Ascending the Pyramid of Conservation
Energy Conservation Pyramid
All we need is a few good autumn winds to rattle the windows and remind us that winter is on the way. If you’ve been contemplating some energy efficiency upgrades, renewable energy incentives, or annual weatherization measures, here’s a helpful graphic to help prioritize which steps and upgrades will yield the best bang for the buck.
We are fortunate to live in the one of the country’s preeminent hotbeds for energy efficiency retrofitting. Between the Energy Trust, the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, the Earth Advantage Institute, the Cascadia Green Building Council, and the abundance of general contractors and specialists who have committed to educating themselves and training their crews to help residents make gains in energy efficiency and overall carbon footprint reductions, we have what it takes. One place you might start is the Energy Trust of Oregon’s Trade Allies. This is a group of service providers who have taken the necessary training to be able to provide you with services and expertise in what incentives you may qualify for.
Another great option is Clean Energy Works Portland, a utility-based financing program that allows homeowners to make improvements with no money out of pocket upfront. This is an excellent program that supports homeowners in the getting a jump on those elements at the bottom of the Conservation Pyramid.
Stay tuned for more updates on the programs that become available to us in Oregon. It is a growing industry and legislation is continually working on incentive programs to help fund the retrofitting of our existing housing. Contact me if you’d like more information about any of these programs or organizations. I’m happy to be a resource and provide more information on local service providers as well.
Stay warm. Be well.
My Own Portland Holiday: The Build It Green! Home Tour Day
This Saturday, September 25th, we’ll enjoy the annual Build It Green! Home Tour. This year’s tour of 21 remarkable projects focuses on smaller projects that integrate sustainable design and building practices. It’s like a holiday for me–being an annual event that I make tradition and look forward to celebrating. For the past 6 years I’ve volunteered as a site host to help provide tours and answer questions for those touring. This year, I’ll be touring! I always feel like I miss out on so many interesting homes. I’m especially excited about this year’s tour as a great opportunity to gain inspiration and insight from the various imaginative and innovative small spaces that people have created. With 21 options it would be easy to run myself ragged trying to see it all. Here are my top five picks (I think. There are a couple others that I may not be able to miss.):
- CoreHaus new construction PassivHaus
- Engstrom & Werlin Duplex Renovation
- Doleman Strawbale Dwelling
- Harpoon House
- Woolsey Corner Affordable Cohousing
Wow! That was hard. I’m still unsure of my choices, as there are so many interesting ones this year. Some I’ve already visited or anticipate having the opportunity to visit down the road, so that helped take a few off my plate, but there are still some that might make the list come tour day. Tickets are available online.
If you’re unable to make the tour, but would like to tap into the local green building and sustainable design world, there will also be A FREE fun, family-friendly information fair with green vendors, demonstrations, food, drink and music. I will have a table there to share my business and answer questions. There are usually dozens of local businesses and non-profits present to share what they’ve been working on and how they can help as you assess how this impacts your home and fits into your life. Overall, it’s a great day to gain inspiration and insight into how others are making strides to create healthy, sustainable living situations and dwellings. If you attend the info fair, stop by to say, “HI!”
The info fair will be held at EcoHaus from 3pm to 7pm. EcoHaus is located at 819 Se Taylor St., Portland, OR 97214. If you’d like updates on events like this throughout the year, check out my facebook page or twitter feed. Or, just contact me directly. Enjoy.
Power in Numbers, Renewable Solar Power!
Solar need not be for the renewable energy martyrs who overlook payback schedules. More power to the early adopters and pioneers, but SOLARIZE PORTLAND ups the ante to make solar pencil for more Portland residents than ever before. I highly recommend you check it out while you can. Solarize SE is in the early stages of Phase II. After a widely successful campaign last year, then an effort in NE and SW, it’s time for SE to take it the next level.
By joining your “neighbors” (other residents in your quadrant of Portland), local installers are able to offer incredible savings to add to the already aggressive incentive package through federal and state tax credits.
How it works (excerpt from the SE Uplift site):
- You and your neighbors all buy solar PV at once, allowing the contractor, Imagine Energy, to increase efficiency and buy the equipment at lower prices. They pass those savings on to you for dramatically lower costs, especially after incentives. The more people join in by the May 1st deadline, the lower the prices drop for all.
What to do:
1) Sign up by May 1st to let us know you’re interested in learning more. Pricing for the project will be set on the 1st based on the number of people on the list.
2) Tell your friends: Again, the more that join in, the better the deal gets. Email tim@southeastuplift.org to get materials you can distribute to your friends and neighbors.
3) Attend a training session (free): We’ll teach you all about the how solar PV works, how the pricing and incentives impact things, and what the process will be like. You must attend one Basics of Going Solar with Solarize SE, and one topical session of your choice. You can do both of these in one day, or split them up at your convenience (see schedule here). Already know all about Solarize? If you already know how the project works you can take our quiz instead of attending an information session.
4) Schedule a site assessment: Once you’ve been to the training and think Solarize is right for you, Imagine Energy solar experts will come evaluate your home and tell you what your options are.
5) Go Solar PV! …Or Not….You’ll get a contract with a week of your site assessment. If solar PV wasn’t right for you, you can tap into community discounts on solar hot water or a Home Performance Energy Audit.
Energy-Efficiency, Now (no cash out of pocket!)
Clean Energy Works Portland is helping homes save energy with no upfront costs
Be one of only 500 Portland homeowners to take part in the Clean Energy Works Portland pilot. The pilot is helping qualified Portland homeowners finance and install energy-efficiency upgrades. Homeowners are paired with a certified Building Performance Institute contractor and receive one-on-one guidance from an Energy Advocate. This team will assess and prioritize the home’s energy-saving opportunities, and help the homeowner decide which improvements to make. The contractor will then install the energy-saving upgrades to the home.
Thanks to federal stimulus funding, homeowners will pay no upfront costs. The cost of the energy-efficient improvements will be financed through a low-cost, long-term loan that the homeowner can repay over 20 years on their utility bill.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity. Go now to www.cleanenergyworksportland.org to learn more and apply. Spots fill up fast, so be sure to apply soon!
Brought to you by the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, in collaboration with Energy Trust of Oregon and other organizations.
Clean Energy Works Portland is financing program designed to make upgrades to your home easy, and has no upfront costs.
Follow these four simple steps to take advantage of this unique opportunity:
1. Apply for the pilot program.
Go to CleanEnergyWorksPortland.org and fill out the short application to see if you and your home qualify for the pilot.
2. Receive an in-depth home energy assessment.
You will be paired with a certified Building Performance Institute contractor and an Energy Advocate, who will be with you every step of the way to answer questions, explain the recommended measures and financing options and help you through the installation process.
3. Install energy-saving improvements with qualified contractors.
Once you decide which improvements you would like (weatherization is required), the contractor assigned to you will perform the work.
4. Repay through your heating utility bill.
Thanks to federal stimulus funding, you will pay no upfront costs. The cost of the energy-efficient improvements will be financed through a low-cost, long-term loan that you can repay on your monthly heating bill. To date, participants have financed between $4,000 and $20,000 worth of energy upgrades to their home. The average loan amount is $11,000.
APPLY HERE!
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Agent Profile
In addition to offering sound real estate services, we bring a broad awareness of sustainable living and design to our practice. We thrive on making connections that help clients live and invest in alignment with their values, while supporting our local community, economy, and environment. Contact David and Steve today to learn how your next realty decision can enhance the place you call home. AGENCY INFO
1902 SE Morrison St. Portland, OR 97214
