Green
is in! Especially in Portland. In 2005, Portland was named one
of top 10 "green cities" in USA by the
The Green Guide
magazine. The designation comes from the city's air quality, renewable energy
leadership, miles of bike trails and environmentally friendly building practices.
Again in 2005, Renewable
Energy World magazine reported on ten cities worldwide that energy experts
have named "green cities to watch," based on their clean energy goals, use
of renewable energy, and particularly their energy innovations. Portland
was one of the cities.
In June 2005,
SustainLane, a
Bay Area-based group, rank Portland the No. 2 city in the nation in sustainability
practices. The magazine had this to say about Portland: ". .
. Portland's leading sustainability efforts include comprehensive renewable
energy programs and climate protection policy, a large city “green” vehicle
fleet using alternative fuels, visionary city planning and inner-city redevelopment,
and well-managed free public transit."
Portland is second in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) buildings per capita, with 78 certified and registered buildings
demonstrating eco-efficiency. It's no wonder, the city has excelled
in green building, it knows how to make it easy and inexpensive. Portland
offers a $2.5 million Green Incentives Fund to residents and commercial
developers from 2005-2009. The money comes from a partnership with a non-profit,
the Energy Trust of
Oregon.
Portland's two electric utilities came in second and third
in the amount of green energy they sold. This was an annual ranking
by the U.S. Department of
Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the year 2005. Portland
General Electric customers bought nearly 400 million kilowatts of power
generated by geothermal plants, dams and wind farms in 2005. PacifiCorp
customers bought more than 234 million kilowatts in the same period.
Video on Sustainability in Portland
November 2007: Portland Announced New Green Building
Standards
In a bold move to curb the growth of greenhouse gas emissions
from the Portland area, city officials plan to charge builders hundreds
of dollars for each new home that is not extremely energy efficient. And
it would require, as part of every existing home sale, that an energy efficiency
report be done by home inspectors.
Believed to be the first of its kind in the nation, the
carbon fee and inspection requirement would levy taxes upon builders who
merely comply with the energy efficiency requirements of the Oregon building
code, already one of the most stringent in the nation. It would then pay
cash rewards to developers who make buildings that save at least 45 percent
more energy than the code requires.
In our daily lives, we use enormous amounts of energy.
The United States uses about 97 quadrillion British Thermal Units (quads)
of energy each year. The residential building sector accounts for about
21% (20.1 quads) of that use. And, about 86% of total annual energy use
in the United States comes from burning fossil fuels — coal, oil, and natural
gas. Visit the
Department of Energy's Web site for more details.
From this picture you can see that homeowners (residential
users) take surprisingly little of the energy use in the U.S.A. Our vehicles,
those 18-wheelers you see rolling down the freeways, industry, and agricultural
are the big users of fossil fuels. But, residential users want to save money
so we keep on searching for better solutions.
What is a Green Home?
Green homes are a matter of degree since there are numerous
standards for “green homes.” You can start with the Earth Advantage® and
go all the way to a Net-Zero-Energy home. These two labels apply to detached
single-family homes. When you get into large condo projects, the LEED Green
Building Rating System prevails. Here is a brief explanation of the three:
Earth Advantage
At minimum, an Earth Advantage® home is designed to improve energy efficiency
by 15 percent over a conventionally built home. The incorporation
of products such as energy-efficient windows, appliances, mechanical
systems and light fixtures can add up to lower energy usage and greater
comfort year round.
Energy
Star The Northwest part of the federal Energy Star program.
New homes earning the Energy Star label are built using the "house as
a systems" approach.
Net-Zero
Energy A net-zero energy house is designed to produce as much
energy as it consumes on an annual basis.
LEED™ - Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design: LEED™ is a voluntary, consensus-based
national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.
To search
for a green home, check the "Certified Green" box under the heading of "Residential
Property Sub Categories." The detailed listing for a home will display
the code for the type of certification the home has been awarded.
Green Building
Hotline & Resource Center
The
Green Building
Hotline, the main service of the Center, provides comprehensive
green building resources and information for the metro region.
Building a Solar Home
It's the story of building a
new passive solar home. Excellent explanation of passive solar energy
with loads of photos.
For decades, Consumer Reports
has delivered careful, unbiased evaluations of a spectrum of consumer products.
Now, a sister Web site provides detailed, impartial reviews of everything
from appliances to cares to home and garden products - all with a special
eye to environmental impact.
Located in southeast Portland,
this is the place to start looking for ideas and materials. They can
show you many options to build or remodel in a healthy and more sustainable
way. The focus is on natural and renewable materials, like FSC-certified
wood products, wool carpets, cork and natural paints. They also offer low-toxic,
energy-efficient, solar and recycled content products.
A government-backed program helping businesses and
individuals protect the environment through energy efficiency. The
Energy Star label is on major appliances, office equipment, lighting, home
electronics, and more. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also
extended the label to cover new homes and commercial and industrial buildings.
The mission of the Green Building Initiative is to accelerate
the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier
and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical
green building approaches.
Greenroofs.com is an international green roof industry's
resource and online information portal. Their goal is to inform, promote
and inspire the earth-friendly technology of organic greenroof architecture.
This organization supports Oregon business, governmental,
and educational organizations interested in using The Natural Step (TNS)
framework for sustainability.
The ReBuilding Center is a popular destination for homeowners,
do-it-yourselfers, contractors, artists, and enthusiasts interested in building
with affordable, environmentally low impact materials. With an inventory
that changes by the hour, The ReBuilding Center is the largest non-profit
used building materials resource in North America.
Formed by the coming together of two of the publishers
in environment science, technology and sustainable development, James &
James/Earthscan is becoming recognized as an important specialist source
of information for all those around the world with a keen interest in a
sustainable future.
Home Energy magazine's mission
is to disseminate objective and practical information on residential energy
efficiency, performance, comfort, and affordability.
Based in Portland, Oregon, Green
Hammer Inc. provides intelligent ecologically conscious design and build
services for home additions, remodels and new construction. They unite the
use of advanced technologies in energy efficiency with the intelligent use
of earth friendly materials and design concepts.
A greener home doesn't necessarily
mean a more expensive home - and that knowledge helped
SunTerra Homes of
Bend, Oregon earn the 2005 Custom Home Builder of the Year award at the
National Association of Home Builders.
Oregon Renewable Energy Useage
According to the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory, PGE's residential customers bought 343,879,496 kilowatt
hours of renewable energy in 2006, 23 percent more than in 2005. PGE now
ranks third in the nation, at 6.5 percent of customers, up from sixth place
(5.3 percent) in 2005.
PGE is the local utility that provides the greater Portland metro area with
electricity.
Build It Green! Tour
Every September, a self-guided
tour, sponsored by the city's Office of Sustainable Development and Metro,
welcomes visitors into over 20 new and remodeled homes, including condos,
throughout the Portland metropolitan area. The information fair gives tour-goers
a chance to talk with vendors about green building products and services,
and is sponsored by Environmental Building Supplies. See this
Web pages
for details.
Earth Advantage®
was started by PGE (local electrical utility company) to support sustainable
design. It is now a separate non-profit program. It offers many
resources to acquaint you with various aspects of the Earth Advantage® program.
They frequently participate in events targeted to the home buyer, builder
and industry professional. They also host open houses and organize
tours of Earth Advantage® homes.
According to Earth Advantage®, “No matter how old your
home is you still may be able to make changes that will reduce your energy
and resource consumption, improve your indoor air quality and protect the
environment around you.” This means that the Earth Advantage® standard
can be applied to both new construction as well as remodeling projects.
To be Earth Advantage Certified a home must score minimum
of 90 points. That qualifies it for a Silver rating. To earn a Gold rating,
a score of 120 points, and for a Platinum rating a total of 140 points must
be earned. To see the points worksheet click
here.
Earth Advantage® has
builders and remodelers listed in the Portland metro area that are Earth
Advantage® certified.
Energy Star
Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The Energy Star
label is awarded to homes that have been independently verified to be at
least 15% more efficient than the International Residential Code of 2004.
Their Web site
lists certified Energy Star builders and products (appliances, lighting,
etc.) that bear the Energy Star label.
Consumer Reports,
in their October 2008 issue, reported that Federal test procedures haven't
kept pace with technology, a point Energy Star leadership conceded in a
meeting with Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.
In a test of refrigerators, Consumer Reports reported
that in preliminary tests with the icemaker off, the energy use measured
was much closer to LG's (LG LMX25981ST French-door fridge) figure. But that's
not how you'd use the feature at home since doing so melts all the ice.
CR reported that, "When we gauged energy use with the LG's icemaker on,
we got a consumption of 1,110 kWh per year. Such a loophole lets manufacturers
label products more energy efficient than we've found them to be, and they
get the Energy Star and its cachet when you won’t see those savings."
Net-Zero Energy
Net-Zero Energy is easy to understand: A Net-Zero
Energy home is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes on an annual
basis. For more information about Net-Zero Energy, visit the
National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL) Web site.
LEED™
The non-profit
United States Green Building
Council (USGBC) developed LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy
Design) as a set of voluntary, consensus-based national standards for developing
high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED uses a four-tiered rating
system (Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum). Points are earned
for things such as transit access, stormwater control, water-efficient landscaping,
re-used and regionally manufactured materials, increaed daylight and ventilation
for indoor air quality, and design innovation. Here are the LEED certification
requirements:
Basic: 26-32 points
Silver: 33-38 points
Gold: 39-51 points
Platinum: 52-69 points
LEED 2009 (version 3) is expected to roll out in late 2009
and is based on a 110 point system.
The
Cascadia
Region Green Building Council is one of three original chapters of the
U.S. Green Building Council. Incorporated in Oregon in December 1999,
the chapter covers Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia but also includes
members from as far away as Idaho and Montana. By January 2002, the
chapter had 175 members, mostly companies or agencies that in turn represented
dozens or even thousands of individuals interested in a better way of building.
Portland has its own version of LEED called
PDX LEED™ that is based on New Construction (NC 2.1) standard.
It is the country's first supplemental guide to the USGBC national LEED™
standards. PDX LEED™ enhances USGBC's LEED™ certification in several
ways. First, it makes it easier to achieve credits by 'localizing'
LEED™ standards - Portland's erosion control, stormwater management, and
energy regulations.
There are a growing number (over 75 in Portland alone)
of Pacific Northwest buildings that have obtained LEED certification and
you can find them on the
Cascadia
Region Green Building Council Web site. The new Casey Condo building
in the Pearl District of Portland is the first Platinum LEED building in
Portland. Gerding/Edlen, the developer of the South Waterfront and
the Brewery Blocks, is LEED™ certifying all their buildings.
Ecoroofs
Portland
city leaders have sett a goal to grow 43 acres of new green roofs in the
next five years. There are currently 12,500 acres of conventional roofs
citywide.
The environmental benefits are numerous along with the
nudge tha could launch an industry and create jobs. Ecoroofs reduce "urban
island" heat, improve air quality by reducing temperatures and smog, and
increase a building's insulation, which reduces energy consumption. Green
roofs also create wildlife habitat and reduce stormwater runoff that can
pollute streams.
To make ecoroofs attractive, Portland officials for seven
years have offered developers a density "bonus," allowing more floors in
a new high-rise, for example, in exchange for a green roof. City leaders
raised the flag higher when they passed a resolution to convert any roof
in need of replacing on city property into a green roof unless structural
or other problems make it a bad idea economically.
For homeowners, the city reduces the stormwater runoff
fee. In 2005, the city launched "Grey to Green Initiative" program, which
dispenses grants to subsidize, among other things, up to $5 per square foot
on new ecoroofs. The cost of a green roof, though declining, still turns
off some people.
An ecoroof should ideally cost between $6 and $8 a square
foot but many averaged $15 to $20. The problem is that ecoroofs, as an industry
on the West Coast, are still in their infancy, and no local businesses have
streamlined the production of materials and designs. One of the goals of
the push to grow 43 acres is to fuel an industry.
Ecoroofs do add weight. Planners advise anyone considering
an ecoroof to have the structure checked by an engineer to determine what
weight it can bear. Ecoroofs add roughly 10 to 25 extra pounds per square
foot when saturated, depending on the vegetation and planting medium.
Other people don't think their roofs have enough pitch,
though ecoroofs can be located on flat or pitched roofs at a slope of up
to 40 percent. Still others worry about watering and weeding.
Some of the city's earliest ecoroofs withered into weed
lots and created ongoing discussion about what plants work best, what an
ecoroof should look like in Portland's dry summers, whether native plants
fare better than imports, and whether watering a roof in summer negates
the other environmental benefits.
Sean Hogan, a horticulturist who owns
Cistus Nursery on Sauvie
Island and has worked on some of the most public ecoroofs in Portland, is
working on the use of Willamette Valley native plants.
Since the movement took off in Portland in the late 1990s,
enthusiasts have learned lessons about soil type, depth and plants. Scientists
at Oregon State University are studying the systems more, and city environmentalists
have their eyes on a few green roofs owned by businesses and homeowners
willing to experiment. They're testing everything from conifers to the viability
of plants sown from native seeds.
Finding Alternatives to the Grid
The average U.S. home uses about 10,000 kilowatt-hours
of electricity a year. To meet those needs, you need a system rated at five
kilowatts of power output. But kilowatt ratings of most alternative energy
systems haven't been standardized yet, which makes it hard to buy one off
the shelf. Experts advise getting performance data from makers or from users
in your area. For example, look at how many kilowatt-hours a turbine produces
at wind speeds typical for your site.
Solar
For years, a big obstacle to sticking solar panels on your
roof has been coming up with the cash for it, with costs for a modest set
of panels starting about $18,000 a pop.
SolarCity has a
different approach: You get the panels for 10 years with no money down,
instead paying SolarCity a rate for the electricity generated that's about
the same as what you would pay your electric utility anyway.
Under
SolarCity's "PurePower"
program, the company sticks the panels on your roof but maintains ownership,
pulls the construction permits, repairs any breaks for a decade
− and collects the tax credits for new solar
installations.
You sign a 10-year "power purchase agreement," agreeing to pay SolarCity
a set rate for each kilowatt of solar power generated. That rate is designed
to be about the same as the rate you would pay for the electricity use if
you didn't have solar panels.
SolarCity, which has installed panels at Intel in Hillsboro, is operating
similar programs in California and Arizona, with about 4,000 residents and
businesses signed up so far.
Wind Turbines
Much of the U.S. has enough wind to make home wind power
feasible, depending on the height of the installation. Look for average
wind speeds of at least 3 miles per hour. But trees and nearby buildings
can affect performance.
An Energy Department website,
windpoweringamerica.gov,
has maps with predicted average wind speeds across the U.S. 3Tier Inc.,
of Seattle, also offers free maps at
www.3tier.com (click
on FirstLook and then on Register for a free account). AWS Truepower LLC,
Albany, N.Y., can provide more localized assessment maps and tools. AWS
offers wind-speed predictions for $60 or a full site-specific data report
for about $750 at
www.windnavigator.com.
AWS looks at a variety of heights for towers, while government maps assume
a height of 80 meters.
The Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
or NREL, has certified small wind turbines for rural and suburban settings.
Results are at
NREL testing. The average turbine lasts about 20 years.
Buying and installing a small wind turbine costs $40,000
to $45,000, before incentives. This is higher than a comparable solar-panel
installation. Wind-turbine costs are not falling, unlike costs in the solar
market. Federal, state and local incentives can reduce the expense considerably.
Federal tax credits equal to 30% of the total installed cost are available.
In
Oregon, you can produce electricity with a wind system and get a tax
credit of two dollars per estimated kilowatt hour saved during the first
year, up to $6,000. Qualifying costs include wind measuring equipment, turbines,
towers, associated components, engineering costs, utility interconnection
equipment and installation.
Resources
The
Oregon Department of Energy has information about wind turbines
as well as other alternatives energy systems.
Find offers for incentives at
dsireusa.org,
the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, a federally
funded project of the North Carolina Solar Center and Interstate Renewable
Energy Council.
City of Portland Online Solar Research
The city of Portland has an online map that highlights
solar installations in the greater Portland area. The map allows residents
and business owners to estimate the solar potential of their rooftops, view
existing solar installations and access detailed information about each
of these existing solar sites. The city’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
worked with CH2M HILL to create the solar portal, which can be found at
http://oregon.cleanenergymap.com.
The map provides details about existing photovoltaic and
solar hot water systems in the city and Multnomah County installed since
2001.
Visitors can scroll over existing installation sites on
the map, see details about the size and type of system, photos of the systems
as supplied by some property owners and links to the installer’s contact
information. Additionally, the map will provide an estimate of each building’s
solar energy output potential based on the size of the roof, the amount
of unshaded area and current rebate program information.
The system tracks the use of solar on rooftops, as well
as solar hot water installations. A residential solar hot water system can
save 60 percent of the energy used to heat water in an average home.
Green Home Projects in Oregon
The
best place to find a 'green' building in Oregon is at the
Brightworks Web
site. Brightworks helps organizations and building developers, owners
and operators become more successful by integrating core principles of sustainability
into their work.
Miranda Homes of Damascus broke ground in October of 2009 in Clackamas
on a new development of affordable, energy-efficient houses framed in recycled
steel. Miranda Homes hopes to build several different house plans
purchased from Alan Mascord
Design Associates. The houses — 1,600 to
2,400 square feet with three or four bedrooms and two or 2 1/2 bathrooms
— will cost $290,000 to $345,000.
The
June Key Delta House Community Center at North 59th Avenue and Albina
Street will reuse large, steel shipping containers to create a zero-net-energy
building of offices and community gathering space. The drawing above
is the June Key Delta House Community Center.
The
Kenton Living Building on North Interstate Avenue and Watts Street will
be a nine-unit living space with shared kitchens and living rooms, a rooftop
solar array and a rainwater-catchment system.
Office of Sustainable Development
What a resource! The
Office of Sustainable Development has loads of information which you
may want to consider reading. Topics include biofuels, ecoroofs, fiberglass
windows, fuel cells, rainwater harvesting, recycled paint, solar tubes,
and sun tempering.
Consider purchasing their publication called “Designing
and Building a More Sustainable Home.” It's full of illustrations
and photos.
Build It Green! Tour
Every September, a self-guided tour, sponsored by the city's
Office of Sustainable Development and Metro, welcomes visitors into over
20 new and remodeled homes, including condos, throughout the Portland metropolitan
area. The information fair gives tour-goers a chance to talk with vendors
about green building products and services, and is sponsored by Environmental
Building Supplies. See their
Web page
for details.
Energy Tax Credits
Energy Trust of Oregon offers cash incentives to help homeowners
who are Oregon customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW
Natural and Cascade Natural Gas make energy-saving home improvements. All
improvements, except installation of ceiling and floor insulation and electric
water heaters, must be installed in Oregon by an Energy Trust trade ally
contractor, or any other licensed contractor with a current Oregon Construction
Contractors Board (CCB) license.
Potential Oregon Department of Energy tax credits and federal
tax credits for all improvements are listed in a document called ENERGY
TRUST CASH INCENTIVES. You can download this document by clicking
here.
The Farmers Conservation Alliance, based in Hood River,
has published an 80-page booklet,
The Navigator:
Rural Oregon's Guide to Saving Money by Saving Resources. The publication
is a hands-on, here's-how-you-do-it guide to the multiple state and federal
programs that help farmers, families and small businesses conserve water,
improve energy efficiency and transition to renewable energy.
For more information on state energy credits and rebates:
The Database of State Incentives for Renewable
Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local,
utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.
You can get a credit on your Oregon income taxes for making
your home more energy-efficient and helping preserve Oregon's environment.
The maximum amount of tax credits a resident may receive
per year is $1,000 for appliances including heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning (HVAC) equipment. You can receive a tax credit for solar photovoltaic
systems of $6,000 carried over four years, with a maximum credit of $1,500
per year. The credit must not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the
system and the tax credit ends on December 31, 2015.
Ecoroofs Everywhere Works with architects, landscape architects,
engineers and contractors to design and build innovative storm water
solutions.
Cistus
Nursery Working on the use of Willamette Valley native plants.
Portland
Bureau of Environmental Services Environmental Services provides
City of Portland residents with Clean River programs, including water
quality protection, wastewater collection and treatment, and sewer installation.
Other
Car Pooling
Want to join a carpool? This site helps people find one another
based on their home location, work location, values, politics, music
tastes, etc.
Earthquake Tech Earthquake Tech provides customized anchoring
of old Portland homes built before 1976. Most insurance companies deem
this year as the cut-off for requiring proof of proper foundation connections
before approving earthquake coverage.
EcoNest The EcoNest Building Company, located in Tesuque,
New Mexico (near Santa Fe). Since 1994, they have been co-creating
EcoNests - homes which embody the principles of sustainable building,
health and beauty.
Greenpod
Intelligent Environments A Port Townsend, Washington team
has designed small (440 to 800 square feet) energy-efficient modular
homes with big options for green living to include solar power, gray-water
recycling, and healthy interior furnishings..
Glidehouse™ The Glidehouse modular home is a modern home designed
by Michelle Kaufmann Designs. It offers an affordable, low-maintenance,
well-designed green housing alternative. The Glidehouse is built in
a factory, using the most modern and environmentally-friendly building
methods and materials.
Green
Fusion Green Fusion Design Center is a retail store, gallery
and education center featuring green building materials and natural
home furnishings.
Green Guide
A consumers' go-to source for green homes tips, product reviews, environmental
health and wellness products information, and green living advice. Available
in print or as an e-subscription.
Green Home
Guide Offers reviews and advice from professionals and homeowners.
IKEA
IKEA's U.S. locations aim to reclaim 90 percent of store waste by the
end of 2009 (the stores currently average 67 percent). All new stores
are to be built to a certified green building standard which will include
the new Portland store near the airport.
Jetson Green
A standout site! The mission is to enhance homes (and the lives of
people in them) with beautiful design, smart construction, resource
conservation, energy efficiency, water savings, green technology,
and renewable energy.
MBDC
A consultancy focused on helping clients implement Cradle to Cradle
Design − a positive new approach to sustainability
and prosperity.
Northwest EcoBuilding Guild An association of builders, designers,
homeowners, trades people, manufacturers, suppliers and others interested
in ecologically sustainable building.
LivingHomes
Pre-fab energy efficient homes available in a variety of floor plans,
finishes and sizes (1500-2500+ square feet). A new company formed
in 2006, their model home was awarded a LEED Platinum rating, the first
home in the program's history to achieve this distinction!
Redirect Guide An on-line guide for finding businesses, services,
and information that cater to healthy lifestyles.
Sierra
Club Green Homes Launch in April of 2009, the site was developed
with a simple mission in mind: to help Americans make their homes more
energy efficient, environmentally sustainable and healthy.
Solar Energy International
A non-profit that offers hands-on workshops in solar, wind, water power,
and natural building technologies in eleven locations. They also offer
internet based online courses.
Portland
city leaders have sett a goal to grow 43 acres of new green roofs in the
next five years. There are currently 12,500 acres of conventional roofs
citywide.
Under
SolarCity's "
The
best place to find a 'green' building in Oregon is at the
