Polyurethane Conference Keynote Panel to Feature Green Building and Chemistry Industry Leaders

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Farrah Kim (202) 249-6524

Email: Farrah_Kim@americanchemistry.com                                                                                                                   

Discussion Will Address Need for Collaboration to Drive Innovative and Energy-Efficient Solutions in Building and Construction Industries

WASHINGTON (July 20, 2016) – The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) today announced that the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) COO Mahesh Ramanujam and American Chemistry Council (ACC) CEO Cal Dooley will participate in a facilitated keynote panel discussion at the 2016 Polyurethanes Technical Conference on September 26 in Baltimore. Ramanujam and Dooley will share their unique perspectives on the critical issues facing the green building and construction (B&C) industries including the importance of open collaboration among various stakeholders to drive innovation and growth.

“Energy-efficient solutions continue to transform the dynamic building and construction business sectors,” said USGBC COO Mahesh Ramanujam, noting that in 2016, it’s estimated that 40-48 percent of new nonresidential construction, representing up to $145 billion, will be green. “USGBC and ACC share the goal of advancing sustainability in the built environment. At USGBC, we say that partnership is the new leadership—together, USGBC and ACC are joining forces to advance standards like LEED that achieve measurable progress in sustainability. I look forward to continuing this partnership and to an interesting discussion about the path forward to meet the dynamic marketplace demands that face the sustainable built environment.”

ACC President and CEO Cal Dooley said, “The interest in green building is intensifying and organizations such as ACC and USGBC can work together to ensure the industry has the right product solutions to sustain this growth. ACC members create cutting-edge products that support our modern way of life and make people’s lives better, safer and healthier. Many of these products help meet green building goals and we’re thrilled to collaborate with USGBC in ways that benefit companies in the building, construction and chemical sectors.”

Programs such as USGBC’s LEED certification rating system, can have significant economic impact on both industry and consumers. Recently USGBC approved an ACC B&C course for LEED credit in recognition of plastic building products, such as polyurethanes, that are increasingly used to achieve sustainability goals. This successful collaboration helps illustrate how different organizations can work together in this area to tackle common issues.

“Consistent with our goal to provide meeting attendees with information and experiences they can find only at the CPI Technical Conference, we are thrilled to welcome Mahesh Ramanujam and Cal Dooley as our joint keynote speakers,” said Lee Salamone, senior director of CPI. “These remarkable leaders are driving innovation at their respective organizations and we look forward to hearing their views on how the green building and chemistry industries intersect today, and what the future may hold.”  

The keynote panel will be moderated by Covestro’s Director of Advocacy and Sustainability Richard Skorpenske, who also chairs the Building and Construction Subcommittee of ACC’s Value Chain Outreach Committee. The keynote will open the conference at 9:30 a.m. EST on Monday, Sept. 26.

The 2016 Polyurethanes Technical Conference, the longest-running polyurethanes conference in North America, will feature 19 technical sessions, CPI’s Polyurethane Professional Development Program, the Polyurethane Innovation Award, and a Table Top Exhibition. For a full schedule of events, click here.

To learn more and to register, visit the conference website. Follow us on LinkedIn and on Twitter at @accpolyurethane and #polycon16 for conference updates and industry news.

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The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people’s lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $797 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation’s economy. It is the nation’s largest exporter, accounting for fourteen percent of all U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation’s critical infrastructure.