Kansas City, MO. – Amid the continuing national debate on infrastructure, sustainability has become an important strategic imperative helping communities meet the demands for economic, social and environmental responsibilities. This year, public works professionals will have access to the latest innovations in sustainability tools, practices, and resources at the American Public Works Association (APWA) Fourth Annual Sustainability in Public Works Conference from June 25-27, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Developed in collaboration with the APWA Center for Sustainability, this conference is designed to provide public works professionals with the networking, up-to-the-minute skills, and sustainable infrastructure case studies that create and maintain vibrant and healthy communities.
At this year’s Keynote Session on Monday, June 25 at 5:30 p.m., Mayor Patrick Henry Hays of North Little Rock Arkansas, who is President and Chairman of the Board of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA, will speak about the public works’ role in sustainable community leadership. Mays is a major voice speaking out on sustainable communities, economic prosperity, and common sense. “To be sustainable is to balance economic, environmental and social concerns, and to think about how our actions today will affect future generations. In practice, it’s about helping our communities save energy and money, create more transportation choices, preserve clean air and bring economic prosperity in the process,” Hays said.
Conference participants can attend over 30 educational sessions on sustainable public works, such as Constructed Wetlands: How One Small Community Saved BIG Bucks on its CSO Long-term Control Plan; Go Green Without Going Extreme; PlanItGreen: A Two-Community Sustainability Plan Thinking Seven Generations Ahead; Innovate, Educate, and Implement a Sustainable Diverging Diamond Interchange; Sustainable vs. Conventional: A Matrix for Decision-Making; Effective and Sustainable Public-Private Partnerships; Sustainable Infrastructure: Combining Design, Construction and Asset Management; and The New Normal – Combining a Traffic Roundabout and Innovative Stormwater Management in Uptown Normal; as well as How Does Envision™ Measure Up.
In addition, three APWA Technical Tours will be offered on Monday, June 25th from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., which will have limited space and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The tours include a Classroom Workshop/Walking Tour of the Allegheny County Green Roof – Designing, Building and the Benefits, a Walking Workshop/Tour of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, and the North Park Lake – Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration (Bus Transportation Provided).
“This year’s Sustainability Conference features the combined resources of education sessions, networking with peers, opportunities to discuss the challenges faced by other communities, and the latest innovative tools, practices and experts, which makes this one of the best APWA Sustainable Conferences so far. The Center for Sustainability’s Leadership Team helped design the conference, and with the large amount of exhibitors, and innovative options and resources, the latest in sustainable infrastructure standards and processes in public works are all available,” APWA Center for Sustainability Director Julia Anastasio said.
For more information about APWA’s Center for Sustainability or the APWA Sustainability Conference, please email to Director of Sustainability Julia Anastasio at janastasio@apwa.net, or visit the website at http://www.apwa.net/sustainability. For APWA Sustainability media queries or to find out about press registration for the conference, please contact Laura Bynum, APWA Media Relations/Communications Manager at lbynum@apwa.net.
About APWA
The American Public Works Association (www.apwa.net) is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 28,500 members involved in the field of public works. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, has an office in Washington, D.C., and 63 chapters in North America.