“Green” development brings companies together at GNCDC membership breakfast

See photos from this event.

From metal fabricators, to food processors, from cardboard converting companies to printers, almost 40 people representing a variety of businesses came out to the Center for Green Technology on April 21 to learn about trends in green businesses, business incentives for installing green technologies, and the connection between green investments and the bottom line.

Wal-Mart, whose latest forays into green business practices include seeking local vendors to supply earth-friendly goods to its retail stores, sponsored the meeting along with FL Sassetti and Co. For more information about Wal-Mart’s green procurement activities, click here.

GNCDC members in attendance were among the first to learn about ComEd’s new programs designed to assist companies who are looking to improve their energy efficiency. The programs, said speaker Ruben Gomez, external affairs manager at the utility, will be rolled out in May and are described at ComEd's website.

Panelists also included Delta Institute co-director Donna Ducharme, whose organization provides energy audits, assembles financing and puts companies on the road to LEED certification. Read more here.

Panelist Michael Berkshire at the City of Chicago Dept of Planning and Development described new requirements for companies seeking tax incentive programs such as Class 6B.

David Baum, who converted the old Cooper Lamp building on Diversey into The Green Exchange, a veritable merchandise mart for green products, discussed the market for green products. More on the Green Exchange here.

The Chicago Center for Green Technology, located at 445 N. Sacramento is the City’s proto-type “Green Building,” converted from a former factory into a showcase for green technologies ranging from green roofs to rain water recovery systems. Tours of the building, including the green rooftop, capped off the morning event, which included a catered breakfast of fruit, muffins, bagels and matzah.

Bringing companies together so that they can learn from each other and from subject matter experts is what GNCDC does best.

We thank all our members – even those who couldn’t attend the event -- and hope to see you next year.