Portland, Ore—The City of Portland and Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc., recently announced six building projects that will receive a combined total of $425,000 in grants from the Green Investment Fund (GIF), a five-year, $2.5 million grant fund created to spur innovation in green building technologies and practices in Portland.

The GIF is a competitive grant program that funds projects designed and built to meet aggressive and integrated resource conservation goals.A partnership between the City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development (OSD), Water Bureau, Bureau of Environmental Services and Energy Trust of Oregon, the GIF recognizes project innovation in waste and pollution reduction, water conservation, on-site stormwater management and reuse, energy conservation and on-site renewable energy.

“Supporting new green building products, technologies and practices as they enter our market is core to the city’s comprehensive economic development strategy to grow and develop sustainable industry in the region,” said Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who first introduced the GIF concept in 2001.“Portland’s green building industry is at the forefront of a $6 billion national market for these products and services,” he added.

The 2006 GIF projects demonstrate that potential to achieve high performance building objectives through creative and strategic integration of green building technologies and practices. 2006 grant amounts range from $34,000 to $160,000.

Upon completion, residential GIF projects will be featured on OSD’s annual Build it Green! Tour of Homes and case studies of all GIF projects will be available at www.green-rated.org.

2006 GREEN INVESTMENT FUND GRANTS

Shizen

A new, seven-unit residential condominium building in Northeast Portland designed for superior resource efficiency.The Shizen is designed to operate 60 percent more efficiently than Oregon Energy Code and use renewable energy systems for the remaining building energy demand, making it a “net zero energy” building. High efficiency fixtures and captured rainwater will allow the building to exceed water efficiency standards by more than 50 percent.Additionally, the project will exceed City stormwater requirements by handling stormwater runoff from the street in addition to all on-site runoff.The three-story house that previously occupied the site was moved to an infill lot to be reused just blocks away.

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Portland’s first ecoroof business venture turns the roof of an existing 1936 warehouse in Southeast Portland into a mini-soccer field and café with a planted border. The project will include a rainwater harvesting system to water the ecoroof and flush the building’s toilets. The water will be pumped using solar energy.

The rainwater harvesting system and ecoroof will substantially reduce stormwater runoff, cool the building in hot summer months and add interactive recreational space to an industrial area.The café and Futsal field will be income-generating activities for the building owners that will also create new jobs in Southeast Portland.The ecoroof is part of a greater building renovation project that anticipates seeking LEEDÒ certification.

Dolph Creek Townhomes

A new, 14-unit townhome development flanks the restored headwaters of Tryon Creek in Southwest Portland .Very efficient heating and domestic hot water systems and an advanced building design will help the project see more than 30 percent annual energy savings over code. Storm basins along the creek edge will be replaced with ecoroofs, moving water quality and stormwater management from the site to the roof. Other focus areas include indoor air quality, water use efficiency, recycling and use of local and recycled content materials. The project is a LEED Ò for Homes pilot project and an example of the growing demand for green building in the residential market.

Urbansun Floating Home

North Portland’s Tomahawk Island Floating Home Community will soon be home to a new 1,200 square foot “near net zero energy” home. The small size of the home, combined with a well-insulated and designed envelope, and a combined ventilation/energy recovery system will significantly reduce energy use. Innovative features include a micro-hydro system that capitalizes on the steady flow of theColumbia Riverand passive and active solar elements. High post-consumer recycled content engineering wood and salvaged and certified sustainably harvested lumber will make up a significant proportion of the home and rooftop greenhouse. The greenhouse will be irrigated with harvested rainwater throughout most of the year. The project will seek Earth AdvantageÒPlatinum and Energy StarÒcertification.

OverlookTreePreservationIndustrialBuilding

A Portland industrial warehouse on the edge of Forest Park makes good use of space, accommodating storage, workshop, office and showroom space needs in a 4,000 square foot building. Stormwater will be treated through a permeable paving system, bioswales, rainwater harvesting and an ecoroof around the perimeter of the roof. An energy-producing solar PV laminate system will replace traditional roofing materials on the non-ecoroof portion of the roof. A tilt up-concrete panel system made in part of recycled steel and fly ash will create a thermally massive building envelope, and salvaged fixtures and doors will be used inside the building.The building has no sewer hookup and will instead include two composting toilets. The project will seek LEED Ò certification.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Stumptown Coffee Roasters is employing advanced energy design services to create an integrated energy system for its new roasting facility in Southeast Portland. The project will identify design and engineering strategies to capture, redistribute and use excess energy and heat from the very energy-intensive coffee roasting process. As new owners of the building, Stumptown will also evaluate energy distribution opportunities in an initial master plan and/or feasibility study for the whole block, including future retail tenant build-outs in the remaining space.

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The

Portland

Office of Sustainable Development

(OSD) brings together community partners to promote a healthy and prosperous future for Portland . OSD advances improvements and innovation in energy use and technologies, waste disposal, recycling, sustainable purchasing, environmental education and high-performance green building practices. OSD programs, policies and partnerships are key to community health, economic and environmental opportunities for Portland , its businesses and residents.

G/Rated, a project of OSD

, is Portland 's green building resource. G/Rated provides technical assistance, innovation grants and training on green building practices to developers, builders, homeowners, and design professionals.

Bureau of Environmental Services

is Portland ’s Clean River agency, treating Portland ’s wastewater, provide stormwater drainage services, and work in Portland watersheds to reduce stormwater pollution, restore native vegetation, and improve the quality of water in our rivers and streams. The effects of urbanization on stormwater can be avoided or mitigated by designing systems that mimic natural systems where stormwater is integrated into building and site development. Details on the City’s sustainable stormwater management practices can be found at www.portlandonline.com/bes.

The City of Portland Bureau of Water Works operates the water supply system that delivers high-quality drinking water to more than 787,000 people in the Portland metropolitan area. In addition to protection of public health, the Water Bureau works to incorporate sustainable practices, and develops conservation programs for City of Portland residential and commercial customers. For more information about the Bureau’s conservation programs and assistance, go to www.portlandonline.com/water.

Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc.is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy development.The organization’s mission is to change how Oregonians produce and use energy by investing in efficient technologies and renewable resources that develop new sources of clean energy, help Oregonians lower their electricity bills, stimulate the economy, and protect the environment. Learn more at www.energytrust.org.

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