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Sustainable Development Conference
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A. Sustainable Business is Smart Business
B. Going Green: Sustainable Design
C. Sustainable Energy for a Sustainable Long Island
D. Creating Sustainable Communities: Business and Government Working Together

A. SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS IS SMART BUSINESS    Back to Top
To have happy and engaged employees, committed customers and to thrive in a robust community – it’s the profile every company wants, but what’s the formula for attaining it? Companies are increasingly aware that building and sustaining such a profile requires that they actively nurture the health and well-being of their social and environmental marketplace. They are discovering that what a company does and the commercial achievement it yields are no longer the sole measures for success. Success is also determined by how businesses operate. Whether under the banner of Corporate Social Responsibility, or simply smart business, savvy companies are looking closely at their obligations as they relate to consumers, customers and shareholders to determine whether their behavior respects, nurtures and enhances the very relationships that help sustain them.

This panel will examine issues related to sustainable business practices, including:

Creating employee friendly work environments (family friendly policies, eco-friendly offices, flex time and more)
Investing in the community
Improving the environment
Demonstrating strong ethics and operating with integrity
Leveraging the talents of a diverse workforce
Moderator: Deidra Parrish Williams, Community Affairs Manager, Newsday

B. GOING GREEN: SUSTAINABLE DESIGN    Back to Top
Green design is a win-win for employers, employees and the environment. It creates a healthy and comfortable workplace; increases worker productivity; lowers energy and other operating costs; and improves your bottom line. You can incorporate green design elements into your business in a variety of ways, from simple changes such as switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs to more holistic changes, including the use of solar panels, day lighting and eco-friendly materials. In this workshop, you’ll learn how green design makes sense for your business, and discover the steps you can take to go green. This panel will examine issues related to green design, including:

Design and Architecture
Materials/Elements of Design
Economic Benefits
Moderator: Russell Albanese, Albanese Organization, Inc.

C. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR A SUSTAINABLE LONG ISLAND    Back to Top
The rising cost of energy is wreaking havoc on businesses and home owners alike. And the impacts aren’t just financial: Our addiction to fossil fuels is dangerous to our health and a threat to our national security. Global warming is no longer the stuff of debate, but scientific certainty. As supplies decrease and prices increase, Long Islanders will need to find new ways to meet energy demands by becoming more energy independent and less reliant on oil and other fossil fuels. How do we provide cleaner, safer energy to fill our growing energy demands while preserving open space and protecting our already compromised air quality? How can we create a sustainable energy future for Long Island and reduce our energy footprint on the planet?

This panel will examine issues related to energy, including:

State of Long Island’s current energy consumption and sources
Future of Long Island’s energy: integrating renewable energy sources
Economic, environmental and health impacts
Moderator: Gordian Raacke, Executive Director, Renewable Energy Long Island

D. CREATING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER    Back to Top
Sustainability makes economic sense. The future of our economy is dependent on revitalizing our depressed downtowns, creating infrastructure improvements for redevelopment and finding housing alternatives that include a variety of housing options. To address these concerns, we must look toward practical solutions that involve local government, business and the community working together. Government and business must begin a dialogue on potential municipal policies and initiatives to support sustainable business practices. In this workshop, we’ll take a look at successful strategies in regions similar to Long Island, and discover what we can do to create real change here.

This panel will examine issues related to the roles of business and government in creating sustainable communities, including:

Downtown revitalization (smart growth)
Infrastructure improvements (transportation, sewers, etc.)
Housing alternatives
Morning Moderator: Honorable Steve Bellone, Supervisor, Town of Babylon Afternoon
Moderator: Michael White, Executive Director, Long Island Regional Planning Board