"Delivering What's Next"

The Cincinnati Regional Chapter is proud to be the host chapter the 2011 Greening the Heartland, scheduled for Wednesday, June 22 - Friday, June 24. The "Queen City" was awarded 2011 hosting honors in 2009 at the Detroit GTH Conference by the Heartland Region of the USGBC.

“Greening the Heartland” (GTH) is a three-day conference and exhibition for sustainable building design, construction and operation practitioners as well as building owners throughout the Midwest.  The conferences play host to hundreds of attendees and exhibitors from USGBC Region’s 14 Midwest states, who converge to learn the latest in green innovations and initiatives.    Every year the conference provides opportunities for professional continuing education credits, exposure to the latest products and services, plus interaction and networking with ”green” building leaders in the Midwest.

The Heartland Region of the USGBC has produced GTH annually since 2002 in major Midwestern cities. In just seven years, GTH has grown from less than 100 to more than 1,200 attendees.
This year the 7th annual GTH was held in Minneapolis May 19-22. Several from the Cincinnati chapter attended to learn, interact and prepare for hosting the conference next year.

By focusing on technologies, issues, successful case studies, and regulations specific to the region the conference serves, the conference will demonstrate to integrate and implement these strategies in a specific, "how to" manner.  At GTH 2011, you will learn how to implement sustainable methods and technologies for buildings and places, and discover what the future of sustainability will bring.

Attendees will receive the “tools” to achieve these goals through outstanding education and training sessions, keynote speakers, case studies and other engaging activities.

The conference activities, presentations, training, exercises and tours will focus on presenting tangible, practical information, case studies and proven methods. In addition, the conference will feature a legacy project, workshops, tours, special events, entertainment and more.

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College has a unique and ground-breaking relationship with the Cincinnati Regional Chapter of USGBC to collaborate on creating and providing high-quality, reasonably priced, educational material to help individuals become more proficient in green building design, green site and sustainable construction techniques. One of our goals is to educate the practicing industry professional with on-going, up-to-date, technologies with classes that qualify for continuing education credits through the GBCI (Green Building Certification Institute) LEED Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) as well as many other recognized industry organizations.  In 2011, LEED AP continuing education requirement deadlines will take effect. The GTH in Cincinnati will provide generous opportunities to satisfy continuing education credits for CMP for LEED AP's and LEED GA's, as well as numerous other industry CEU's.

The Cincinnati Regional Chapter will establish a "Legacy" project to benefit from proceeds generated by the conference.  The Legacy project’s initiative will align with the USGBC Cincinnati Regional Chapter mission, which is to transform the way regional buildings and communities are designed, built and operated; enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy as well as prosperous built and natural environment that improves the quality of life.

Please join the GTH Host Committee to get involved in this transforming event. One of our goals is to launch a "re-branding" effort to make Cincinnati the "Green Queen City" in 2011.

Chad Edwards, AIA, LEED AP, 2011 Chapter President

Alan Warner, AIA, LEED AP, Chapter Past Chair

Tom Kennedy, Events Member Circle Chair

Ralph Wells, Instructor Civil Engineering Technology Cincinnati State and 2010 Board Member