Three weeks from today, I’ll be heading to Phoenix AZ for the 2009 Greenbuild Expo. Building on my post from last week, the following is a partial list of what Aleida and I are looking to accomplish, and what we’ve started lining up.

Interviews & Conversations. The exhibit floor seems to grow every year. There are three reasons. One, more new businesses offering new environmentally favorable products are being formed every year. Two, existing manufacturers are expanding their product offerings to include environmentally favorable options. And three, the most cynical, companies are trying to get in on the green bandwagon and tap into a growing new market opportunity. Last year I saw many companies that fell into the third category. But even more new exhibitors were either new companies or new products. I hope the same will be true this year.

Every company we’ve reached out to for potential interviews has responded favorably. Here’s a partial list of companies we plan to spend time with: Aged Woods, ALKEMI by Renewed Materials, Alumillenium, Benjamin Moore, Coverings ETC, East Teak Fine Hardwoods, Fireclay Tile, IceStone, Kirei, Reclaimed Woods of The World, and many more to be listed in following posts. Our plan is to interview each and post them here. More to come.

Conference Sessions. There are too many sessions to list in this post, but those we’re most excited about include: The Evolving Recognition of Certified Wood Products in LEED, The Green Lease: A Two-Way Street, Beyond Sustainable: How LEED Buildings Can Help Restore America’s Forests, Rainwater Harvesting for Dry Climates, BuildingGreen’s Top-10 Green Building Products of 2009, The Good Green Meme: Models of Citizen Engagement from the Streets of New York City, and many more to be discussed in following posts.

Book Preview. I’m still working on the Al Gore camp to get an advance copy of his book, so there’s nothing to report yet.

LA to Phoenix. Another possible side trip we make part of our route is Parker Dam and Lake Havasu. Both are major components of the Colorado Aqueduct that brings water from the Colorado River to Los Angeles through the Metropolitan Water District. Also of interest is the Central Arizona Project which brings water to Phoenix. If we have time we may try to visit and take photos.

In addition to these we hope to attend a few cocktail parties and special events that will be worth reporting about. Let us know if you’ll be there, we would love to meet anyone interested in getting together. And tell us any exhibitors or speakers you think we should check out.

related posts:

• January 29, 2010 -- BrightTALK: Sustainable Materials (1)
• April 8, 2010 -- stories of sustainability: Deborah Guyer Greene (0)
• March 17, 2010 -- stories of sustainability: Black’s Farmwood (1)
• February 22, 2010 -- on tour: epOxy Green (1)
• February 8, 2010 -- UCLAx class 5 (0)