Yesterday was the last day of the three day Green West Exposition and Conference held in Los Angeles, California at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Yet, for California being such a leader in the green movement, the limited turn-out of exhibitors was surprising—for which there were certainly grumblings amongst visitors. Granted, this was the first Green West exposition, and it was the last day, but Green West boasted less than 75 exhibits, the majority focusing on green architecture.
The conference contained the usual burgeoning technologies in green home construction and interior design, green media materials, a variety of recycled products from bags to faux lawns, solar panels and LED lights, information on ecovolunteerism, several fascinating displays on water saving toilets and waterless urinals. Perhaps the most interesting, however, were the three exhibits about automotive technology.
It was interesting to discuss the different automotive technologies with the exhibitors—each believing quite strongly that their technology is the solution for future automotives. While I understand the importance of believing in your product, I was surprised by the egos involved. Many of the automotive exhibitors simply dismissed other technologies with a wave of the hand before trumpeting the viability of their own. When discussing PHEV technology with a fuel cell exhibitor who supports hydrogen fuel cell development in California, he was quick to judge the potential of PHEVs. The attitude of “my technology is better than yours” was rampant. Many of the exhibitors could not see past their own technologies and were too busy poking holes in competing technologies to leave an attendee feeling confident about our green future.
It is not news that we are a world in desperate need of environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions. It is encouraging, then, that we have green conferences (however small) working toward those solutions. BUT, we are never going to make tangible progress if ego interferes with intellect.
Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio R. Villaraigosa suggests Los Angeles is “on track to become the cleanest and greenest big city in America,” but for this to become a reality, green industry and technologies need to drastically improve their open-mindedness within their own industries.
