It’s not too early to be thinking about Greenbuild 2010.  Though we haven’t seen the Greenbuild Mandatory Exhibition Green Guidelines for 2010 just yet, it wouldn’t surprise us if there are a few changes - and even more stringent requirements.

USGBC exhibitor rules are tight, and the display you would use at the AIA Expo is not necessarily going to be permitted at Greenbuild.  In fact, the guidelines warn that 10% of the show floor will be randomly audited for compliance with the rules.

Nevertheless, the restrictions are in line with the USGBC philosophy and the show has grown tremendously every year. But as it grows, it outgrows many venues. In 2009, for example, it was located on more than one floor within the exhibit hall.  One of our customers suggested that it was probably going to get more difficult to exhibit as companies that did not have green products - such as services - were weeded-out in favor of companies that did. She was concerned that if there was such a competition for exhibitors that her product, though green, might not be green enough.

We recommended a sustained PR program to un-level the playing field. If you plead your case all year long, the difficulty of cobbling a positive position together at the last moment can be avoided.