By Green Building Media - Celeste Yates

The annual Green Building Conference will open its exhibition doors to the public on the 7-8th of July 2009. The Conference is aimed at professionals within the built environment, with international leading speakers such as Kam Sing Wong from Hong Kong, Tiffany Tsui from China and Emilio Ambasz from the USA.

Event Co-ordinator and Director, Gordon Brown, believes that the exhibition should be available for the general public to view as 'green' building effect's everyone, including the home-owner. The exhibition will be in a vibrant, interactive environment, where exhibitors will have the ability to interact one on one with the public and delegates attending the conference.

General home and property owners trying to 'green' their home but not sure where to get the materials will be able to come through on the two days and engage with the latest trends, technologies and materials available in the 'green' building movement.

"Technology in the form of an intelligent infrastructure is fundamental to the building industry today, as it enables efficient monitoring and management of energy consumption, resulting in energy savings, reduced operating costs and an improved bottom line."

This is according to Bradley Hemphill, Managing Director of Cape Town-based Electrical Engineering Solutions (EES), speaking this month on 'IT for Energy Efficiency & Building Performance' at the ConnectivityWeek convention being held in Santa Clara, California. At the cutting edge of global smart energy and green environment events, ConnectivityWeek is the only international convention focused on the intersection of energy and information technology.

Nigeria: Group Scores Ohakim High On Sanitation, Urban Planning - Imo state governor, Ikedi Ohakim has been commended for the giant strides recorded in the "Clean and Green initiative programme" which has given the state the status of one of the cleanest state capitals in the country. [AA Urbanisation]

CLINTON CLIMATE INITIATIVE TO DEMONSTRATE MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN GROWTH WITH PROJECTS IN 10 COUNTRIES ON SIX CONTINENTS

May 19, 2009 - SEOUL - The Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), a project of the William J. Clinton Foundation, today announced a global program developed in collaboration with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), called the Climate Positive Development Program.

The program will support the development of large-scale urban projects that demonstrate cities can grow in ways that are "climate positive." Climate Positive real estate developments will strive to reduce the amount of on-site CO2 emissions to below zero.

Sixteen founding projects on six continents, supported by local governments and property developers, will demonstrate Climate Positive strategies, setting a compelling environmental and economic example for cities to follow.

Nairobi - More than 1 000 environment ministers from across the world are set to meet in Kenya next month for the UN Environment Program (UNEP)'s Governing Council meeting.

According to the Nairobi-based UN environment agency the meeting, which will take place from 16-20 February, will also discuss climate change and the ongoing talks towards a new international agreement in Copenhagen in December 2009.

Issues on the table include the green economy and green growth and mercury.

The ministers will discuss policy options for an international response to global mercury pollution and the food crisis.

The ministers will also discuss Olympic Games and the environment, and an overview of the key environmental issues of the day including ecosystem management, resource efficiency and environmental governance.

"An overview of the key environmental issues of the day including ecosystem management, resource efficiency and environmental governance will be on the table," the agency said.

The high-level meeting comes on the heels of an eventful year which saw further evidence of global warming, food shortages and the worst financial crisis in years.

Attention all built environment professionals and industry stakeholders! Green Building Media is proud to launch the Green Building Handbook, the annual print publication that provides practical and applicable information for built environment professionals seeking to build ecologically sensitive buildings.

Edited by Llewellyn van Wyk of the CSIR, the Green Building Handbook 2009 provides readers with practical insights into green building designs, technologies, materials and solutions relevant in the South African context and the effect each has on the environmental impact of buildings.

The Handbook is published in A5 high quality format and has 12 jam packed chapters and approximately 250 pages. Chapters have been contributed by some of South Africa's most highly respected industry experts.

The Green Building Handbook is aimed at property owners, architects, engineers, government and facilities managers, contractors, consultants, home owners and other related industry personnel. The Green Building Handbook is the only guide of its kind in South Africa.

Nigeria: The Menace of Fumes in Lagos - Even as Lagos State aims to become a mega city, it is imperative that government prohibits trucks and other vehicles, which cause air pollution through their exhaust pipes. Their activities are sickening, as they pollute the atmosphere with their smokes. It is more dangerous for asthmatic passengers and passers-by. [AA Urbanisation]