On the VERGE of Something Big

For the second year in a row, I’ve attended a conference powered by an alternative energy microgrid. When you think of business conferences being “off the grid”, this isn’t usually what comes to mind. However, if you put sustainability and tech folks together in the Bay Area, thinking outside the box is encouraged, and going off the grid from a conference ballroom suddenly looks much different.

Last week I was part of the AT&T team in San Jose, CA for the 5^th annual VERGE conference hosted by GreenBiz. VERGE is centered on the intersection of technology and sustainability, and how both industries can work together to overcome common environmental and social challenges.

A number of city and industry leaders were featured in main stage conversations to highlight their commitment to the idea of technology supporting sustainability in business and social initiatives. AT&T’s VP of Internet of Things, Mike Troiano, participated in a conversation about how we addressed water scarcity using technology. As part of NIST’s Global City Teams Challenge, AT&T technology was used in the Las Vegas Valley Water District to connect pipes and monitor infrastructure for leaks. The discussion referred to broader themes in the conference such as smart cities, connected infrastructure, and how tech can enable more resilient communities in the face of reduced natural resources. Mike stressed the importance of collaboration and working with cities to provide useful, useable data that can help conserve resources and reduce costs to citizens.

Connecting people, cities, communities, and resources will be vital to the future. Through the open dialogue and idea sharing of VERGE, AT&T is able to be part of the connection that drives innovation in the tech and sustainability space.