It’s an election year, true, but environmental topics are more a part of the political conversation than ever before.

Today, we’ll talk to one person making sure that this trend continues.

Like many people, Chrissy Hill has become deeply involved in a project, at least in part, because she simply started showing up. Upon hearing about the 2008 version of the Greening the Heartland Conference, she decided to get involved, first becoming a part of GTH’s communications committee. Before too long, she was heading that committee, with a spot on the overall steering committee a quick add to her resume, as well. A three-year veteran at the downtown St. Louis architectural firm Arcturis, Hill also notes that her firm encourages active involvement in professional associations and organizations.

But there’s also a very real desire on her part to make sure that architects, city planners and others involved in the building trades become more environmentally-focused.

She believes that the younger generation in those fields gets that message.

“I definitely think so,” says Hill, a project architect by trade. “Young people probably are more geared towards the environment. And universities are really embracing it, which will make it continue.”

Hill is excited that the Greening the Heartland Conference – which draws on registrants from all over the Midwest – is not just aimed towards those involved in the green building trades. It’ll also focus on three other tracks: governmental agencies, educational institutions and corporations. It’s obvious that if all those elements were working towards a “greening ideal,” that environmentally-responsible building would take a huge jump forward.

Attendance is important to any event of this kind. Who those people are will determine if there’s lasting impact.

“It’s important that we’re seeing businesses sending their employees,” Hill says, “rather than it being just individuals who are seeking it out, themselves.”

For personal interests, Hill, a University of Kansas grad, says she’s looking forward to learn “about green communities and how they’re establishing themselves and separating themselves. Also it’ll be nice to see some of my friends from school, who’ll be presenting.”

There’s also a half-day bike ride on Saturday that’s got potential.

“It’ll go by about a dozen different green buildings in St. Louis and they’ll show how they fit into the culture of St. Louis building,” she says. “That’ll be really nice to see.”

She’s also looking forward to the broad coalition of folks involved in the event. She laughs when it’s suggested that events like this are still seen as enclaves of granola-chewing hippies. Instead, she suggests that the steering committee of GTH “is a 50/50 split of political parties. We’re trying to include participants from both parties. Governor Matt Blunt of Missouri is one of the opening speakers and he’s far from a liberal Democrat. We’re trying to encourage this as a non-partisan event.”

Mayors from all over the St. Louis region, on both sides of the Mississippi River, have also been invited to attend, with some of them discussing their own towns’ role in greening.

Election year, or not, greening’s on the political agenda. And in the Midwest, it’ll most sharply come into focus from June 22-24 at America’s Center, in downtown St. Louis.

For more information on Greening the Heartland:www.greeningtheheartland.org.