Architect to speak on sustainable building

Sustainable building and green architecture will be among the topics addressed at the third annual regional environmental conference, Business, Development and the Environment: Profitable Combinations, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 26 at Chateau on the Lake.

The issues of sustainable building will be addressed by keynote speaker Jason F. McLennan, architect and director of the sustainable design consulting division of BNIM Architects of Kansas City.

McLennan leads BNIM's efforts to improve the environmental performance of projects. He is involved in research in the areas of energy efficiency and resource conservation, indoor air quality, day lighting and passive and appropriate technologies.

McLennan also teaches the Green Architecture series at the University of Kansas, which he developed for the university, and he is a former director of the Solar Information Center at the University of Oregon.

While in Oregon, he helped disseminate information on sustainability and green architecture.

McLennan is a member of the Sustainable Buildings Industries Council, the American Solar Energy Society and the U.S. Green Building Council.

He is also the founder of the Heart of America Green Builder program, which is being launched in 2001 to change the way buildings are built in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Other topics scheduled for the conference include meet the regulators, sustainable business practices, tourism and the environment, economic development and environment, and current hot-button issues in the region.

The conference is sponsored by the Branson/Lakes Area, Kimberling City/Table Rock, Nixa, Ozark and Springfield area chambers of commerce.

For more information about the event, contact Brad Bodenhausen at the Springfield chamber, 862-5567.