What makes portland green

To noon Multiple locations. Invasive plants are one of the biggest challenges to maintaining healthy natural areas - and ivy is one of the most challenging invasives in Portland. Luckily, ivy pulling is a great way to get out in nature, get exercise and see the immediate benefits of your work.

Fix-it Fair Nov. Environmental Services staff will attend to share information about our incentive and grant programs. August 30, - Each Friday during the summer, Environmental Services posts our Willamette River test results for bacteria and temperature at five popular recreation spots. And each week, you show what a river clean enough for swimming and playing means to you. Here are scenes from a summer of play on the river - a river that is cleaner thanks in large part to your investment in the Big Pipe Project.

What did our Willamette River test results show this season? All results were GOOD - showing bacteria levels well within state health guidelines. We sample at five locations each Wednesday and post results on Fridays. How do I find test results? Check the Rec at www.

Has the Willamette River always been clean enough to swim and play? Today, the river is almost always clean enough to swim and play. Plus, biking is fun and bike parking is free. Dog poop is raw sewage. Whether from people, pets or wildlife, bacteria from sewage can make people sick.

See our other clean river tips. For more photos , check out Flickr. For more info, Check the Rec for test results, safety tips and links to where to swim at www. Enjoy your river! Phone: Fax: April showers bring…trees! You're Invited! Mayor Potter said: "We're definitely proud to be recognized by SustainLane for all the ways Portland's citizens and businesses are working together to create a more sustainable community. In Portland, the local governments are leaders for sustainability but it's really the grassroots actions from the neighborhoods and the businesses that make this a special place.

The City is buying renewable power and conserving energy, and so are tens of thousands of residents. The City has a green building policy, but it's the builders and developers and buyers who actually change the market. It's the people who shop at the farmers markets, the growers who manage their farms sustainably, the folks who choose to bike or take the bus to work, and all those day-to-day decisions that are making a huge difference.

Portland continues to use its sustainability ethos to attract businesses, residents, tourists and conventions. The city has ever-increasing currency as one of the capitals of a powerful emerging domestic economy. Other cities are forging ahead as well, each a leader in some form of sustainability. These include Chicago and San Francisco in renewable energy and urban greening; Boston, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Oakland in local food development; Denver, Charlotte, Phoenix and Dallas in citywide transit oriented development; Atlanta and Washington DC in green building.

Listen to this article So far, the company has produced enough energy-saving window inserts to eliminate over 52, tons of C Indow operates under the principle of "lean manufacturing," which means it aims to reduce waste and recycle whenever possible.

Among other things, Indow utilizes software that strategizes cuts to maximize the material available during the manufacturing process. The little waste that is created is recycled by Denton Plastics: sustainable recycling solutions, and the inserts are shipped to customers in recycled, recyclable Ecorrcrate: Eco friendly corrugated crates. Indow is not just trying to make more sustainable homes, but also a more sustainable office.

The company leaders have invested in extensive upgrades around the office to ensure the daily operations are sustainable: they added insulation to the ceilings; upgraded to high-efficiency, ductless mini-split heat pumps; switched to LED light fixtures; and even installed low-flow toilets and fixtures.

The building also has Indow inserts in all the windows—so the company can vouch for how good its product is. Indow employees have also been working to restore a natural habitat, working with local artists and community members.

And they continually strive to adopt new practices to improve their green living. Indow wants to help Portlanders join its efforts, as well. Many workplaces are on board with the green building movement, replacing inefficient lighting with LEDs, making it easier for employees to recycle, and incentivizing energy savings in the office. In , Oregon led the US with its pioneer bottle recycling program.

More than 40 years later, the program is getting a boost from 5 to 10 cents a bottle. The jump actually had some people stockpiling bottles, ready to cash in when the price doubled. Even without rewards, Portlanders recycle and compost more than 60 percent of their trash, compared to the U.