The WEEC Congress is back in North America after 8 years gracing other continents with its presence. WEEC 2017 will be held in Vancouver, Canada, September 9-15. Mark your calendars!
One of the Congress Themes will be “Architecture and Green Design”, see below for full description. Plan to submit an abstract and/or attend!
- Visit the website at weec2017.org for information on Congress themes, program, venue, registration & accommodation, as well as opportunities for support.
- The Call for Abstracts is open and the submission deadline is January 31, 2017.
- Register early and save! Early Bird registration deadline is May 31, 2017.
For more information, call +1 604-681-2153 or email WEEC2017@icsevents.com.
“Architecture and Green Design” Theme
In this thematic strand, participants are encouraged to share, discuss, and reflect on the relationship between sustainable architecture and environmental education. Research suggests that the average North American spends less than 10% of their life outdoors; this highlights the importance of including the ‘built environment’ and the effect on its users when discussing environmental education.
Since the birth of the environmental movement in the last century, the architectural community has responded by taking the initiative to develop several Green building standards, which are focused on promoting the reduction of harmful effects on the environment and on human health in the design and construction of buildings. These include: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design); the Living Building Challenge, developed by the International Living Future Institute, which is committed to a transformation towards a socially and ecologically just world; and the WELL Building Standard, which focuses on the features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being. New concepts such as bio-mimicry, cradle to cradle and life cycle analysis are now integral to green design thinking.
How can environmental and sustainability education contribute to an intellectual engagement with the principles of social, economic, and ecological sustainability that is inclusive of the built environment?