GreenBiz Group Announces 'VERGE @ Greenbuild, To Be Held In Conjunction With USGBC's Greenbuild Conference November 12-13

OAKLAND, Calif., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- GreenBiz Group has announced a two-day conference called VERGE SF @ Greenbuild, part of a global series of events focusing on the business opportunities at the intersection of energy, information, building, and transportation technologies. VERGE SF will be held in conjunction with the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) annual Greenbuild Conference & Expo.

VERGE SF, November 12-13 at the InterContinental San Francisco, will be followed by Greenbuild November 14-16 at San Francisco's Moscone Center, just one block from the VERGE venue. This year's Greenbuild theme celebrates bringing technology and sustainability together in the global green movement.

GreenBiz's VERGE conferences bring together corporate leaders focusing on a new wave of technological change revolutionizing companies and cities. The technology convergence at the heart of VERGE is enabling companies to break down organizational silos and accelerate innovation. It has profound implications for companies' sustainability and business goals.

The San Francisco event will be the last in a global series of VERGE conferences during 2012, beginning with VERGE DC in March, VERGE London May 17, VERGE Brazil in September, and VERGE China in October.

The highly successful Washington, D.C. event featured a diverse ecosystem of federal officials (FERC chairman Jon Wellinghoff, Under Secretary of Defense Dorothy Robyn), thought leaders (Lisa Gansky, Amory Lovins, Tim O'Reilly), entrepreneurs (including Steve Case and founders of Buzzcar, Lit Motors, Opower, Relay Rides, and Tendril), and executives (from AT&T, Dow, Genentech, General Motors, Google, USGBC, IBM, Johnson Controls, Macy's, PG&E, Roche, Siemens, Sprint, Whole Foods and other companies).

"VERGE represents a vast opportunity for the world's largest companies, thousands of promising startups, as well as for cities, campuses, and others," says Eric Faurot, CEO of GreenBiz Group. "These remarkable series of conferences bring together a unique and diverse group of corporate leaders, policy makers, start-ups, and thought leaders in sustainability, building and energy management, utilities, fleets & logistics, government & policy, R&D, and corporate financing."

VERGE SF will leverage the more than 40,000 building professionals and others attending Greenbuild, whose keynote speakers and workshops fit well with VERGE SF's theme of utilizing advanced technology and systems thinking to create next-generation buildings and cities that promote radical efficiency of energy and other resources while reducing congestion, improving human health, and leveraging the vast potential of today's IT-enabled technologies.

"We believe VERGE is a powerful event that fits well with Greenbuild's mission of convening the industry, sparking innovation and promoting a dialog," said Kimberly Lewis, SVP, Community, U.S. Green Building Council. "VERGE and Greenbuild being held the same week will make for a dynamic platform of idea-exchange, networking and an exceptional educational opportunity for attendees." For more information about VERGE, including information about speaking, sponsoring, and attending the event contact Ellie Buechner and for more information about Greenbuild visit www.greenbuildexpo.org.

About GreenBiz Group

GreenBiz Group defines and accelerates the business of sustainability. GreenBiz Group is an integrated media company focused on supporting professionals who view sustainable practices as a core part of their businesses. GreenBiz is focused on telling the stories, providing the insights and advancing the sustainability profession through GreenBiz.com, GreenBiz Events, GreenBiz Intelligence, and GreenBiz Connects. For additional information, visit www.greenbiz.com.

SOURCE GreenBiz Group