Get In On The Clean Energy Works Pilot Program To Help Green Your Home

Filed Under Uncategorized · Tagged:  

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

June 16, 2010 by dorstadh

A Safe and Healthy Lawn!

Filed Under Going Green · Tagged:  

Summer is just around the corner, and this is the time of year when we really ramp up our lawn activities Watering, fertilizing and mowing can all have major environmental consequences. Did you know that over 50 million Americans mow their lawns each weekend, and contribute as much as 5% of the country’s air pollution? And it’s staggering to realize that the average American grassy lawn can use over 20,000 gallons of water each summer! So, a major part of any green home strategy should be to embrace eco-friendly lawn and garden care.

Collect rain water and use it for your plants.

Here are 12 ways you can make sure you have an eco-friendly lawn this Spring and Summer…
  • 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.

April 7, 2010 by dorstadh

Tips for a greener oven

Filed Under Going Green · Tagged:  

Clean your oven. Not only does this prevent unwanted household smells, it also saves the energy needed to keep your oven hot. Your oven does not have to heat up anything extra and it keeps the air circulating.

Don’t preheat unless you are baking. Most of the time when you are cooking, preheating is not necessary and it wastes energy.
Turn off the oven a few minutes early. Your oven takes a long time to cool down, therefore if you turn your oven off a few minutes before the food is done, it will continue to cook as normal and will decrease wasted energy while cooking.

Avoid opening the oven early. Every time you open your oven while your food item is cooking, you release a ton of heat, causing the oven temperature to go down around 25 degrees. The oven then has to use more energy to heat it up again.
Stagger pans and baking sheets. Air flow is very important in the oven to efficiently use energy, therefore if you have several items in the oven, try to stagger them so that the air can continue to circulate.

Only use the self clean feature right when the oven is still hot. This way the oven will not have to use as much energy to use this feature. The best way to clean the oven and use the least amount of energy is to wait until the oven is completely cool, then clean the oven by hand with a rag, soapy water, and some elbow grease.

March 11, 2009 by dorstadh

Saturday Market at Portland State University

Filed Under Going Green, Portland · Tagged:  

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.

March 11, 2009 by dorstadh

Stimulus Plan to Give $15,000 to Home Buyers

Filed Under Real Estate · Tagged:  

If record-low interest rates and an abundant supply of houses on the Portland market weren’t enough to make you eager to start looking for a new home, the Senate yesterday passed a proposed economic stimulus package that includes $15,000 for home buyers purchasing within the year.

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….

February 18, 2009 by dorstadh

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