It takes a community to raise a planet
If one of your promises to yourself (and the world at large) for 2011 was to take steps to make more of a difference, then you may want to align yourself with a group that can help you do just that. The Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club has been making a difference since 1978 and has priority conservation efforts focused on Read the rest of this entry »
This just in from the Portland Business Journal: Oregon ranked third in the nation in an annual ranking of states against an energy-efficiency scorecard developed by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Great news, eh? The Business Journal article goes on to say that “Oregon benefits from steady funding of about 60 million per year for efficiency programs contributed by utilities, which pay 3 percent of total revenues to fund the Energy Trust of Oregon and low-income efficiency efforts. In addition, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council has a heavy emphasis on efficiency in its plan for the region.” Oregon came in behind Read the rest of this entry »
A national push to find and utilize more sustainable energy resources has led the Department of Energy to create many different committees and organizations responsible for promoting renewable energy. In 2002, as part of the Wind Powering America program, the Oregon Wind Working Group (OWWG) was created. This group focuses on raising awareness and increasing participation of companies and citizens in using wind power. Read the rest of this entry »
As unbelievable as it sounds, experts estimate that .2 of the ocean’s energy could power the entire world. Using this prediction as wind under their wings, Oregon State University has created three device prototypes that could be used to harness wave energy. Read the rest of this entry »
Oregon has an abundance of renewable energy sources availablebut who is making sure they’re taken advantage of? The state of Oregon is home to many environmental groups who dedicate their time and effort to researching, funding, and executing renewable energy use. Read the rest of this entry »
The easiest way to reduce America’s wastelands is good old fashioned recycling. It is important to start good recycling habits at the home, community, and state level if we want to see a difference in the country’s recycling statistics. Thankfully, Oregon homeowners are pretty good at recycling. You’re more likely to be surprised at NOT to see a recycling bin set out in most neighborhoods. If you’re a little late to the recycling game (don’t worryit’s never too late to start), there are a few things you’ll need to know before you start saving the world one recycle bin at a time. Read the rest of this entry »
It’s hard to imagine that the dirty, used oil you see at the bottom of a frying pan could actually have any functional purpose. Even more baffling is the thought of driving a car powered by this grease. Not only can used cooking oil and trap grease be converted into a form of diesel, but it burns significantly cleaner than regular diesel, releasing less than 25 of the amount of CO2 that is expelled by petroleum diesel. Read the rest of this entry »
Instead of burning precious fossil fuels for energy, many Oregon residents are using alternate energy sources to fuel their everyday needs. One of the most practical and effective energy sources being used in Oregon is Solar Energy.Wipe the image of massive metal solar panels out of your mind. Thanks to the evolution of solar technology, it’s possible to harness the energy of the sun without compromising design or function. Read the rest of this entry »