Dinner with the USGBC

I did not discover a new Boston veg-friendly bistro last night. The timing was weird, with only an hour between the last education session and the celebration event. So, I'll take this chance to blog about the real reason I'm in Boston.

Roughly every other year, I attend a conference called Greenbuild, which is run by the US Green Building Council. Since you blog enthusiasts aren't flocking to me in droves enough that it pays the bills (or pays at all) I have to have a day job. So, I work at BOMI International, where I help design and develop education programming for commercial real estate people--property managers, facilities engineers, and others. To do this, BOMI needs to work with industry leading experts. I'm here in Boston trying to meet and engage some of those experts.

Greenbuild and the USGBC are committed to pushing the industry in the direction of sustainability. And it's going well. Most large-scale properties in the US and much of the world are adopting green standards. (Reaching the smaller building owners is an enormous challenge that remains.)

A few years ago, the keynote speaker at Greenbuild was James Cameron. He said a lot of the expected stuff, but then explained to the audience of maybe 10,000 that to really be sustainable, as individuals, they needed to go vegan. I'd say about 20 of us applauded. He went on to give the standard facts and stats about the meat and dairy industry's damaging impact on the planet and the imperative to curb our society's addiction to meat. Did you know that every meat calorie on your plate represents 10 petroleum calories? That stat does not factor in the persistent, continuous deforestation going on right at this moment.

From what I can tell, USGBC has done nothing since Cameron's call to action to advance the discussion about food. I've asked, and I never get answers. It's frustrating. 

Fast forward to yesterday evening. The Celebration is a signature event at Greenbuild. It usually includes a concert and food.  Last night, the catered event included some truly wonderful and nourishing plant based options (and a rockin' performance by the Revivalists). The Brussels sprouts with cashews stood out for me, and tri-colored cauliflower with a pumpkin hummus.

During the event last night, my stomach was satisfied, but my heart still felt a void. It felt like NOBODY, within or beyond the USGBC, is taking the food choice issue seriously. Kudos to the USGBC for the event, but they still need to push forward the discussion regarding impact of food choices on the environment.

And then I met my new favorite person in commercial real estate. I won't name him because I didn't think to ask if that would be okay, but he is with the USGBC, a vegetarian who is keenly aware of the issues. I started talking to a random person, because that's what you do at conferences, and he told me about conversations he's had, with high profile facility managers, who are aware, who do care, and who are having the discussion about what to do and how. 

Gentle readers, I have a lot going on right now, logistically more than I can possibly manage, but I'll find a way. A few weeks ago, I got involved with a group of corporate leaders who want to make it easier for vegans working in large corporations to increase their company's vegan profile. We're working on a "playbook," a guide to enable that to happen. Last night I made a connection who will bring me into this separate discussion with another group of leaders eager to lead change. It makes me wonder how many other groups are out there. I love all the loud, roguish college activists, and they are important, but also important are those who are already entrenched and able to drive change from within. 

And then someone needs to bring them all together.