Onsite Sustainability
Join us in creating a healthier future at Greenbuild in Philadelphia!
Discover ways to help Greenbuild accomplish our sustainability goals and get involved with the Greenbuild team. Opportunities are available for volunteering, scholarships, and student discounts.
Get Involved in Greenbuild
Greenbuild offers various ways to join a thriving community of sustainability professionals. If you're an aspiring green building or sustainability professional, there are options available for you to join us at a discounted rate, or no cost at all! Apply to our various programs intending to make Greenbuild accessible to the next generation of sustainability leaders.
Greenbuild Volunteer Program
Volunteers are critical to the success of the Greenbuild Sustainability Program, and they receive a variety of benefits in return.
Each year USGBC and Greenbuild offer students and Emerging Professionals the opportunity to attend the conference, network with the green building community and contribute to Greenbuild’s sustainability goals, including TRUE for Events certification.
Students at the undergraduate and graduate levels or individuals under age 30 considered Emerging Professional are eligible to participate. Those selected will receive a complimentary conference pass valued at $800 in exchange for 8 hours of work in-person between November 12-15. The volunteer program is restricted to in-person participation and does not include reimbursement or stipend for lodging or travel accommodations.
Applications will be accepted until May 1. Notifications will be delivered in June 2024.
Eligibility requirements
- Be 18 years or older as of May 31, 2024.
- Be available to participate in a digital orientation in Oct. 2024.
- Guarantee of attendance at the event in person Nov. 12-15.
- Work eight (8) hours between Nov. 12-15.
- Not be USGBC, GBCI or Greenbuild staff, contractor or intern, or hold a volunteer leadership position with USGBC, GBCI or Greenbuild.
- Demonstrate your interest in working to advance green building, sustainable communities and social equity with an undergraduate, graduate or career focus that centers around:
- Sustainability
- Health and wellness
- Resilience
- Equity
Greenbuild Scholarship Application
USGBC and Greenbuild’s annual scholarship program brings community and sustainability leaders to the table to encourage and empower individuals to transform the way we do busines sin the building industry. The scholarship provides expanded benefits including a complimentary conference pass, networking opportunities specifically designed for scholarship recipients, and exclusive access to USGBC content. Travel and/or lodging are not guaranteed or included in the Greenbuild scholarship.
Scholarships are competitive and available to individuals representing underserved or underrepresented communities or with a demonstrated barrier to attendance. USGBC and Greenbuild seek applicants who are working to advance green building, sustainable communities and social equity, and whose work centers around: sustainability; health and wellness; resilience; and equity.
Applications will be accepted May 6 – May 27. Notifications will be delivered in early August 2024.
Eligibility requirements
- Be 18 years or older as of May 31, 2023
- Have not attended Greenbuild in the past
- Guarantee attendance at a digital convening of scholarship recipients in October 2024 and Greenbuild Philadelphia Nov. 12-15
- Not be USGBC, GBCI, Greenbuild staff, contractor, or hold a volunteer leadership position with USGBC, GBCI or Greenbuild
- Demonstrate a valid and reasonable need for the scholarship as evidenced by the inability to attend Greenbuild without one, due to financial and/or professional constraints
- Demonstrate how your background merits receipt of a scholarship
- Commitment to partnering with USGBC to advance health and sustainability in local communities in 2025
- Commitment to submitting a 150-word or :30 second video testimonial on your experience at Greenbuild Washington, DC
Greening Up Our Host Community
Greenbuild is highlighting what the Philadelphia community is doing to improve it’s city and support those in need. Come to the Sustainability Hub onsite to help us interact, learn and celebrate local businesses and their efforts! *More Information Coming Soon!*
Share what you are doing to be more sustainable with #Greenbuild. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Bring Your Reusable Vessel
Filtered water stations will be available throughout the convention center. Don’t forget your coffee cups and if you don’t have them check out reusable travel silverware!
Go Green in Your Hotel Room
Be sure to take advantage of towel and sheet reuse initiatives that may be offered by your hotel. Don’t forget to turn off all lights and electronics when you leave your room each day!
Sustainable Transportation
All the hotels in the room block are within walking distance the convention center. If walking or biking to your destination isn’t an option, check out the Philadelphia public transportation system to get around the city. The convention center is located roughly 2 stops away from the Amtrak train station taking public transit.
Review the Greenbuild Legacy Project
This project addresses the Greenbuild Legacy project criteria through assisting socially-and economically-marginalized communities in safeguarding their health and wellbeing during dangerous situations like power outages and natural disasters.
Onsite Sustainability Tour
Details coming soon
Think Before You Throw
Waste to landfill results in a significant carbon impact. While we do our very best to reduce the amount of single use disposable items at the event, some are just unavoidable. Do your part by really checking out the waste bins onsite.
There will be a three bin waste system throughout the Pennsylvania Convention Center where you can easily throw recyclable materials and compostable materials into clearly marked bins.
Carbon Offset
We know climate change is having serious effects on communities across the world. For the last 10 years, Greenbuild has offset all scope 1, scope 2 and a portion of scope 3 carbon emissions related to the production of the event. How you can participate:
- Make sure to purchase your offset when you register (it’s $30 towards fixing our planet!