Infrastructure is back in the news, in the wake of Superstorm Sandy and other severe weather events. Combine that with aging roads, bridges, pipes and other things, and governments around the world are facing a major challenge. Of course, with challenges come opportunities — in this case to design and build infrastructure projects that are resilient, long-lasting, and affordable, especially during lean times. And to do that with sustainability principles in mind.
It won’t be easy. The OECD says $53 trillion is needed globally on infrastructure from now until 2030. With public funds totally outmatched, municipalities and engineers need to attract a hesitant private sector by laying out the project benefits, costs, and risks for the life of the project — not just upfront cost.
How do you assess sustainable infrastructure? Until recently, there has been no comprehensive, standardized framework in the United States to quantify sustainability. The new Envision rating system, jointly created by the Zofnass Program and Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, strives to fill that void, providing a way to systematically think about sustainability in infrastructure.
Join this free, one-hour webcast on December 4, 2012 at 1:00 PM ET to learn more about how cities, states, and other entities are embedding sustainability into their infrastructure projects, and the tools and resources they use. In this webcast you’ll learn:
• Why government at all levels should embrace a more holistic project evaluation approach
• How engineering service providers, state infrastructure designers, and contractors can set themselves apart and find new ways to gain financial support by demonstrating total project benefits.
• How these transformations, along with other state-of-the-art technologies like 3D modeling, can make infrastructure a much more attractive investment for private investors.
Speakers:Terry D. Bennett, LS LPF MRICS LEED AP
Terry is the senior industry program manager and strategist for civil engineering and planning at Autodesk. He is responsible for setting the company’s future vision and strategy for technology serving the planning, surveying, civil engineering and heavy construction industries, as well as cultivating and sustaining the firm’s relationships with strategic industry leaders and associations. Terry has been a practicing professional for close to 30 years and was the company manager and lead designer for a civil engineering, geotechnical and land surveying firm directing its services throughout the New England region within the United States. Over the last 25 years, he has been a global author and lecturer on the impact of technology to the infrastructure and urban planning, engineering, and construction industries focusing on sustainable approaches to urban infrastructure redevelopment.
John Williams, Chairman & CEO Impact Infrastructure, LLC.
For 33 years, John has been a consultant and advisor to buildings, infrastructure, and economic development programs at all levels of government. His company, Impact Infrastructure, LLC., is an independent third party provider of performance data for infrastructure projects. He also serves on faculty at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation in the Columbia Earth Institute, the SIAB at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, the ISI Economics Committee (Chairman), and until recently served as Infrastructure Topic Leader for the Clinton Global Initiative.
Lisa Rephlo, CEM, PMP-VP, Energy Management Principal, MWH Americas, Inc
Lisa works with MWH’s Clean Energy and Sustainability Services group, providing clean energy, energy efficiency, sustainability and climate services to MWH clients. She assists clients with overall energy and sustainability strategy, including prioritizing projects by financial and sustainable benefits. Lisa’s 11 years of experience in MWH includes energy, construction and information technology. Prior to joining MWH, Lisa had 10 years working across energy efficiency, traditional power generation, distributed generation, and ice storage for district heating and cooling with ComEd/Exelon in Chicago. Lisa is currently participating on the Infrastructure Advisory Board of the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure in conjunction with Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Moderator: Joel Makower, Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group (Moderator)
Joel is Executive Editor of GreenBiz.com and author of "Strategies for the Green Economy," among other books. For more than 20 years, he has been a well-respected voice on business, the environment, and the bottom line. The Associated Press has called Joel "the guru of green business practices".
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here to register.
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