Greenbuild 2024 was hosted in Philadelphia this year, and The Sheward Partnership’s Sustainability Team attended the Expo along with sustainability professionals from many diverse backgrounds. With so many booths in the Expo Hall to explore, along with tours and discussions, TSP sustainability professionals wanted to share our impressions of Greenbuild 2024.
“Last year, as Fellowes’ first time at Greenbuild, they had a small booth with a table showcasing their new Array stand-alone air purifier. This year, they expanded their booth and were able to show the full capability of their Array suite of networked air purifiers and monitoring devices. As an interior designer who works as a sustainability consultant, I appreciate that Fellowes put time and thought into how the unit is accessed and made the maintenance and interface so user friendly and approachable. It was great to see the entire suite of products functioning at Greenbuild this year and be able to interact with them. I was able to apply what I learned at Greenbuild and share this with my Mechanical Engineer to provide value to our client as well as ongoing data they can use to help them continue to provide a healthy indoor air environment.”
-Maegan Sweeney, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C, WELL AP, IIDA
Interior Designer, Sustainability Project Manager
“My favorite booth was ProZero carbon negative blends by Prometheus Materials. These blends can replace up to 40% of the total cementitious material in ready mix designs to contribute to a carbon negative concrete application. While the product is relatively new, Prometheus Materials is actively pursuing cement and concrete production partners to introduce this product to a wider market and case studies are beginning to become available. Regarding the Expo Hall at large, I appreciated the ease of navigating the Expo Hall, as well as the grouping of some similar materials into ‘pavilions’ for ease of comparison and review. At the same time, these groups allowed an attendee to see just how many similar product types were represented. Walking through the Hall, the bulk of the mass timber firms were indistinguishable. I wish more large-scale product mockups had been present, as I remember from years past. I believe these may be more beneficial than some of the small ‘break out’ education areas, which were difficult to focus on due to the noise and nature of the Hall.”
-Aaron Humbert, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Assistant Director Sustainability Practice
“The expo hall was a pretty lively place, without being too overwhelming. I didn’t feel like I had to fend off unwanted approaches from vendors, a nice touch, I could walk around check it out before engaging with vendors I was interested in. I found some new vendors in the group and quite a few familiar vendors. Something I especially appreciated was conventional manufacturers such as GAF who were showing the work they’re doing getting Declare labels. The people at each booth were knowledgeable and often had a senior-level expert on hand for detailed questions. I appreciated visiting a few standards organizations such as FSC, ICC, and ASHRAE, whose work we rely on often. I liked having a strong presence from timber framing and mass timber products.”
-Collin Robinson, LEED AP BD+C, IES
Designer, Sustainability Project Manager
“It was a great feeling to enter a space full of individuals & innovators who also care for our planet. I was impressed by products that repurposed waste that would normally sit in landfills for new functions. Tires being repurposed for pavers, car windshields being reutilized for roofing, plastic water bottles being recycled into acoustic panels, and much more. The encouragement of collaboration and communication throughout the expo was appreciated, with places for talking or lounging available. Meeting other sustainability friends from all over the world was also a highlight.
My favorite booths were the Aku and Akustus acoustic panel booths. The acoustic panel could really be manipulated into any shape as proved by their entire station’s composition. These products are completely recyclable.”
-Ang Nekoranik, LEED AP ID+C
Designer, Sustainability Specialist
“As a first-time attendee of Greenbuild, I was overwhelmed with how many products and services there were to explore in the Expo Hall. It was comforting knowing that the other attendees were coming from a similar level of passion about the future of sustainability in the built environment. I met people from all sorts of backgrounds, and yet we all work together towards a common goal.
The Brava Roof Tile booth drew my attention the most, especially their Spanish Barrel Tile collection. This composite roofing product is made from recycled materials, mainly plastic. I was intrigued by the sustainability and circularity implications of the product, but the performance also shows promise—the material is much lighter than traditional barrel clay tile which reduces the need for additional structural support and installation labor. Apparently, the roof maintenance is also easier than a traditional roof tile.
I’m excited to see similar business frameworks moving forward that utilize reuse and repurpose rather than manufacturing entirely new products. We’ve seen takeback programs from some ceiling and flooring manufacturers (Armstrong, Tarkett) amongst others, but it would be really encouraging to see this business model as common practice in the building design and construction realm in the coming years.
I’m completely biased, but I also found the tour of 3.0 University Place and the TSP office space inspiring. Both spaces are beautiful, and an incredible reminder that projects can be designed sustainably while also maintaining successful design features that are aesthetically pleasing.”
-Marina Rullo, LEED AP BD+C
Sustainability Specialist
“The expo hall at Greenbuild was well-organized and featured many engaging booths with informative signage and interactive elements. It was refreshing to see booths staffed by the creators themselves, providing insights beyond mere sales pitches.
While the wood section might have become repetitive, a notable trend emerged in the presence of SAAS companies. One standout booth was GAF, where the inventor of an innovative asphalt product shared fascinating details about its heat island benefits and the science behind its creation. GAF also showcased their new asphalt shingle circularity path, a promising development.
To enhance future Greenbuild experiences, incorporating a scavenger hunt could foster greater interactivity and encourage attendees to explore more booths.”
-Sam Calhoun, LEED AP BD+C
Sustainability Project Manager
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