. I'll be blogging from the sessions that I'm able to attend. The opening plenary session to this year's GreenBuild Conference in Boston sent attendees off to an energetic start. Rick Fedrizzi, President of the U.S. Green Building Council welcomed the 23,000 registered attendees, who together, represent 80 countries, all 50 states, some 200 elected officials, and many working in higher education. Gushing with more "hope and optimism than I've ever felt", Fedrizzi told the crowd, "we are in a defining moment, and the green building revolution is upon us. The mind changing that is occurring is fueled by change that is improving people's lives through improving the buildings we build and the communities we help shape." Indeed, it does feel a bit like a revolution is underway, although instead of arms, the attendees are carrying iphones and talking about designing high performance buildings. After spending last week at AASHE 2008, I couldn't help but compare the two and the similarities are striking - young faces abound at GreenBuild like they did at AASHE and the folks in attendance seem to still be riding the wave of hope and optimism that they have been on since Nov. 4th.

After Fedrizzi's welcome, 25 members of the African Children's Choir from Uganda added to the excitement with drums, singing and dancing. Archbishop Desmond Tutu began his talk shortly after with offering a thank you to all in attendance. In regards to the recent U.S election he said, "This may be presumptuous of me, but from the world - Thank You. This may be even more presumptuous of me, but from God - Thank You!"

He went on to discuss how remarkable the environmental transformation has been in our society in only a few years; the recent election of a new U.S. President and the reality that any politician who campaigns with indifference to the environment is regarded at the same level as someone who doesn't care about the abuse of women or children. Caring about our environment and the earth that sustains us is becoming "a part of the texture of our morality". Archbishop Tutu closed his keynote by returning to the theme of a global community. He told the audience that when we work in a divine collaboration as he believes we are, freedom comes to the world, wars can be ended and we can move toward a sustainable society. He concluded that we are all members of one family with the whole earth being our home and there is enough resources for everyone's need, but not for anyone's greed.

If you're unable to make it to this years conference, USGBC will be streaming videos of all master speakers and keynotes from their

GreenBuild365 site.