The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced former Vice President Al Gore as the opening keynote speaker for its annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, set for Nov. 11-13, Phoenix, AZ.

“Al Gore’s impressive career and bipartisan outreach have helped elevate global climate change to the main street public consciousness,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, ceo and founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The role buildings play in our lives, our health, the economy and the global environment – including being responsible for 39% of the carbon emitted in the United States – means the built environment is a tremendous opportunity for us to make real change, and Vice President Gore’s keynote address will be an inspiration to the Greenbuild community to make 2010 yet another banner year for green building innovation and growth.”

Gore’s keynote address will kick off Greenbuild at the Opening Keynote & Celebration, taking place November 11 at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, followed by a musical performance by nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow and an address from Fedrizzi.

For more information on the event, visit www.usgbc.org.