This interactive workshop focuses on helping policy makers formulate processes and structures through which they can launch, expand and implement green development policies and initiatives. It begins by looking at strategies to get started, whether you need to work from top-down or bottom-up to initiate or expand a program. It moves on to  crafting an effective process that is built on multi-sectoral buy in and responds to your economic, cultural and political context. The process includes planning for resource allocation and future implementation as well as internal tools, resources and procedures that will be necessary to support a successful program.  Finally, it looks at creating indicators and feedback mechanisms to help continually improve the program.

This workshop will deal with both the practical and social aspects of policy initiatives and provide tools and strategies to address a range of issues including:
·      Alternative ways of addressing cost
·      Overcoming silo structures rampant in local governments
·      Effective capacity building for staff
·      Gap analysis and system mapping to focus efforts
·      Creating financial and nonfinancial incentives
·      Empowering to build leadership and vision
·      Quantifying and measuring impacts
·      Creating useful feedback loops to inform future policy
 
The workshop will be a combination of presentation and break out groups for people to create models that they can take back to their offices.  Breakfast is at 8:00, workshop begins at 8:30.  Lunch is included.

This workshop was recommended as a Master Presentation of Greenbuild

***Please note the Early Registration Rate ends March 18th at 5:00pm***

Facilitator: Barbra Batshalom
Barbra Batshalom is known for helping draft some of the most progressive LEED policies in North America.  She is also the founder and Executive Director of The Green Roundtable, an independent non-profit organization whose mission is to mainstream sustainable development and ultimately become obsolete.  Barbra has pioneered new approaches in consulting, education and policy work, inventing creative models to solve unusual problems. She has worked with local governments around the country to facilitate, organize, create and implement green building and development policies for both the public and private sector; most notable are the Massachusetts State Sustainability efforts and Boston Green Building (the first city in the country to require green building of private sector developers).