Building upon York Communications/MMPI Canada’s experience in producing Construct Canada/PM Expo and The Real Estate Forum as a Zero Waste Event, plans are to take the Green Real Estate conference to an even higher level by implementing a strategy of, “Best of Class Environmental Practices”.  Among the steps that will be taken: 

• The Green Real Estate Conference will be produced as a Zero Waste Event with the goal of 100% diversion of all glass, plastic, paper, cardboard and other recyclables from landfill. 

• The Intercontinental Toronto Centre Hotel has an environmental program that includes a sheet and towel reuse and practices energy efficient procedures. 

• Any unserved food from the conference will be donated to Second Harvest, a local charity. 

• Food waste will be composted and provided to local farms for fertilizer. 

• Paper consumption will be greatly reduced by eliminating preconference mailers, and the registration portfolio. 

• Bulk water stations will be offered instead of bottled water, reducing the use of plastic bottles. 

• China and linen will be used for meal functions. 

• Printing, food and beverage will be sourced locally where possible.  

• Badges holders will be collected and reused. 

• Communication with attendees and sponsors will be via email instead of print. 

All electrical power used by the conference will be offset with an equivalent purchase of 100% green, emission-free and renewable electricity from a local supplier Bullfrog Power. As a result, renewable electricity that is certified under Environment Canada’s EcoLogo program will be added to the grid. The mix is 20% wind and 80% low impact hydro from local Ontario facilities. Replacing conventional electricity with green electricity for the conference will reduce carbon emissions, NOx (nitric oxide) emissions and SOx (sulphur dioxide) emissions by 30 tons. NOx and SOx contribute to the formation of smog. 

Conference attendees and York Communications/MMPI Canada will be able to procure quality carbon off-sets credits necessary to make the event carbon neutral. The carbon offsets of CO2 emissions will be good for the climate while offsetting at least 60% of NOx and SOx emissions will be good for everyone’s health. 

Participants will be able to offset their individual carbon footprint for the conference at an average cost of $10 per person. A link on this conference website will allow all attendees to log on and make their offset donation online. All offset participants will be identified by a special stamp on their conference badge.