Speakers from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Investment Recovery Association (IRA) are just a few of the experts who will explain how government sustainability initiatives and technical standards are opening electrical reconditioning markets at the upcoming Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League (PEARL) 2011 Electrical Safety, Reliability & Sustainability Conference & Exhibition. 

The conference will be held at The Benson Hotel in Portland, Oregon, from May 14-16, 2011.

“With the majority of government and industrial markets making eco-friendly policies and practices a priority, it makes sense for a trade association focused on electrical recycling and reconditioning to gather business and technical experts in sustainability for its annual conference, officially add the word ‘Sustainability’ to the PEARL conference title, and title this year’s conference, ‘Building Bridges to the Future,’” said PEARL president and president of Monster Fuses Inc., Brian Corekin. 

The conference offers attendees two tracks: industry presentations for business leaders and management, and a training track for technicians looking to improve their skills.

This year’s keynote speaker is Katrina Miller of the U.S. Green Building Council – the group that oversees the U.S.’ Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, which offers tax credits for building designs that use recycled materials. Miller will discuss how electrical reconditioners can help customers get LEED credits by recycling electrical apparatus and ways that LEED regulations might be expanded to give tax credit for customers that use reconditioned electrical equipment.

Dennis Knutz of the Investment Recovery Association (IRA) is another speaker, and will explain how to build relationships with larger companies to support sustainability efforts with reconditioned electrical apparatus.

“During the past few years, PEARL has renewed its focus on helping our members improve their businesses and make stronger companies,” Corekin continued. “The IRA, USGBC and other expert presentations at this year’s conference, plus the ongoing work to get ANSI acceptance for PEARL standards, are just some of the strategic information that will be shared at this year’s PEARL conference.”

Presentations continue through Sunday, concluding Monday afternoon with the PEARL Membership Meeting. This year’s two-day training course will focus on bolted pressure switch design, maintenance, testing and reconditioning, and be held offsite at the local IBEW facility. Training also begins on Sunday, and concludes on Monday afternoon.

Interested attendees and exhibitors should contact the PEARL office at (877) 287-3275 or visit www.Pearl1.org. Corporations that join PEARL within 30 days of the conference will have their conference registration fee applied to their membership dues.