Off To NeoCon

Someday I’ll spend the second week of June at a beach, but for now, as for most of my professional life, I’ll be in Chicago navigating the corridors of the Merchandise Mart. 

For those of you who will be at NeoCon as well, here’s a little preview of what Interior Design has put together for you in The Green Pages, a supplement of The Show Guide, which you will, of course, pick up first thing upon arriving.

First up – my recommendations of who and what to see – the seminars and lectures that seem particularly compelling. There’s a lot to pick from and I didn’t have room to list them all - great speakers addressing increasingly complex green perspectives and solutions. There’s also the Green Product Gallery on the first floor plus a couple of green tours. And the products - there are sure to be MANY green products at NeoCon. Any manufacturer looking to stay ahead of the curve has incorporated them into its lines.

I’ve also written Green Alphabet Soup, a short guide through some of the most important acronyms that you’re sure to encounter as you browse the showrooms. Quick, what’s TRACI? It’s an environmental impact tool that I discuss in my next article, A Short Primer On the New LEED.

Big Ideas is a collection of – well, big ideas gathered from architects and designers. Ajax Law and Virginia Lung of One Plus Partnership suggest a cellular phone that automatically recharges itself whenever it’s placed in sunlight. New York’s Green Depot sells cleaning fluids by the ounce to customers who BTOC (Bring Your Own Container). Brilliant!

Finally, BIFMA introduces “level”, its new sustainability standard and certification program. Several manufacturers will be showcasing products at NeoCon that carry the level logo.

Happy reading. Happy walking. For those you who can’t make it to Chicago I’ll be twittering from the Mart next week. Follow me at http://twitter.com/pennybonda.