The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Greenbuild International Conference & Expo kicked off in Toronto with 23,000 delegates from around the world.

Trying to go green — or even stay green — in tough economic times is a challenge. This became especially apparent to me during the month of September when I traveled to a couple of quite diverse industry events.

This year I passed up the options of flying or driving to the Greenbuild event in Toronto, and instead opted to take the train from the Windsor, Ontario, station (10 miles from my home in Detroit) to Toronto and back.

In addition to emitting less carbon dioxide and using less water, sustainably designed federal buildings cost 19 percent less to maintain, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The results are included in a white paper released by the General Services Administration (GSA).

Greenbuild is a good fit for a city with pedi cabs and green spaces, like Toronto; in a Canadian province with many ecologically aimed initiatives, like Ontario. The expo itself, which took place Oct. 4-7, fit snugly within the North and South Halls of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

ED+C magazine is currently accepting proposals for speakers for the 2012 Virtual Green Expo now through Feb. 1. Presented by ED+C, Sustainable Facility, The NEWS, and other BNP Media publications, the expo will be held on Aug. 2, 2012, and focus on Greening Existing Buildings.

Seventy percent of adults in the United States agree that environmental certification of a company’s facility by a third-party organization such as the U.S. Green Building Council would enhance their opinion of the business, according to a nationwide survey commissioned by Sealed Air’s Diversey business.

Five leading experts in green building technologies, sustainable design and engineering practices will serve as the keynote speakers for Carrier’s 11th Global Engineering Conference, scheduled for March 18-20, 2012 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Pro Energy Consultants of Dallas has introduced the company’s “It’s EASY Being Green” campaign to educate consumers about practical and cost-effective ways to improve a home’s overall energy performance, increase indoor comfort, and lower energy bills.

Green Builder Media, North America’s leading media company focused on sustainable living, recently announced its plans to construct the Vision House, a green home exhibit in Innoventions located in the heart of Epcot®.