Sharing the Latest Innovations in Sustainability
The average kitchen ventilation system is responsible for 13 percent of a kitchen’s energy consumption and accounts for up to 45 percent of the HVAC load. As such, this needs to be considered when designing a sustainable kitchen. The exhaust hood plays an important role in reducing a commercial kitchen’s energy consumption.
As the interest in sustainability continues to grow, so too must the education about it. One of the best places to learn the latest news and innovations in regard to sustainability is at Greenbuild. According to the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), the originator of the event, Greenbuild is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building, offering three days of educational sessions, renowned speakers, green building tours, special seminars and networking events. Greenbuild is a forum for those with an interest in sustainability to gather and discuss innovations in the green building industry.
A new exhibitor at the 2008 Greenbuild Expo was Gaylord Industries, a commercial kitchen exhaust hood manufacturer. Keven Hass, vice president of domestic foodservice for Gaylord, said, “Many people were surprised to see a kitchen hood manufacturer present and stopped by to learn more about how the hood contributed to green, what relevance we had and how we could assist in greening facilities and reducing energy consumption. A considerable amount of the people we talked to were unaware of the efficiencies available in commercial kitchen exhaust hoods and how much impact the kitchen hood design can have. As a member of the foodservice community, I envision this conference becoming increasingly more attended by those in the foodservice industry. This is a learning process for us all, and this conference was a great place to share information.”
Conferences such as Greenbuild are becoming more important not only to showcase new innovations, but also to educate the consumers and designers about what is going on in the foodservice industry. Manufacturers like Gaylord that attend conferences like Greenbuild provide the opportunity to help others learn about the many innovations that are occurring and to plan new kitchen projects and renovations accordingly.
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2008 Greenbuild Expo:
The 2008 Greenbuild Expo had more than 28,000 attendees, a 25 percent increase from 2007, and more than 1,300 booths showcasing the newest technologies, products and services in the green building industry. The products on display, ranging from roofing seal to office furniture to faux grass, were as diverse as the audience attending the conference, where engineers, architects, developers and general contractors gathered to learn about green innovations.
