The 2008 Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference kicked off this evening at the University of Maryland at College Park. Matt and I drove up from Lexington yesterday, Andrea came in on Saturday and Judy and Julian both arrived last week for meetings with the Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) and the Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability (DANS). Michele Madia, the Director of Environmental Leadership at NACUBO gave the welcoming reception to conference attendees. This is the third SSCC and the first to be completely climate neutral (off set by purchasing clean, renewable wind energy from Native Energy). NACUBO has committed to all 14 of their major events in 2008 being climate neutral. Michele also mentioned the amazing increase in sustainability interest on campuses, she highlighted the fact that over 500 Presidents have signed the Presidents Climate Commitment and the increase in AASHE membership (575+ members) as examples of how quickly and how widespread sustainability is being embraced. After the opening welcome there was ample time to meet and talk with other conference attendees. I personally had the chance to meet great people working in all different sectors of campus sustainability; Jason McFadden and colleagues at Barton Malow Company who helped construct the LEED certified sports complex at Penn State, Bonny Bentzin the Manager of Arizona State University's campus sustainability business practices, students from Philadelphia University and many more. The welcoming reception was a fun time and an indicator that there will be much to learn and see over the course of the next two days. Stay tuned...