The Green Spark Ignites in the Beaver State
For anyone with a pulse on the pulse of sustainability, it’s no secret that Oregon has led the charge in green building practices. Dougan’s Hardware Store on Hawthorne Street in Portland, known for retailing salvaged building materials back in the 1970s, could be considered among the pioneers. With Douglas firs towering over us and the wild Columbia River coursing through our land, it’s not hard to see why we Oregonians have a visceral connection to taking good care of Mother Earth. Homes here aren’t just boxes of brick and wood; they’re life-sized origami folded with love and attention to the planet.
Early Adoption of Green Building Standards
Going back about three decades, Oregon became one of the first states in the country to adopt a comprehensive green building policy. This move wasn’t as easy as a Sunday stroll through Mount Tabor Park. It required intricate planning, collaboration, and some serious foresight. Oregon’s early adoption of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards set a course for the state. It was a commitment to quality construction with an eye always toward reducing the carbon footprint, like watching the trail behind us while hiking up Spencer Butte.
Every inch of a LEED building, right from the HVAC system to the railings made by Oregon ironworkers, is meant to enhance energy efficiency and environmental performance. No matter if it’s a new condo in the Pearl District or a renovation of an old bungalow in Bend, Oregon builders are conscientious about fitting the puzzle pieces to create something sustainable.
Harnessing the Power of the Elements
Not to brag (well, maybe a little), but Oregon is known for aggressive pursuit of renewable energy. The state’s renewable portfolio standard mandates 50% renewable energy by 2040, and Oregonians are making strides to exceed that with gusto. Cities from Astoria to Medford are tapping into the state’s ample wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.
Have you noticed the wind turbines spinning gracefully on the Columbia River Gorge or the solar panels winking at you from rooftops throughout the Willamette Valley? They’re not just pretty sights. Our buildings are designed and oriented to harvest all the ripe solar energy and cool coastal breezes they can catch. We Oregonians, we dance with the elements, not against them.
Drawing Innovation from Nature, Up and Down the Coast
The perks of making your home between the Pacific shore and the Cascade Range are plenty. But let’s not forget, this evergreen state is an experimenter’s playground. The craggy coastlines, the rolling vineyards of Yamhill County, and the placid waters of Crater Lake inspire us to rethink our building practices, too.
For instance, Portland’s innovatively designed Bullitt Center, or “the greenest commercial building in the world,” features a 56,000-gallon basement cistern that collects rainwater. Turns out, our rainy days are good for more than brewing a proper cup of Stumptown coffee and curling up with a Powell’s-purchased book.
Biomimicry, or copying nature’s genius designs, is also playing a grand role in Oregon’s green building revolution. Using locally sourced materials like myrtlewood or recycling the old Astoria-Megler Bridge’s steel adds a distinctive Oregonian character to our buildings.
Inviting the Community to the Green Table
True to Oregon spirit, many sustainable housing projects from Eugene to Hood River and beyond invite participation from the local community. The co-housing movement—multiple private homes sharing communal facilities—is flourishing, advocating low impact living and fostering, as us Oregonians like to say, a real sense of neighborliness.
And let’s not forget about the youth! Oregon’s community colleges and universities are paving the way for the next generation of green builders, with programs focusing on sustainable construction and green technologies. This isn’t rocket science, my friends—it’s Oregon science!
With trails blazed and the green path ahead, Oregon continues to embrace and pioneer sustainable building practices. From coastlines to high deserts, deep valleys to volcanic mountains, we build with our hearts, craftsman’s hands, and a deep respect for the land that nurtures us. So take a moment this evening, as you watch the sunset over the Cascades with a glass of Willamette Valley Pinot, and toast to Oregon’s enduring commitment to building green. Here’s to the Beaver State, where we do it not because it’s trendy, but because it’s right.