SXSW Eco 2012 -- Final Keynote Speaker Announced, Startup Showcase Semifinalists Announced, Event Schedule Now Available

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SXSW Eco is pleased to announce Keynote Speaker Lance Hosey, President & CEO of GreenBlue and author of The Shape of Green: Aesthetics, Ecology and Design, as well as the Startup Showcase semifinalists. SXSW Eco takes place October 3 - 5, 2012 at the AT&T Conference Center in Austin, Texas.

Keynote Speaker Lance Hosey will draw a complete picture of aesthetics, ecology and design based on his latest book, The Shape of Green. From products to cities, at every degree of scale, Hosey outlines a clear set of principles that integrates laws of good design into the necessary realm of sustainability. Hosey will answer the question, "Does going green change the face of design or only its content?" The answer integrates principles of good design into the vital needs of sustainable design. His philosophy and guidelines are firmly rooted in the belief that aesthetic attraction isn't a superficial concern - it's an environmental imperative. He believes that, "Beauty could save the planet."

A former Director at William McDonough + Partners and columnist with Architect magazine, Hosey is a nationally recognized architect, designer, writer and advocate. He is currently President & CEO of GreenBlue, a nonprofit whose mission is to make products more sustainable. He has been featured in Metropolis Magazine's "Next Generation" program, Architectural Record's "Emerging Architect" series and other publications such as Vanity Fair, Forbes and The New York Times. In 2009, Lance was voted an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Green Professionals.

SXSW Eco Startup Showcase is proud to unveil the presenting startups and judges at this year's inaugural event. Discover the 15 cleantech startups at SXSW Eco's Startup Showcase presented by Austin Technology Clean Energy Incubator and Austin Energy. Chosen from applicants from around the globe, these game-changing companies are set to disrupt a broad array of sectors within the cleantech space including: agriculture, air, energy, green building, recycling, transportation and water. "We received an overwhelming response from applicants in our first year, and we're excited to reveal the 15 cleantech startups that will present at the conference," says Scott Wilcox, SXSW Eco Conference Director. "We have top VC and corporate investors from around the country attending. Presenting at this event will give these young companies the opportunity to forge new partnerships."

15 Finalist Startups:

• CEFCO Global Clean Energy - Supersonic shockwaves turn pollution into profit
• iLumi Solutions - Intelligent LED
• Kiverdi, Inc. - Recycling carbon to fuel the world
• KleenSpeed Technologies Inc. - Lithium battery packs
• Nexus eWater - Unlocking the power of grey water
• NuMat Technologies, Inc. - Novel materials engineered on atomic scale   
• Omni Water Solutions - Treating water with respect
• PlanetReuse - Reclaimed building materials made easy
• Pvilion - Solar with style
• Plovgh - Empowering independent farmers through hyper-local markets
• Radiator Labs - Steam heat for the 21st Century
• Sourcemap - Where things come from
• Staxxon LLC - Stop Shipping Air
• Zeta Communities - Net zero prefab homes

The confirmed judges for the Startup Showcase, representing top investment firms from around the country, will be: Rob Day, Partner at Black Coral Capital; Brook Porter, Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers; Clark Jernigan, Venture Partner at Austin Ventures; and Lorie Wigle, Eco-Technology General Manager at Intel Corporation.

The SXSW Eco 2012 schedule is now live on sxsweco.com. With over 130 talks, panels, workgroups and special events to choose from--our online schedule organizes a busy three days of inspiring keynotes, cutting edge panels and networking events. Programming highlights from this year's conference include: Keynote Speakers Annie Leonard ("The Story of Stuff"), and Senator Byron Dorgan with Jigar Shah. Distinguished Speakers include: Dr. Eric Toone (ARPA-e), Bill McKibben (350.org), Bryan Walsh (TIME), Erin Meezan (Interface Inc.) and an interactive presentation by Philippe Cousteau, Jr.

To register for this productive and educational event, please visit: sxsweco.com/attend. Registration provides access to all daytime events at the AT&T Conference Center including the keynote addresses, panel sessions, SXSW Eco Startup Showcase, i2i Awards, Eco Connect, the Exhibition, an on-site bookstore with daily book signings, receptions, film screenings, music events and parties. There are several additional special events such as the Welcome Dinner, Round Table Dinners at some of Austin's most sustainable restaurants, hosted volunteer outings and field trips.

SXSW Conferences and Festivals, world renowned for cutting edge music, interactive and film conferences and festivals, uses its experience in creating dynamic forums for innovation and collaboration to likewise serve the sustainability community. SXSW Eco is sponsored by Sierra Club, Staxxon and The Austin Chronicle. Media partners include Guardian Sustainable Business, Dwell and KUT.

For more information, please contact Elizabeth Derczo at [email protected] or 512/467-7979.

SOURCE SXSW Eco