On Friday, September 21, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz delivered remarks and met with visitors to the Green Brooklyn Conference at Borough Hall.

“As the population of Brooklyn grows, it is imperative that we grow smart—and grow green,” said Borough President Markowitz. “Brooklyn is proving over and over again that it is easy being green—from the Operation Kill-A-Watt conservation program in Crown Heights and the Green Depot’s green construction materials in Greenpoint, to the innovative green roofs found at Linda Die and Tool Cooperation in Red Hook and the environmentally-friendly heating and cooling system at the Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO. With the assistance of the Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment, we are turning Brooklyn and New York into emeralds—green jewels on the national and global stage that prove environmental progress in a big city is possible. Brooklyn—how green it is!”

The 3rd Annual Green Brooklyn Conference was sponsored by the Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment and featured workshops, panels, and discussions on the latest trends in green initiatives and methods for creating a sustainable city.

It was co-sponsored by Con Edison, and participants included Green Depot, NYSERDA, Transportation Alternatives, and many others.

For over 25 years, the Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment has promoted exploration and appreciation of New York City’s built and natural urban environments. Every year nearly 100,000 children, youth, and adults discover urban ecology, history, architecture and design through hands-on science and literacy activities.