South by Southwest extended its reach from film and music to include sustainability and environmental experts at a conference in October. The second annual SXSW Eco held Oct. 3-5 at the AT&T Conference Center featured speakers including former Senators, business professionals, leaders of environmental activist groups, outdoors advocates, and even professional snowboarders.

While more of a conference than a festival, as compared to the SXSW film, interactive, and music events in the spring, the festivities included book signings, lectures, workshops, and awards for innovations in technology all on the subject of environmental sustainability, the outdoors, environmental awareness and eco-friendly lifestyles.

Is America Sleepwalking on Clean Energy?

Jigar Shah and Senator Byron Dorgan delivered a keynote address on Oct. 4 titled “Is America Sleepwalking on Clean Energy?” Shah, a renewable energy expert, discussed the possibilities of renewable energy as a part of the nation’s energy policy with Dorgan, a former Senator from North Dakota on Oct. 4.

“Clean energy and energy efficiency is by far the greatest wealth creation opportunity of this century,” Shah said during the discussion.

The recent presidential debate was a hot topic given that the first presidential debate occurred the night before the event.

Both touched on the fact that Romney and Obama discussed clean coal, but not climate. Dorgan claimed this was “thoughtless,” and Shah described coal as “unconscionable.”

Dorgan referenced the fact that Romney accused Obama of spending $90 billion on renewable energy, and claimed he would have told Romney “you can’t accuse me of that, you’ve got to credit me for that!”

Throughout the discussion, the pair sought to inspire the audience to participate in the push for renewable energy as a part of a national energy policy.

Toxic Chemicals Are the Next Big Issue

A panel of toxic chemical experts discussed the increasing availability of toxic chemicals in products in today’s market and the steps consumers can take to limit exposure to such substances.

The panel included Alan Green, a doctor and faculty member at Stanford University, National Campaign Director for Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Andy Igrejas, and Howard Williams, who owns a construction company.

The panel discussed substances like Atrazine, a chemical commonly found in herbicides and flame retardants.

“Flame retardants are a huge issue. In a typical couch we’re talking pounds,” said Alan Greene, a doctor and faculty member at Stanford University.

Igrejas pointed out that the recipes for 17,000 chemicals that are found in products available on the market are kept secret.

“You can’t fully shop your way around this problem,” said Andy Igrejas, the National Campaign Director for Safer Chemicals Healthy Families. “You’re doing what you can and also helping to change the marketplace.”

Drink Water

Professional snowboarders Bryan Fox, Austin Smith, and Fox’s brother Stephen Fox discussed their project Drink Water, a movement fostered around encouraging others to drink water rather than energy drinks.

Energy drink companies often sponsor snowboarders and other professional athletes, and that sponsorship can be a measure of success for some athletes.

“That’s a way to say you made it,” Bryan Fox said. “I am a legitimate pro athlete, I have a drink sponsor.”

Fox said this is false promotion because athletes usually do not consume energy drinks, and that this sponsorship often influences others to drink energy drinks rather than water.