Washington Moving Toward Recyclable Electronics
Olympia

The Department of Ecology has adopted the first of two rules necessary to carry out the state's new electronic product recycling law, passed by the Legislature earlier this year. This is the first important milestone in launching a one-of-a-kind law requiring manufacturers to provide consumers free recycling of electronic products by Jan. 1, 2009.

After Jan. 1 2007, consumers will see registered manufacturers' labels on specific consumer products: computers, monitors and televisions. Electronics manufacturers will be required to register before that date with Ecology and pay a fee to the department to cover the cost of administering the law, including registration, enforcement and planning. After that, only labeled products from registered manufacturers can be sold in Washington.

Otak to Develop Urban Growth Boundaries
Portland

The next phase of development in Portland’s urban growth boundary is set to begin in Washington County, as officials will soon begin working with Otak Inc. to develop the North Bethany Concept Plan.

This goal for this 800-acre area, which the county hopes will be a “community of distinction” in the metro area, is to create a feasible strategy for development and financing infrastructure.

Otak will assist the county with master planning, development strategy and land-use regulations, with the firm paying particular attention to smart growth, community involvement and sustainability planning. These planning efforts are expected to last approximately 18 months.

Otak’s subconsultants include Leland Consulting Group for market analysis, DKS Associates for transportation planning, Laurance Qamar for urban design, Jeanne Lawson Associates for citizen involvement/communications, CH2M Hill for water and sewer infrastructure and natural resources, GreenWorks for landscape architecture and William Haack for affordable housing.

The Louisa awarded LEED Gold status:
Portland

The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the Louisa Apartments LEED Gold Certified status, making the building the first LEED gold apartment building in the Northwest. The Louisa is a 285,000 sq ft, 242-unit apartment building in northwest Portland. Developed by Gerding Edlen Development as part of its Brewery Blocks redevelopment plan, the building is located at the site of the former Blitz Weinhard brewery. Among the building’s green features are a vegetated roof deck, four ecoroof areas, natural ventilation and energy-efficient windows. The building’s energy-saving features result in an annual savings of more than 40% over a building of similar size and eliminate more than 1.3 million lbs of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

Recyclers to Spare Landfill Space
Portland

Looking for a bunch of beams? Have a couple dozen doors? Look no further than the new online marketplace for Portland-area builders called BoneyardNW, located at www.BoneyardNW.com.

Created in the tradition of online marketplaces such as eBay and Craig’s List, BoneyardNW is a first-of-its-kind website that provides a place for the selling and buying of usable commercial construction materials that have been taken out of a building during renovation or demolition. Currently, many of those materials — including valuable items such as windows, doors, flooring and even soil — end up in the landfill. About 20 percent of all waste created in the Portland area is construction waste.

Metro, the regional government that serves Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties and the 25 cities in the Portland metropolitan area,  created BoneYardNW to help the construction and demolition industry increase the quantity of building materials that are recycled and reused. Metro is responsible for helping the region achieve a state-mandated recycling rate of 64 percent by 2009. Currently, the regional recycling rate stands at 59 percent.

The rise of green building in the Northwest has spurred a further interest in “deconstruction” and “salvage” as opposed to demolition and disposal of construction material. Metro hopes to divert 10,000 tons of usable building materials from being thrown away through the use of BoneyardNW and other services available to building contractors, developers and others in the commercial building industry.

BOMA brings best practice sessions to Portland
Portland

The Portland Metropolitan Association of Building Owners and Managers has teamed up with BetterBricks and the Energy Trust of Oregon to bring the Portland business community a series of lunchtime interactive sessions about best practices for energy efficiency. The BOMA Energy Efficiency Program runs through September, and topics include “Low Cost Operational Adjustments to Improve Energy Performance” and “Building an Energy Awareness Program.” All lectures are held at the World Trade Center in Portland. For a complete schedule, visit the BOMA Web site at www.bomaportland.org.

Energy Trust of Oregon expands incentives
Portland

The Energy Trust of Oregon announced incentive changes for industrial facilities in 2007. Under the Production Efficiency program, the Energy Trust has committed $5.7 million for incentives for industrial projects this year. Program changes were approved by the Energy Trust Conservation Advisory Council on Jan. 17 and include an increase in per-kilowatt hour incentives for nonlighting projects, removal of the annual limit on the number of projects that can be funded at a single facility and a reduction in the minimum simple payback requirement from 24 to 18 months. Industrial facilities can also qualify for increased cash incentives for lighting upgrades through the program. More information about these incentives is available on the Energy Trust’s Web site, www.energytrust.org.

Oregon Legislature considers sustainability and green building bills
Salem

The Oregon Legislature has several bills under consideration that could enhance sustainability and green building in the state. HB 2211 would expand the business energy tax credit from a cap of 35% on a $10 million project to 50% on a $20 million project. It would also offer a new tax credit for building a high-performance home and includes a provision for homebuilders and developers that would allow them to take the same solar tax credit that homeowners can take—$3 per watt up to $6,000. Another bill, HB 2212, expands the residential energy tax credit, providing an increased credit for small wind electric systems and fuel cell systems. Other bills are also being drafted or in committee. To check on the status of these and other bills, visit www.leg.state.or.us.

Ongoing study tests effectiveness of ecoroofs
PORTLAND