Waste prevention is the ideal situation and it is the most preferable solution to manage waste, recycling included. Used and functional electronic items can be donated to extend the functionality of products and keeps them out of the waste management system for an elongated period of time. Donating used electronics allows educational institutes and not for profit organizations to take advantage of an additional source of infrastructure and there are plenty of electronics recycling opportunities in Portland: You can recycle your e-waste for free through Oregon E-Cycles, or donate to Free Geek, which will put your used equipment to work as a community educational tool. A working computer with a current operating…
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Top Ten Reasons to Buy From Local Growers
Shopping in large corporate grocery stores that are open 24/7 is convenient. Supporting a local agricultural economy requires more planning, commitment and thought. Here are ten powerful reasons to do so: 1. Contribute to the Local Economy Buying food from chain grocery stores depends on a large infrastructure to support a global food system that removes about 93% of food dollars from a local economy. When you buy directly from a local grower, 90% of that money is returned to the grower and stays within your local economy. 2. Empower Regional Food Access and Security Most people know the adage “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” as a…
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The Basics of an Energy Efficient Mortgage
Going green has many benefits. Not only does it lower your impact on the environment, but it could potentially save you money. When it comes to your home, it can be difficult to make your house more energy efficient. Luckily, with an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM), you can borrow more money to help you upgrade your home with green technology. Here are just a few upgrades that qualify under an EEM: Alternative heating such as a pellet stove New windows and insulation New roofing technologies Solar Panels for both electricity and hot water heating In order to qualify for an EEM, you must first qualify for a regular mortgage. When…
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Five Reasons Why an Environmental Site Assessment is Important
(If You Are Looking to Buy a Commercial Property) Investing in commercial real estate can be risky. Returns on the investment are dependent upon the constantly changing real estate market, natural hazards, loan terms, and/or the success of tenants, to name a few. One of the biggest risks can be related to the potential for environmental liabilities related to a property. Environmental liability can have enormous financial ramifications for an owner, and can feasibly affect the ability to lease or utilize a property. Therefore, environmental due diligence, specifically a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), is a critical step in choosing the right property. Investors and users alike may focus…
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Regular Auto Maintenance Is Good for You, Your Wallet, and The Environment
Why should you spend time and money maintaining your vehicle? The average new car cost $30,500 in 2012. That’s a pretty steep investment, so it makes sense to squeeze every dime out of it. I asked Tom Dwyer, owner of Tom Dwyer Automotive Services in Portland, OR, for the best way to keep our vehicles on the road for years to come… “Maintenance.” said Tom. “The absolutely best way to ensure safe and reliable performance is to follow a sensible, proactive maintenance plan. With consistent maintenance, your vehicle can last for many years and hundreds of thousands of miles beyond its warranty period.” Beyond protecting your investment, Tom gave other…
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SMART Composting: A Rind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste
More and more, people recognize that putting organic matter in a landfill is a waste of both money and natural resources. Organic material in a landfill decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen), releasing harmful methane. You can do your garden and the planet a good turn by turning your organic spoils into food for the earth. Composting returns elements to the soil where plants can use them and the nutrients can continue to nourish the cycle of life. It also reduces climate-changing gas emissions and is an easy, inexpensive way to enrich gardens. Compost helps a garden to thrive – improving clay soil, allowing air and moisture to penetrate the soil, and…
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Building Green Made Simpler
Choose Your Level of Green Construction To a lot of people, building green means costly, complicated, and confusing, but it is getting easier as designers and builders find simpler ways of doing things. Structures NW llc of Vancouver, using their 10 plus years of experience building with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), has come up with a unique system that makes building green simpler. They created a three level system of pre-designed green construction templates that fit the Northwest climate zone; Green, Greener and Greenest. Green uses a 6” SIP wall that provides a true R-21.7 whole wall R-Value as determined by the Oak Ridge National Labratory. Combined with a 10”…
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Cradle to Cradle Carpeting
What exactly does this mean? : You purchase EcoWorx carpet tiles or broadloom from a local dealer. When the carpeting has outlived its useful life, it is removed and returned to the dealer.
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Vancouver Water Resources Education Center
If you haven’t been to this hidden jewel at 4600 SE Columbia Way in Vancouver, put it on your list and visit. It opened its doors in February 1996, in concert with a new, innovative and advanced Marine Park Water Reclamation Facility, but many people have yet to discover it. Their mission: Teach people of all ages how to better care for and make wise decisions about water. They do this with interactive exhibits, aquaria swimming with fish, classroom laboratory, toddler-friendly Puddles Place, inspiring White Sturgeon gallery, natural gardens, wildlife-friendly wetlands and more! Inside and outside, the Water Center is brimming with things for visitors of all ages to do…
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Fair Trade 101
Depending on your perspective, the choices you make as a consumer simply impact yourself, or they impact the lives of hundreds or even thousands of other, mostly impoverished people. The fair trade industry believes the latter is true. It has been harnessing the positive purchasing power of consumers for decades. Fair trade reduces global poverty by improving the social and economic status of marginalized global artisans and agricultural producers by facilitating direct trading relationships that pay a fair price. The growth of fair trade over the last 20 years shows that Americans and the world believe in the fair trade model. In 2011, fair trade sales topped $1.4 billion in…
