Advancing sustainable schools for all

March 2-4, 2020 | Portland, Oregon
Hilton Portland Downtown

The Green Schools Conference & Expo is the only national event to bring together all the players involved in making green schools a reality: people who lead, operate, build and teach in U.S. schools.

Three days of programming will offer inspiring keynote speakers, informative workshops and breakout sessions and the chance to network with colleagues from across the country.

For general questions please email us at help@greenschoolsconference.org

2019 Post Show Report

Thank you to our premier sponsor, Build With Strength: a coalition of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association

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Sustainability

Sustainability was the foundation of GSCE. The GSCE sustainability program addressed environmental impact through seven objectives:

  1. Move toward a zero-waste event
  2. Increase stakeholder education and engagement
  3. Improve sustainable sourcing
  4. Improve performance tracking
  5. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  6. Positively impact communities
  7. Catalyze the advancement of green building initiatives and sustainable operations within the hospitality industry

Getting to Portland, OR: Green Travel Tips

  • Where possible, choose a non-stop flight over a flight with one or more stops. Taking off, landing, and taxiing are the most carbon-intensive portions of air travel. Fewer stops, less greenhouse gas!
  • Choose to fly coach. Due to the greater number of passengers that can sit in coach as compared to business class or first class, the carbon footprint of a coach seat is smaller.
  • If you fly, we encourage you to budget to offset the greenhouse gas emissions associated with your flight: https://thegoodtraveler.org/buy/
  • Walk or bike to and from the event whenever possible.
  • Going somewhere too far to walk or bike? Make sure to utilize Portland’s vast public transportation options. Plan your trip at https://trimet.org/#/planner
  • If you must drive, arrange a carpool with fellow attendees or use the ‘carpool’ feature in a rideshare app.

Inspiring speakers, dynamic sessions & how-to workshops

At GSCE 2020, attendees will discover strategies and solutions that strengthen our schools and communities. Education, environmental, and business leaders will share current challenges, set future goals and shared best practices to advance green schools for all.

GSCE provides an unmatched opportunity for green school advocates nationwide to collaborate and learn from one another — all with a vested interest in making a positive difference in our children’s futures.

For questions regarding the GSCE Program, please email program@greenschoolsconference.org.

Keynote Speaker

GSCE 2020 Schedule at a Glance

Monday, March 2, 2020

7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Registration

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

Opening Plenary

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Education Sessions

12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

Green Schools Awards Luncheon

2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Education Sessions

4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Education Sessions

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Welcome Reception in the Expo Hall

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

7:15 – 8:45 a.m.

Women in Green Breakfast*

7:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Breakfast in the Expo Hall

7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Expo Hall Opens

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Education Sessions

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Student Summit

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Expo Hall

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Education Sessions

12:30 – 1:45 p.m.

Plenary Luncheon

1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

Expo Hall

3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Education Sessions

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Workshops*

*Additional registration required

Education Sessions

GSCE offers engaging educational sessions, case studies, hands-on workshops and lectures from today's green school experts. Use the dropdown filters below to explore the program.

Note: This schedule is subject to change without notice

Student Summit

March 3, 2020
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Oregon Green Schools and Clark County Green Schools are partnering to host the Student Summit at this year’s Green Schools Conference & Expo!

This interactive summit is designed for high school students from Oregon and Washington who are interested in finding their voice as passionate advocates for sustainability, environmental stewardship, and climate justice. Programming will include panel discussions with youth leaders and environmental activists, training sessions on how to build a successful climate justice campaign, spotlight breakout sessions dedicated to sharing and celebrating how you are making change in your communities, and active environmental problem solving. Register below for this day of inspiration, learning, and networking with other student leaders from the region.

The full schedule and list of speakers is coming soon.

A vegetarian lunch will be provided to all attendees. Transportation and substitute teacher reimbursements are provided to eligible applicants.

Registration

Schools based in Oregon can register here.
Schools based in Clark County, Washington can register here.
Questions? Email help@greenschoolsconference.org

Sponsors & Expo

Be a part of the expanding green schools movement as a sponsor or exhibitor at GSCE. Every year, hundreds of educators and decision-makers gather at GSCE for inspiring programming networking and an energetic exhibit hall. GSCE is the only conference uniting three groups vital to the success of green schools:

Academic: school leaders, teachers and parents
Operations: general school or district administrators, facilities operations management
Building design & construction: architects, engineers, product suppliers

GSCE sponsors enjoy prominent branding onsite throughout the Exhibit Hall, conference sessions, special events and online. As a GSCE sponsor, you can engage with sustainability leaders and demonstrate your support for healthy, high-performing schools all while empowering the green leaders of tomorrow.

For more information, contact Lisa Bowers at lbowers@usgbc.org or 202-742-3766.

View the 2020 Prospectus

Sponsors

Premier Sponsor

Platinum Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

Bassetti Architecture
View our 2019 Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

Xcel Energy
Wells Fargo
Green Health Partnership
Auburn Online/Green Schools National Network

Gold Sponsors

Arc
Beyond Green Partners
Excel Dryer
Generation 180/IPS Solar
Marvin
UL
Weidt Group

Silver Sponsors

Andersen Windows
Big Green
Coldspring
Conserve School
Cunningham
DLR Group
EcoSafe
Ever-Green Energy
IMEG
Johnson Controls
Kohler
Kraus Anderson
LHB
Lumos
Sustainability Forest Initiative
Trane
VMDO

Green sponsors

Captain Planet Foundation

Gausman & Moore

Exhibitors

The standard booths for GSCE's exhibit floor have now sold out. To be added to the standard booth waitlist or the 2021 sales list, please contact Haley Pierce hpierce@usgbc.org. Please note that a limited number of tabletop exhibits are still available for nonprofit and government organizations.

2020 Exhibitors

Interested in exhibiting at GSCE 2020?

Fill out the Exhibitor Interest Form

Partners

GSCE thrives on the collaboration and partnership of supporting organizations nationwide. GSCE is produced by the Center for Green Schools at USGBC in partnership with Green Schools National Network.


View our partners

Registration

Attend GSCE for up to three days of invaluable education and networking opportunities.

Register now

Early Bird registration closed on January 10th.

Conference Pass (March 2-3)
Member Early Bird: $320
Standard: $395
Nonmember Early Bird: $395
Standard: $470
PreK-12 School or District/Government/Nonprofit Employee Early Bird: $295
Standard: $370
Student or Emerging Professional Early Bird: $200
Standard: $225

Daily Conference Pass
Member Early Bird: $170
Standard: $245
Nonmember Early Bird: $210
Standard: $285
PreK-12 School or District/Government/Nonprofit Employee Early Bird: $160
Standard: $235
Student or Emerging Professional Early Bird: $110
Standard: $125

Special Events
Women in Green Early Bird: $55
Standard: $65
Workshops Early Bird: $75
Standard: $100

Justification Toolkit

Attending GSCE is an investment that will benefit not only you, but your school, district or company. The materials below offer a greater understanding of GSCE and how to communicate the value it provides. Please feel free to customize and use them to request approval to attend the conference.

GSCE Volunteer Program

Benefits: Volunteers will receive a complimentary GSCE conference registration in exchange for five hours of volunteer work.

Volunteer roles: Shift preferences will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Registration & Check-in: volunteers will assist at the registration counter and check attendees in for the conference. This includes distributing name badges and answering general conference questions.
  • Room Monitors/Scanners: volunteers will assist in the education session rooms by scanning attendees as they enter and exit to track attendance. Volunteers may also assist with providing time cues to speakers and resetting the room between sessions.
  • Volunteers may also be asked to support in other areas as the need arises onsite.

Requirements:

  • Volunteers must be a minimum of 18 years of age. Priority is given to full time students or emerging professionals. Full time students are considered 12 credits undergraduate or 9 credits graduate. Emerging professionals are those who are new to the field of green building, green schools or the sustainability movement.
  • Volunteers must complete a minimum of five hours of conference support on either Monday, March 2 or Tuesday, March 3. The hours must be worked consecutively.
  • Volunteers are responsible for their own accommodations and travel expenses.

Apply to Volunteer

Travel

Hotel Reservations

GSCE will be hosted at the Hilton Portland Downtown. Special discounted room rates are available until February 17, 2020 and are valid for stays from March 1- March 4, 2020. Book your room online, or contact the hotel directly by phone (1-800-HILTONS). Make sure to reference the promotional code “USB” when making a reservation by phone.

Room rates start at $164/night (plus taxes and fees).

Book Your Hotel Room

Air Travel

Attendees can receive discounted airfare through GSCE’s partnership with Alaska Airlines. A 7% discount on base fares is available for eligible travel between February 29, 2020 and March 5, 2020. View full discount code terms here. Book travel online through Alaska Airlines. Be sure code ECMD104 is entered in the “Discount Code or Companion Fare Code” field.