phase 1 @ Sage Green, listed at $224,900 and 226,900

Located on Watershed Ln, just a stone’s throw from 149th & Farmington in Beaverton, the homes at Sage Green deliver a level of function, amenity and security beyond what most people in the world will ever experience. Sage Green demonstrates that zero-net energy is possible and accessible for mainstream builders and buyers in today’s new home construction industry. Because a Sage Green home produces as much energy as it needs, it’s effective insurance against future energy price inflation. A Sage Green home is a model for how we can meet growing housing and energy demands in ways that actually improve our collective circumstances. They have an informative site to explain some of the details of how they achieve this level of performance. I’d recommend taking a look. If you’d like to schedule a guided tour, contact me. I’ve toured these homes a couple times, and I must admit, this is a remarkable feat to offer homes of this performance and design at such a price. I’d love to show you around and  share some  of their  cutting edge  systems .Listed by Shauna White at Keller Williams. For exclusive buyer representation, contact David Todd.

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.

1. CoreHaus new construction PassivHaus
2. Engstrom & Werlin Duplex Renovation
3. Doleman Strawbale Dwelling
4. Harpoon House
5. 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.

FOR SALE: The Ash Creek House: Award-winning LEED-Platinum Remodel, $495,000

Now at $495,000, the Ash Creek House offers a sophisticated balance between the tried-and-true mid-century ranch floorplan and sophisticated material choices and high performance systems. Between the beautiful refinished oak floors, the custom cabinetry, the Japanese soaking tub, the beautiful tile work, and the lush naturescaping, this 5 bedroom, 3 bath home is a one-of-a-kind destination, nestled in the rolling hills of SW Portland. As the 1st certified LEED-Platinum remodel in Oregon, the Ash Creek House employs a number of cutting edge systems for exceptional comfort with extremely efficient energy and water consumption. It is listed for $495,000 with Hilary Bourassa and Darcie Pelsor of Oregon First. For more details, or to schedule a  guided tour, contact David Todd of Meadows Group Realtors.[[Show as slideshow]]

Also noteworthy, this home was one of the first homes in Oregon to undergo the new protocol for home performance testing to receive an Energy Performance Score, EPS. Email me for more information on how this home performs, or general inquiries about home performance testing.

Resources that made this project possible:

• Paolo Design Group
• Green Hammer Construction
• LEED for Homes
• Earth Advantage
• Energy Trust of Oregon

At first mention of the topic, I think back to collaborative projects in school, and I immediately think of group efforts that illuminate the social dynamics and politics already playing out in adolescence. Not all members contribute equally; not all have the same skill set and drive; not all have the skills to make collaboration work to their advantage to result in and end product that couldn’t have otherwise been acheived. The skills for “synergizing” are unclear and widely untaught, so I am interested in seeing what people have to say about how this can play out in our adult lives as citizens, neighbors, and business people driving for a more vital sustainable future. Personally, I feel like I collaborate in many ways throughout the course of running my business, improving my practices, and as I engage in various creative efforts in the sustainable business world and real estate market. I’m excited to glean and integrate some new skills and communication techniques that can empower my collaborations to be more mutually beneficial, enjoyable, and powerful.

Here some of the leading questions and thoughts to preface the agenda, which will not actually be decided until the event, as per the Open Spaces format. From Portland Beyond 2020:

Collaboration for Sustainable Business

How can you put collaboration to work for environmentally, socially, and financially sustainable business? How can you use collaborative tools and processes to share and benefit from abundance?

When it comes to sustainability in business, there’s power in numbers. A coordinated group of people or businesses can make a greater impact than individuals acting alone. But in order for businesses to collaborate successfully, you must address several issues.

• What endeavors are best done collaboratively and how do you identify common goals?
• How can you find and join forces with fellow business leaders?
• How do you balance the goals, skills, and tasks among your collaborative partners?
• What are the decision-making and management options for collaborative enterprises?
• What are examples of successful collaborations in Portland and beyond?

Come to the 3rd Beyond 2020 Sustainability Unconference on May 6th to seek and offer answers to these questions.

• Present your ideas and needs, and offer your skills for collaborative projects.
• Share experiences with collaboration tools and processes.
• Develop skills for collaboration toward sustainable business.
• Discuss what you need and can offer for collaborative projects to create more sustainable business and the world.

Join us, May 6th, 5-8pm at KEEN Footwear (926 NW 13th Ave., Portland, OR 97209). For more details, check out Beyond 2020. Pass it on!

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.

Governor Kulongoski and Mayor Adams announce grant application for retrofit program

Growing the Choir: Engaging Business Leaders in Sustainability

Round 2 of Beyond 2020 is titled, “Growing the Choir: Engaging Business Leaders in Sustainability.” This participant-driven event is sponsored by Peter Korchnak and Renee Spears. I’ve registered and look forward to seeing what kind of synergies and dynamic outcomes can come from this Open Space format. Since this format relies on attendees for its content and scope, I’ll have more to tell after the event. I encourage you to consider it. As principles, ideas, and challenges of “sustainability” get echoed and bolstered in many vibrant pockets of town, this event seeks to find ways to spread the awareness and actions into new territories, hence the title, “Growing the Choir.”

Here are the starter questions that frame the discussions for this (un)conference.

• Who could we be talking to besides ourselves? What is the best way to engage business leaders who hold different values (for example, profit over planet)? How do people shift from a focus on narrowly defined self-interest to valuing community and environmental goals?
• What are the obstacles for adopting sustainability in business and how do we overcome them? How can we make sustainability more comprehensible, appealing, and inclusive? What immediate and long-term actions can we agree to take to grow the choir?

Come to the next Beyond 2020 to offer and seek answers to these questions.

Submit ideas for sessions, and join in on January 21st to lead your session.

Architecture 2030: The Road Before Us

Assembled by the Earth Advantage Institute, the Green Day Forum aims to bring together 100 thought leaders to discuss strategies for meeting the Architecture 2030 goals of establishing a carbon-neutral building industry. Topics range from Energy Performance Score implementation and incentives to current policy initiatives to funding sources to Passive House design and building standards. This is the short list. It’s an amazing agenda for the day. Former Secretary of State, Bill Bradbury, will be presenting among a host of other innovative thinkers in the architecture, construction, and renewable energy sectors of Oregon. I’ll be anxious to see the action items and strategies that come from this kind of assembly covering this much ground. Register here to participate.

The Green Day Forum will be held at the Earth Advantage Institute in Tigard, Oregon from 7:30am to 6:30pm on December 4th, 2009. The Earth Advantage National Center is located at 16280 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road Portland, OR 97224.