Portland’s Clean Energy Works recently received federal funding for it’s Pilot program that helps homeowners make energy efficient upgrades with low cost, long term financing through utility bills.  While the primary focus is to help homeowners weatherize their homes through insulation, air/duct sealing, and heating options, you may also be eligible for window upgrades, solar panels and more.

Eligible participants will meet with a Building Contractor and Energy Advocate from the Energy Trust of Oregon to determine what upgrades are available and best suited for the home.  Based on their assessment, the homeowner determines which upgrades they’d like to make.  There are no upfront costs, and rates are minimal, at 5.99% or 3.99% for income-qualified participants, over a 20 year term.  It really doesn’t get much cheaper than that!  Payments are made directly through your utility bill via NW Natural, General Electric, or Pacific Power.

It can be a daunting task to find a qualified, trustworthy contractor to perform any type of work to your home, let alone for work that requires a specific money-saving, environmental impact reducing outcome. This program really walks you through the process with true experts and at a minimal cost.  Get in on it!

Find out more or apply online at:  Clean Energy Works of Portland

Collect rain water and use it for your plants.

• Make sure you’re not over-watering.
• Don’t hose down your sidewalks and driveway.
• Get a push mower for your lawn.
• Say no to leaf-blowers!
• When you’re done mowing, leave your clippings on your yard.
• Be sure to compost your other yard waste.
• Embrace native plants.
• Are you addicted to the look of grass but live in a high-drought area? You may want to consider synthetic grass. It uses no water, lasts over ten years, and looks & feels surprisingly real.
• Why not start your own organic food garden?
• Use non-toxic fertilizers and pest-control agents for your garden and lawn.

Dates: March 21 through December 19
Times: 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – April through October

9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – November & December

Location: The Saturday Market is located at Portland State University in the South Park Blocks between SW Harrison & SW Montgomery.

The plan would give a tax credit of $15,000 (or 10% of the home’s purchase price, whichever is lower) and applies to all buyers – not just those purchasing their first homes. The Senate plan has no income limits and, unlike the tax credit passed last summer as part of the Housing Recovery Act, does not have to be repaid.

At the same time, mortgage interest rates are expected by many to fall to 4.5% in the coming months.

Is a sizable tax credit combined with a rock-bottom interest rates and unprecedented selection enough spark stagnant sales? Or are potential buyers going to continue to wait, believing that our market has not yet hit bottom?

Current home prices in Portland metro area are down 17% from their peak. Houses in the local market usually sell quickly when priced at 80% of their peak price.

Home buyers waiting for the real estate market to hit bottom will inevitably be caught making their purchase as house prices are on the rise. There may never be a better time to find the home of your dreams….

Solar Oregon is a non-profit organization promoting and supporting solar energy.  Solar Oregon offers free workshops to provide basic solar power knowledge and educate the public on the current financial incentives that are available.  These workshops are a great starting point for anyone interested in learning more about this progressive energy option.

Change light bulbs from traditional incandescent to compact fluorescent. If every American did, it would reduce greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.

Turn off the car instead of idling when waiting to pick up the kids at school. When a car idles for more than 30 seconds it actually uses more gas and releases more greenhouse pollution into the air then if it were turned off.

If every household in the U.S. replaced just one roll of virgin fiber paper towels (70 sheets) with 100% recycled ones we would save 544,000 trees.