Creative Houses from Reclaimed Materials-Watch this Ted Talk

Link to Ted Talk

The Columbia Gorge ReBuild-it Center pointed out this great Ted Talk by Dan Phillips which shows examples of the creative houses he has built from reclaimed stuff that would have ended up in the landfill.

Along with inspiration for being creative and individualistic, his talk gives us some interesting insights about the houses we live in and why they are the way they are.

Dan's company  Phoenix Commotion in Huntsville, Texas builds affordable homes for single parents, artists, and families with low incomes, creatively and with reclaimed material!

Sources: Gorge Rebuild-it, Phoenix Commotion, Ted Talks

The Fifth Annual Better Living Home Garden & Lifestyle Show Returns to the Portland Expo Center March 23-25, 2012

If you are interested in the health of your body, your pocketbook, your community, or your world, then this is the show for you.

The Better Living Show, the Northwest’s largest sustainable lifestyle show, takes place Friday, March 23 from noon – 9 p.m.; Saturday, March 24 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; and Sunday, March 25 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Portland Expo Center. The Better Living Show is part of the National Home and Garden Show Series presented by DISH.

Compare, shop, try and buy - sustainable products for your home and garden, eco-chic fashion, electric vehicles, and cutting-edge green technologies. Get tips from experts, learn how to reduce your energy costs and live a healthier lifestyle. It’s three days packed with activities for the entire family. Bring the kids. There’s good food, entertainment…and best of all--it’s free!

This year the Recycling Plaza returns thanks to Schnitzer Steel, which means you can clear out the clutter from your life. All items will be collected for free! Schnitzer will have friendly staff on site all weekend long to accept your scrap metal. A check for the total value of all scrap collected during the Better Living Show will be donated to Oregon Food Bank, making the impact of this recycling event even more powerful.
Click here for more details

Official show sponsors include Energy Trust of Oregon, NW Natural, Portland General Electric, Schnitzer Steel, The Portland Clinic, Sustainable Life, Food Services of America, So Delicious Dairy Free and Oregon State University.

We're Growing in 2012

We are excited about 2012.

And yes, we know that there are still too many political and social problems. What with high unemployment, home foreclosures, rising fuel prices, and a volatile stock market casting a pall of pessimism over us all.

Still, we feel there is good reason for optimism.

In our own small world we are growing as more and more people read the Green Living Journal. In order to serve this increased readership we will now  be printing 20,000 copies each quarter instead of 16,000, and we will also be expanding our distribution locations from 450 to 550.

From the broader green front here's some news that feeds our optimism:

The Solar Energy Industries Association reports that in 2011 the solar energy industry in the US  grew by 140 percent  and costs came down by 40 percent. The US Solar industry now employs more than 100,000 Americans at 5,000 businesses across all 50 states, making it the fastest growing  industry in the nation.

 Locally the Solarize Portland efforts are installing solar at record rates.

The American Wind Energy Association reports that wind power now produces 20 percent of all the power in both Iowa and South Dakota. One utility in Colorado actually generated 55.6 percent of the electricity on its system from wind on October 6, 2011.

The cost of wind turbines has dropped 33 percent. Here in Oregon the Shepherds Flat Wind Farm (largest wind farm in the nation) is well under way in Morrow and Gilliam counties.

Electric drive vehicles produced by major car companies (Nissan and Chevrolet) have arrived in dealers' showrooms and 17,000 of them are now on the road, but the really good news is that more brands are coming for 2012. Going along with the increased number of vehicles is the increase in the number of public charging stations that are being installed. More on all of this this in our Spring issue which will be out in mid-March.

So keep your spirits up and keep reading the Green Living Journal for more great ideas and inspiration.

Post Holiday Waste Recycling

Happy Holidays!!
After the Holidays where to recycle all of the Holiday trimmings?

Wrapping paper, cards and boxes that are 100 percent paper can be recycled in curbside bins. Do not put foil, plastic coating and glitter into recycle bins. Plastic bottles, jars, tubs and buckets are the only plastics that you can recycle at home.

Christmas Trees and Wreaths in Portland
Oregon Metro Information
http://bit.ly/vsfeXJ

Styrofoam™ Blocks (No food-related Styrofoam)
Total Reclaim $5 per load 5805 NE Columbia Blvd, Portland | 503-281-1899
Recology – $5 per load – two locations: Foster Road location - 6400 SE 101st Avenue, Bldg. #4-A, Portland | 503-774-1418 Suttle Road Location - 4044 North Suttle Road, Portland | 503-285-8777

Rigid plastic and plastic bag recycling
Free drop off at Far West Fibers -Seven locations *6440 SE Alexander, Hillsboro *12820 NE Marx St, Portland *341 Foothills Rd, Lake Oswego *10750 SW Denney Rd, Beaverton *4629 SE 17th Ave, Portland *1520 NW Quimby, Portland *2005 N Rosa Parks Blvd, Portland (503)643-9944 or www.farwestfibers.com

Holiday Lights
If you've been thinking of switching out your old holiday lights for energy-saving LEDs, the Oregon Zoo is ready to help. Throughout ZooLights, the zoo will be collecting old holiday light strings for recycling. Just drop off your old lights at the Zoo Store by Sunday, Jan. 1, and you'll get a coupon for a free piece of Zoo Store fudge in exchange. LEDs are very eco-friendly decorations: They use only about 1 percent of the power of standard holiday lights. NOTE: We are not asking for donations of lights to use at the zoo – all of the lights we collect will be recycled into their component parts.  http://www.oregonzoo.org/Contact/


Know of any other resources for Holiday recycling in the Portland, Vancouver area? 
Ideas about reducing Holiday debris? 
Please share the information in comments.

Sources:  Oregon Metro-KGW.com
Photos:  top: from flickr member foilman  bottom: flickr member PBoyd04

City of Portland Offers Ecoroof Seminars and Incentives

Interested in getting some green on and from your roof?  The city has scheduled two one-day seminars; one for professionals on Tuesday, December 6, and one for property owners on Saturday, December 10. Register and get more information at www.portlandonline.com/bes/ecoroofseminars
The city is also accepting applications for ecoroof incentives to spur ecoroof construction in Portland. The deadline to apply for this cycle is Thursday, December 1, 2011. The next ecoroof incentive cycle will begin in spring 2012. The city will accept incentive applications twice a year through 2013.

Incentive Requirements
The project is within the Portland city limits.
The project manages stormwater.
Construction will start within two years of being approved for an incentive.
The project is feasible and buildable.
Projects that receive the FAR (Floor to Area ratio) bonus are eligible for ecoroof incentives.
Project cannot be complete before the incentive application deadline.

The incentive pays up to $5 per square foot for new ecoroof projects in the city. Ecoroofs in Portland typically cost between $5 and $20 per square foot. Industrial, residential, commercial and mixed-use projects are eligible. For this cycle, the city added criteria to promote diversity in ecoroof projects. Projects that apply the new criteria will rate higher during the evaluation process.

Ecoroof Benefits Include

Environmental Benefits
Manage stormwater
Increase wildlife habitat
Filter pollutants
Reduce the urban heat island effect
Improve air quality
Save energy
Buffer noise
Economic Benefits
Can double the lifespan of the roof
May be eligible for a sewer rate discount
Can lower heating and cooling costs
Social Benefits
Improve community livability
Create greenspaces
Provide educational opportunities
Connect the community with the natural environment

For more information and to find out about the next eco roof incentive cycle:
http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=48724&
or  Contact Alice Coker at 503-823-7914

25th Annual Fix it Fair Season

The City of Portland's 25th Annual Neighborhood Fix it Fairs

Learn about!

Water and energy savings

Safe and healthy home

Food and nutrition

Neighborhood and community resources

Recycling

Weatherizing your home

Gardening and growing your own food

Yard care and composting

Transportation

Plus!

Free lead blood testing

Free giveaways

Hourly door prizes

Free professional childcare

Free lunch

Free minor bike tune-ups and flat tire repair for students and families 

Nov. 19th Ron Russell Middle School

Jan. 21st Rosa Parks Elementary School

Feb. 25th Jefferson High School