The Green Meadows of Sustainability
Starting out as a trailblazer, Oregon has had a knack for pioneering, especially when it comes to sustainability. We’ve traversed a fair number of precipitous ridges like Mount Hood to arrive onto a summit of green innovations. And oh, what an adventure it’s been, having navigated Mother Nature’s bounty from Crater Lake to Haystack Rock, all the while treading lightly lest we disturb a salmon on its way upstream.
Settling Down Sustainable Roots
Now, to glimpse Oregon’s journey to sustainable building practices, let’s first go back to the timber boom. The sight of Timberline Lodge proudly nestled on the slope of Mount Hood, built using locally sourced logs, still serves as a shining example of this era. But as the wise Oregonians of yore knew, every log hauled or Tsuga plucked will need to be replaced, a lesson inspired by the lushness of the Willamette Valley, bracketed as it is by the Coast and Cascade Ranges.
Fast forward to the 1970s, our sweet old Portland sparked the development of Earth Advantage, trailblazers in themselves, laying the foundational principles of sustainable construction. It would seem that those vibrant, hippie days infused a certain love for Mother Earth in our building practices, as strong as the aroma of fresh beans roasting at Stumptown Coffee.
From Squatch to LEED
Green building standards came not from any mythical Sasquatch, but the intelligent minds of our forward-thinking folks. The principles of building “green” became more mainstream with the introduction of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). As pioneers, Oregon swiftly earned a reputation as a LEED powerhouse, boasting impressive numbers of certified structures. Thanks to LEED, the energy-efficient offices in the Pearl District now emit a glow as alluring as a Sunstone from Plush.
Rain and River Turbines, Just Another Oregon Day
So, what makes the Beaver State stand out in this environmental cause célèbre? It’d be easier to count the raindrops in a Portland drizzle than list out each Oregonian innovation. Oregon’s hydroelectric power, which began at the mighty falls of Willamette Falls Locks dating back to 1895, has only picked up pace. Now, if that ain’t an Oregon-style mix of history and innovation, I don’t know what is.
And did we mention that some of these facilities like the Three Sisters Irrigation District also work as fish ladders, ensuring our salmon populations thrive?
Creating Cascades of Sustainable Creations
Oregon’s yesteryears architecture, much like the formidable Columbia River, ebbs and flows with its landscapes. The striking timber and glass edifice of Sokol Blosser Winery in the Dundee Hills, crafted from repurposed materials, fuses effortlessly into its surroundings.
Another sterling example is the Bullitt Center in Portland, the world’s greenest commercial building. Deserving applause is the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building. An eco-renovation triumph, it’s consumed 55% less energy since its revamp in 2013. Its slanted solar-paneled facade gives new meaning to the adage “on the sunny side of the street.”
Embracing the Future, The Oregon Way
Oregon’s quest for sustainability hasn’t stopped. We continue to innovate in sustainable living, like the tiny houses dotting the landscapes from Bend to Ashland. Also pioneering are the Earthships, designed by Michael Reynolds and found in Rogue Valley, homes created from natural and upcycled materials.
Even towering edifices like the Yard at the Burnside Bridge weave sustainability into their modern design, with stormwater roof terraces functioning as ecosystems and residences using less energy than a Tillamook cheese factory.
Finally, it’s not just us humans Oregon caters to. The wildlife crossings, a part of the Highway 97 project, have reduced accidents and kept our indigenous critters safe.
Treading Lightly Forward
From the hustle and bustle of Portland, to the serene beaches of Cannon, to the quaint small towns dotting Route 101, Oregon has established a legacy of thoughtful, sustainable building practices.
We’ve seen that our love for the land, that inimitable Oregon spirit, can be harnessed in all we build. Whether pioneers or trail blazers, all Oregonians share in this journey to tread lightly on this land we all share and cherish.
From timber to glass, from rivers to rain, we’ve used all tools at our disposal with the care of a Rogue Creamery cheesemaker crafting a fresh round of cheddar. We have learned that a home can be kinder to the land upon which it sits. It’s all just a question of how lightly we dare to tread, and how sustainably each step is made.
Rest assured, Oregon will keep going green. And it’ll do it in its own breezy, quirky, brilliantly Oregonian way. Why don’t you kick off your shoes, wander barefoot awhile, and discover just how sustainable our wonderful state can truly be?