Sustainable Industries: California’s “cleantech capital” lands green building conference
San Jose's City Hall
by Celeste LeCompte - 7.23.08
SAN JOSE
San Jose has attracted yet another ally in its drive to become the navel of global cleantech. West Coast Green, an annual residential green building conference, is relocating to San Jose for its September event and adding a strong “cleantech” focus to its agenda.
In October 2007, San Jose adopted a 15-year “Green Vision” that set ambitious targets: Create 25,000 cleantech jobs; cut energy use by 50 percent; source 100 percent renewable energy; build or retrofit 50 million square feet of green buildings; and recycle 100 percent of the city’s wastewater output, among others.
“When we looked, we realized we could help put them on track to accomplish those goals,” says Karen Jackson, chief innovations officer and program director for West Coast Green. She also says she saw an opportunity to connect emerging, hightech green building products with both the investor and builder communities.