Is it possible to bring hundreds of delegates together without leaving any environmental footprint? Not yet. But this article in Canada's Globe and Mail has some simple suggestions for taking an event from brown to green(er).

• Think strategically about what you can realistically do in one year and then build on that baseline for future event. Start with a top-to-bottom audit to determine where green efforts can make the most impact.


• Once you've got your priorities set, begin with the items that save money, such as eliminating bottled water and printed conference materials. Then you can use the savings to offset initiatives that may cost more upfront.


• Take advantage of the internet whenever possible. Register all attendees online and offer speaker presentation notes for download on the conference website. In addition to saving money and paper, you'll be able to track how many people download each presentation.


• Share your conference's green goals with exhibitors, and offer awards and other incentives for booths that best incorporate those goals into their promotional materials and activities.


• Choose a green(er) venue. While it's not always possible to find a conference venue that promotes environmentally preferable practices, you can still take into consideration other factors, such as location within walking distance of hotels and other services.


• Seek official sponsors to offset the carbon emissions from guests' and speakers' air travel. Be sure to choose offset projects through a reputable vendor, such as CarbonFund.org.