Sustainability in our schools

May 1, 2024 | Community, Education, Schools

May 2024

Sustainability in Lake Oswego Schools

The Lake Oswego School District (LOSD) has embraced sustainability in many different ways – in its curriculum, in its new facilities, and as one of the four key pillars in its strategic plan. In this month’s newsletter, we’re sharing sustainability highlights from the 2023-24 school year.

Sustainability Curriculum

For the second year, Lakeridge and Lake Oswego high schools have offered elective classes on sustainability. Both high schools also have green teams to help promote sustainability within their school communities.

Testimony from LOHS student Brody Trost:

“My name is Brady Trost, and I was in Mrs. Foster’s Sustainability class this year. The Sustainability class is super fun, you go on a lot of field trips and learn a lot about the environment. Earlier in 1st semester, our class went to the PAE building in Portland. The building was an incredibly sustainable building, and they filtered their own water for consumption. Many people in the class said that the water tastes especially good there. Our class also went to Forest Hill Elementary as our final, and we got to read the students a book called We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom. The book talks about water and how Native American people wish to protect their water. Our class was lucky to read this book to two 5th grade classes… Overall, Sustainability is a really fun class, and you can make new friends.”

Pictured above: Lake Oswego High School’s solar flower, greenhouse and garden.

Testimony from LOHS student Lyra Johnson:

“My name is Lyra Johnson, and I’m this year’s Green Team president. Green Team is the LOHS environmental activism club, focused on service, stewardship and environmental education. I joined the club in my freshman year while looking for something to do during the pandemic, and have found that the events, activities and opportunities it offers provide huge relief against climate anxiety and hopelessness. From regular land tending events, where we pull ivy, pick up trash and plant native species, to educational opportunities around the community (such as the annual Tree Summit on November 4, where I met so many inspiring individuals crafting havens of biodiversity in their own backyards), Green Team allows students to contribute in whatever capacity interests them.”

Lakeridge High School opened its greenhouse and agricultural spaces in fall 2023. Thanks to a collaboration between Marketing and Farm to School, students in the class sell vegetable starts and vegetables that they grow in their campus farm beds.

Sustainability curriculum has also expanded to elementary and middle schools. All 5th graders participate in place-based Healthy Waters walking field trips from their individual campuses that are provided by the Oswego Lake Watershed Council. The gardens were refurbished at Lake Grove Elementary while Westridge Elementary designed and built new gardens.

Both middle schools will add a garden/horticulture elective this fall.

Pictured above: Raised beds and outdoor classroom at River Grove Elementary.

Sustainable Facilities

Earth Week Celebration

The LOHS Green Team planned and coordinated a week-long series of events in April. The goal was to bring students together with the common goal of learning, sharing, and doing service. Events included Land Tending, a showing and discussion of “Atomic Hope,” the Lake Oswego Sustainability Resource Fair, and the Asian Cultural Festival. They capped off the week with a picnic to celebrate in the outdoor classroom.

The Electrification Movement Is Spreading Across Oregon

Apr 1, 2024 | Electric Landscaping Equipment, Electrify Your Landscaping / Healthy Yard Care

April 2024

It’s Clean, It’s Quiet, It’s Healthy

Electrify Your Landscaping and Healthy Yard Care

The Lake Oswego Sustainability Network is launching a campaign to support healthy yard care practices and the transition away from gas-powered landscaping equipment (GPLE). Gas-powered landscaping equipment causes significant air and noise pollution that negatively impacts workers, neighborhoods, habitat, and health of the soil.

The campaign will contribute to the achievement of the City’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan goals by supporting the reduction of air and noise pollution in the community. It will include citywide mailers, newsletters, social media, website informational content, letter writing campaigns, and public events.

In this Issue:

  • Reasons to eliminate the use of Gas-powered Landscaping Equipment
  • The Advantages of Electric
  • Healthy Yard Care
  • Residential Solutions
  • What the City of Lake Oswego is doing
  • Case Study – Mountain Park HOA
  • Portland Ban on Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
  • Education and Training – American Green Zone Alliance
  • How you can help
  • Additional resources
  • Electrify Oregon

Reasons to Eliminate the Use of Gas-Powered Landscaping Equipment

Gas-powered landscaping equipment is responsible for significant air and noise pollution. Operators of this equipment can be particularly affected. Many types of hand-held landscaping equipment use 2-stroke engines, which are the worst offenders.

Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

EXTREME NOISE

Because it is low-frequency and high-decibel, the noise of a gas-powered blower is significantly louder than an electric one. It permeates walls and negatively impacts up to 90 surrounding homes. The noise contributes to hearing loss, hypertension, and stress.

HEALTH RISKS

2-stroke engines burn a mixture of gasoline and oil, and they produce exhaust fumes laden with high levels of benzene, butadiene, formaldehyde, and fine particulates, all of which are known carcinogens and associated with respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological harm.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

Their toxic waste and smog-forming emissions harm ecosystems and contribute to the climate crisis. Gas leaf blowers create up to 200-mph wind force which sends dust that can contain pollen, mold, animal feces, heavy metals, and chemicals from herbicides and pesticides into the air.

The Advantages of Electric

Electric landscaping  tools are clean, quiet, safe and convenient. They cost less to operate than their gas counterparts.  Used in conjunction with healthy landscaping practices, they are better for the health of the landscapers, the neighborhood, and the environment.  Today’s electric tools are  powerful enough to handle even the biggest jobs.

Some advantages of electric tools:

  • Instant start: no pulling cords, priming engines etc.
  • Excellent cutting, blowing and trimming power
  • Long run times and easy battery swap outs
  • Multiple tools can use the same batteries
  • No refilling fuel tanks, engine oil and gas cans
  • No replacing spark plugs, air filters and fuel filters

Healthy Yard Care

Using electric yard care equipment is important, but how you use that equipment is even more important.  We need to think of our yards as natural living systems.

These systems include a variety of plants, animals and microorganisms, all working together to promote a robust landscape.

Let’s look at some examples:

Lawn Mowers
It’s great to use a quiet, clean electric lawn mower, but what happens when you follow up with an application of artificial fertilizer?  Organisms in the soil are killed by the chemicals.  The natural process that allows worms and soil microorganisms to flourish and naturally support plant growth is lost.  These organisms are providing natural fertilizers and releasing nutrients that support plant growth.  The natural system is destroyed.

Leaf Blowers
It is great to eliminate the noise, but what happens when all of the leaves are removed from the soil?  That material that feeds the soil is lost and the complex system of insects, worms, and microorganisms is disrupted.  Soil health is severely compromised, and healthy soil means a thriving garden.  So it’s fine to blow leaves off of paths, patios and other hard surfaces, but leave the leaves on the soil and support a healthy natural system in your garden.

Electrifying your landscaping tools is very important – but remember to use those tools in a manner that supports a healthy, sustainable garden.

Sustainable Practices

  • Leave the leaves – leaves and other plant matter under trees and shrubs help build mulch, healthy soil, and habitat for pollinators and wildlife.
  • Grasscycling – leave grass clippings on the lawn or use a mulching mower. Clippings are a natural fertilizer, beneficial for the lawn, and will decompose and disappear quickly.
  • Avoid fertilizer and pesticides – most yards do not need these dangerous chemicals which are harmful to wildlife,  insects, and waterways.
  • Plant care – avoid the use of leaf blowers around plantings as they erode and compact the soil, and damage habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators.
  • Help pollinators – plant native plants and flowers with staggered blooming times, and do not use pesticides.
  • Reduce or replace your lawn – lawns take lots of water and labor to maintain.
  • Reduce the size of your lawn or replace it with plants that take less water and maintenance and provide habitat for insects and birds.
  • Use a broom or rake instead of a gas blower to eliminate massive pollution, dust, and noise. They are more efficient tools than many people think.

Here are more resources for tips on healthy landscaping practices:

https://losn.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/All-Electric-Yard-Care-Fact-Sheet-.pdf

https://losn.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Las-ventajas-de-las-herramientas-electricas-de-jardineria.pdf

Here are some local organizations that offer more information, programs, and guidance on Healthy Yard Care. You can sign up to become certified with Backyard Habitat, become a member of Xerces, and get involved with the Oswego Lake Watershed Council.

    

Residential Solutions

As residents, there are many things we can do to help with the transition away from gas-powered equipment. We now understand that gas-powered equipment, especially blowers, harms the health and well-being of all. Eliminating their use around your home and your neighborhood alone will have a significant impact.

Ask your landscaper to use rakes and brooms whenever possible to keep the hardscape areas of your home clean.

If your landscaper needs a power assist, ask them to use electric equipment only.

If your landscaper does not have electric equipment, here are ways you can help them make the transition away from gas-powered equipment:

  • Provide your landscape contractor with electric equipment to be used on your property.
  • Offer to share in the cost: Suggest to your landscaper that if they purchase the equipment, you will provide them with the appropriate battery to use on your property, fully charged and waiting for them on your day of service.
  • If your landscape area is relatively small, corded electric equipment might be a good solution; extension cords and an exterior outlet eliminate the need for charging batteries.
  • Adopt-a-landscaper: If your landscaper services other properties in your area, consider sharing the cost among neighbors.

Residential Landscapers

Many landscaping services in our region already offer electric services. A story from Oswego Yard Care shows why businesses are moving towards this model:

Dan Fidler and Lonny Chavez started Oswego Yard Care in 2019 with the desire to create a landscaping business using quiet renewable energy. They use all-electric battery-powered Ego brand tools that greatly reduce noise pollution and have no gas fumes. Every kWh of energy they use to recharge their equipment is offset with the purchase of clean renewable energy. They have enthusiasm for innovation and insistence on clean energy. Oswego Yard Care maintains and creates beautiful yards by combining seasonal color, native plants, and perennials. Dan and Lonny encourage other landscapers to check out their equipment to experience for themselves how great this electric equipment works. Visit oswegoyard.com for more information.

Here are some landscaping companies that offer alternatives to gas-powered landscaping equipment in Lake Oswego:

  • AK Lawn Maintenance
  • Blessing Landscapes
  • Blossom
  • Clean Air Lawn Care PDX
  • Dennis’ 7 Dees
  • Flower Bug Gardening
  • Neighborhood Gardeners SW
  • Northwest Native Landscapes
  • Oregon Garden Ninjas
  • Oswego Yard Care
  • Phoenix Habitats
  • Plantzy Gardens and Designs
  • Revive Gardens PDX
  • Rogue Ecology
  • SKLD Landscape Design
  • Swamp Rose Ecology
  • Symbiop
  • Terraccord Landscapes
  • Tommy’s Landscape

What the City of Lake Oswego is Doing

The City of Lake Oswego has already taken important steps to eliminate gas-powered equipment from its contracted landscape services for 200 city-owned sites and has replaced much of the gas-powered equipment used by Parks and Public Works.

Parks and Recreation

Jeff Munro, Deputy Director

The Parks Department’s transition to electric tools aligns with our dedication to maintaining beautiful parks while being kind to our earth and environment. We have added all types of electric equipment including blowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, push mowers, riding mowers, utility vehicles, and a new Ford F-150 that can power up equipment in the field. Our Parks Multiple Site Landscape Contract also requires that the contractor that maintains some of our facilities & parks only use electric equipment to perform their maintenance tasks.

Our commitment to Sustainability is powering our parks with electric tools and vehicles that reduce emissions and minimize our carbon footprint.  The Parks Department will continue to integrate this electric initiative into daily practice and continue to source new equipment and battery types along with continuing with the City Council’s goals on climate and sustainability practices with fleet policies.

Public Works

The Public Works Department has had an electric contract with STORM Landscape Services since 2021.

STORM Landscape Services is a commercial landscape company that has 6 crews that are all electric. In a recent interview, Randy Mihaldo shared details about his work with the City and his transition to electric landscaping equipment. Read the full story…

Transitioning to Electric Landscaping Equipment: A Case Study with Mountain Park HOA

Tod Blankenship, Director of Landscape Stewardship

I personally have been researching and purchasing small battery equipment for over 10 years. When I was with the City of Wilsonville, I began spearheading a transition to Stihl battery-powered small equipment. Stihl has long been a champion of landscape equipment. When it comes to committing to battery-powered equipment there are many factors to be considered beyond the craftsmanship and reliability of the tool itself. It is also a commitment to batteries and chargers. Stihl has been at the forefront of battery technology, and it was an easy decision for us.

MPHOA Landscape Stewardship Division has purchased nearly all of the Stihl commercial battery-powered tools available. When it comes to the replacement of any light equipment we will purchase a battery option if available. We have found most of the items suit our needs as long as we have plenty of extra batteries. The disappointment has been the limited backpack blower options.  A new Stihl electric backpack blower is now available and we plan on buying 5 additional blowers this year.  We have also purchased (2) Westward electric low-speed vehicles for use on the road and throughout our 9 miles of trails.

Portland Ban on Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

On March 13, 2024, Portland City Council unanimously passed an ordinance phasing out gas-powered leaf blowers citywide. (2-minute video of the 5-0 decision) Starting January 1, 2026, gas blowers will be prohibited for 9 months of the year (Jan-Sep). A full year-round ban will begin on January 1, 2028.

Portland is the second largest city to adopt such an ordinance, behind only Washington, D.C. This ban complements the steps being taken by Multnomah County to transition county leaf blower use to electric before 2025, and the city of Portland’s effort to switch out their stock of gas-powered leaf blowers for quieter and cleaner electric models. It is overwhelmingly clear that the public is asking for gas leaf blowers to be phased out.  When public comments were solicited by the city of Portland, 86% of the 786 commenters supported a prohibition of gas leaf blowers and only 11% opposed it in any way.

For more details see this Oregonian article by Gosia Wozniacka https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2024/03/ban-on-gas-leaf-blowers-passed-in-portland-gradual-phase-out-begins-in-2026.html

For more information on the Equitable Gas Leaf Blower Phase Out visit https://www.portland.gov/bps/climate-action/leaf-blowers/glb-phase-out

Here is a summary of the ordinance https://files.constantcontact.com/3a61126a001/18fa76f4-3c8d-45d3-b52f-42b5ceeee353.pdf and the ordinance itself

KGW news
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1-YuAKMYl8


Quiet Clean PDX was instrumental in the passage of the Portland ordinance to ban gas-powered leaf blowers. QC/PDX is a Portland based volunteer organization that has been working since 2018 to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers.  They have raised awareness of the dangers of gas leaf blowers, advocated for their elimination, and promoted healthier alternatives.

American Green Zone Alliance


American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) is a national leader in low-impact, low-noise landscape solutions. They offer education and training, and they work extensively to field test and certify electric equipment.

In 2021 LOSN partnered with Dan Mabe, founder of AGZA to host an online forum (see link to the forum below). He discussed the air and noise pollution issues with gas-powered equipment, the electric equipment that is available, the cost comparison between gas and electric, and the return on investment. He also discussed what other communities with similar seasons are doing to transition to electric.

In November 2023, AGZA partnered with the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association (OCLA) to put on a Gas to Electric Symposium on the Nike Campus. Topics included current regulations, low-impact landscape maintenance and operations, funding mechanisms to lower the cost of battery-powered equipment, and commercial equipment demonstrations.

Learn more about AGZA here:
www.agza.net

See the list of AGZA certified electric equipment: https://agza.net/agza-approved-equipment/

Watch the LOSN forum here: https://losn.org/event/%E2%80%8Bmay-2021-online-forum-transitioning-to-electric-landscaping-equipment/

See a short video of the Gas to Electric Symposium here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrEinIpM_cs

How You Can Help

Your participation is important to the success of our campaign. Here are ways you can help us expedite the transition away from gas-powered landscaping equipment and toward more healthy and sustainable practices.

  • Join the Electrify Your Landscaping and Healthy Yard Care Committee

  • Take part in our letter writing campaign

  • Donate directly to our campaign by selecting Electrify Your Landscaping HERE

 Please email Kathleen Wiens kwiens@losn.org. for more information.

Additional Resources


Electrify LO Joins Electrify Oregon

Electrify LO has now joined other Electrify organizations in towns throughout our state in the network “Electrify Oregon.” This month, these 16 organizations launched a combined website  with information on the basics of an energy-efficient household and how to find contractors and financial incentives to help you electrify. The website is focused on guiding homeowners toward becoming more energy-efficient and climate-friendly in multiple ways.

Materials management, what does that mean?

Mar 1, 2024 | Community, Education

March 2024

Materials management – what does that mean?

It is thinking intentionally about what we buy; how we use, manage, and dispose of stuff.

In this newsletter you will learn and obtain insights about:

  • The R’s and practical ways to consume sustainably
  • The recently passed Right to Repair state legislation
  • Common questions regarding recyclable items directed to Amanda Watson, our City’s Sustainability manager
  • The status of the 2021 Oregon Recycling Modernization Act rulemaking.
  • Upcoming events and resources

The Rs

Most of us have heard the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Since that time, there have been creative extensions that include rethinking and refusing. What do these words really mean?   Why are they in a particular order? They are a hierarchy to represent what provides the greatest benefit: benefit to your pocketbook, benefit to the environment.

The ten questions on choosing products for sustainability, help guide thoughtful purchasing decisions.  The first question, Do I really need the product?  can result in thought-provoking alternatives such as sharing or borrowing, inventive solutions as well as more thoughtful and reduced consumption.

Read full story…

Right to repair bill creates opportunities for Lake Oswego residents

Remember when we used to go to the shoe repair shop? Or wait for the repairman to fix our TVs and washing machines? That era ended when the world of cheap goods arrived, and it became more convenient and affordable to toss things out. Repairmen went out of business, and a throwaway mentality took over our society. This even extends to pricey electronic devices. Even though we know about the cost of waste – the dirty oceans, methane escaping from landfills – we often feel forced to buy a new product even when a simple repair would do the trick.

The Oregon legislature just passed a first step solution to e-waste: they thumbed their noses at some of the big tech companies and passed the “Right to Repair” bill.

LOSN proudly sent testimony in support of this bill, which was co-sponsored by Senator Wagner, Representative Nguyen, and others. It is a triple bottom line winner: 1) Helping the environment by reducing e-waste, and cutting the pollution caused by the manufacturing of unneeded replacements, 2) Helping our society by providing more choices for consumers, reducing the digital divide by creating a market for used goods, and leading to new jobs for repairmen, and 3) Helping all of us to become more prosperous as we affordably fix our electronic equipment.

Advocates have been working on this bill since 2019. This year, the bill got bipartisan support, and goes farther than similar bills in other states. It includes:

  • A requirement that consumer electronics manufacturers make replacement parts, diagnostic tools, and repair manuals available to consumers and third-party repair shops.
  • A prohibition on tech companies blocking third-party components that could replace the manufacturers’ parts.
  • A prohibition on sending misleading alerts or warnings about the use of third-party parts to inhibit users.
  • A prohibition on inhibiting devices’ performance if consumers install third-party parts.
  • Penalties of up to $1,000 a day for violators.

This law builds on Oregon’s tradition of environmental leadership. So, as you buy your next phone, think carefully about the color, shape, and features that you like. That phone could or should be yours for a long, long time.

FAQs: Recycling in LO

Amanda Watson manages the city’s sustainability program, and that includes managing responsibly the waste the city and its people generate. To get answers to some of the recycling questions we all face weekly, we sent her a couple of questions, and she provided answers that we can all use.


For citizens who mean well and intend to recycle as much as we can, it can be daunting to remember exactly what is recyclable. And when we look at a plastic object, we may want to recycle it even though the chart on the refrigerator doesn’t mention it.

To find out many people call Amanda.

Read what Amanda says.

Oregon’s 2021 Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act Pushes Responsible Recycling Upstream to the Manufacturers and Expands the List of What You Can Recycle

For too long the manufacturers of plastics have evaded their responsibility for the piles of discarded plastics that plague the world in so many ways. But that era is coming to an end soon.

Back in 2021, Oregon’s legislature passed Senate Bill 582, the Recycling Modernization Act. It created a method to implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for the recyclability of packaging materials sold in Oregon. At that time, Oregon was only one of two states to enact a law of this kind, with Maine having been the first.

The Act directed the DEQ to establish a Recycling System Advisory Council, comprised of representatives from local governments, community-based organizations representing historically underserved groups, small businesses, the recycling industry, processors or material end users, and producers of the products specified in the act. The Council has been hard at work writing the rules that will make this Act a reality.

Read full story…

Resources

Clackamas County sustainability page: https://www.clackamas.us/sustainability

Clackamas county repair fair page: https://www.clackamas.us/recycling/repairfair

Just Porch It distributes useable clothing shoes, bedding, etc., to community groups. Textiles that aren’t usable are sent to be made into rags: https://justporchit.com/

Medication Take Back: https://medtakebackoregon.org/

Community Warehouse, Free Geek, ReStore, Rebuilding Center, SCRAP

New Season for plastic or James’ Events

Metro: https://www.oregonmetro.gov/tools-living/garbage-and-recycling

Metro Find a Recycler: https://www.oregonmetro.gov/tools-living/garbage-and-recycling/find-a-recycler

Repair Finder (includes more than Portland):https://www.portlandrepairfinder.com/

Ridwell Subscription: Picking up hard-to-recycle items:  https://www.ridwell.com/

Upcoming Events

Repair Fairs in Clackamas County
  • Lake Oswego April 6, 2024, Adult Community Center, 505 G Ave, Lake Oswego. 10 am to 1pm.
  • Wilsonville April 27, 2024, Wilsonville Library, 8200 SW Wilsonville Rd., Wilsonville. 10 am to 1 pm.
  • Happy Valley May 4, 2024, Happy Valley Library, 13793 SE Sieben Park Way, Happy Valley. 10am to 1pm.
  • Molalla- June 8, 2024, Molalla Library, 201 E 5th St., Molalla. 11am to 2 pm.
  • Canby- July 20, 2024, Canby Library, 220 NE 2nd Ave, Canby. 10 am to 1 pm.
  • Estacada- August 10, 2024, Estacada Library, 825 NW Wade St., Estacada. 11 am to 2 pm.
  • Milwaukie at the Milwaukie Sustainability Fair. September 7, 2024. 10723 SE Main St., Milwaukie. 10 am to 2 pm.  The Sustainability Fair is 10 am to 3 pm.
  • This will be outside in the parking lot where the farmer’s market is located.
  • Oregon City- October 5, 2024 -Oregon City Library, 606 John Adams St., Oregon City. 10 am to 1 pm.
  • Sandy Library November 2, 2024, Sandy Library, 38980 Proctor Blvd., Sandy. 10 am to 1 pm.
  • 4/20 Lake OSwego Resource Sustainability Fair
  • 4/20 Planet Con PCC Rock Creek Campus. Sustainability Fair. Collection, resource table, free swap table, repair fair: https://www.planetcon.org/

Many thanks to Amanda Watson, Jim Newcomer, Dorothy Atwood, Colleen Johnston and Susan Mead, Master Recycler, for her contributions to this newsletter.

The electrification movement is spreading across Oregon

Feb 1, 2024 | Community, Electrify LO Journey

February 2024
Our January electrification newsletter was ready to go as thousands of people in Lake Oswego were without power, encased in ice, enduring freezing temperatures, and unsure of when the darkness would end. We concluded that sending the newsletter on its scheduled January date would have been insensitive, obtuse, infuriating—and the poor timing would not help our message.

But hear us out. As our climate continues to change, we will see more weather extremes, more storms and fires, and more planned and unplanned outages.The solution is to switch to clean, renewable energy that produces electricity, not to double down on fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal and gasoline.Therefore, our new commitment to you is to offer newsletters with more resilience workarounds that can help us all through these now-predictable periods when we don’t have electricity.

Look for our upcoming newsletter on how to get through your next power outage. But in the meantime, here is a link to an editorial in the Lake Oswego Review from our Electrify LO team member, Duke Castle, on the holy grail to bridge us during these outages—a battery in your garage that can power your home for a couple of days—it also serves to move you around town in style!

And now we present to you January’s newsletter repackaged for February.

The Electrification Movement is Spreading Across Oregon

We kicked-off Electrify LO just two years ago and we are now joined by Electrifys in Portland, Ashland, Bend, and Corvallis and interested groups in 10 other cities with multiple grassroots collective action projects planned among us. Electrify Oregon was formally established in June 2023 and its website will be launched next month. If you are interested in joining us in our efforts to address the climate crisis, email lganzini@losn.org. Your help is needed and appreciated.

Lake Oswego City Survey Results—Lake Oswego Residents Say the City Should Do More to Address Climate Change.

The City of Lake Oswego released the results of the 2023 City of Lake Oswego Resident Survey returned from 401 randomly selected Lake Oswego residents. This survey is used to determine resident priorities and areas of concern and to get feedback on key policy issues.

Among 13 general areas that the city should focus on, respondents rated “Effectiveness of efforts to respond to climate change” as third in importance (after sustainability and public safety). In a “combined importance/satisfaction index,” respondents rated “Effectiveness of efforts to respond to climate change” as the single most important area in which it should prioritize investments in services.

The overall take away? Many of you and your neighbors agree that addressing the climate crisis must be a priority for our city government. Let the mayor and city council know you support their efforts to fulfill the city’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan at CouncilDistribution@lakeoswego.city.

2022 and 2023 Were Good Years for Electrification—But Not Great

The grid is getting cleaner.  Over 80% of new capacity added to the grid now comes from renewable sources. Oregon law dictates that electricity must be 80% clean in Oregon by 2030 and 100% clean by 2040.  If you sign up for community solar, 80-90% of your electricity will be clean and you will receive a 5% discount on your PGE bill (higher discounts for low income subscribers).  If you sign up for green power, your home electricity will approach 100% clean energy.

Electric machines are surging in sales. In the US in 2023, over 1 million battery-electric vehicles were sold by November, making up 9 percent of U.S. auto sales. Experts say we are now past “the tipping point.” Last year, the sales of heat pump furnaces leapt past fossil gas furnaces for the first time—4.3 millions units compared to 3.9 million. The sales of electric heat pump water heaters increased in proportion to 55% from 51% between 2021 and 2023 compared to fossil gas units.

Americans prefer electric. A survey last year revealed that Americans are showing a strong interest in electric homes with 31% expressing a preference for an all-electric home and 29% for a mostly electric home.

Everything is trending in the right direction.

But trending is not enough. Rewiring America calculates that to meet our 2030 climate goals we need twice as many heat pumps for space heating and water heating and four times as many electric vehicles between 2024 and 2026 as the “business as usual” case. That means we all need to get moving!

What more can you do? We know that many of our newsletter readers are on their electrification journey. Now it is critical to show your friends, family and neighbors your electrification results so that they can see it as a great next step for themselves. In 2024 we hope to roll out several ways to make it easier for you to influence others to electrify. We plan on an Electrify LO yard sign campaign in concert with Portland, Ashland, and Bend. We also want to share with you electrified homes in Lake Oswego, both new and retrofitted, through our Electric House Party program.

Five Steps to Take Now to Begin Your 2024 Electrification Journey

You want to begin switching over to an all-electric, more sustainable, and ultimately less expensive way of life, but you aren’t sure where to begin? One good first step would be to sign up for Canary Media’s Electrified Life/Demystifying Home Electrification. For example, this month Alison Takemura outlines how to start 2024 with some low stakes steps to begin your electrification journey.

1. Clarify in your own mind why you are motivated to go electric.

The ride can be bumpy, initially expensive, and long, so keeping the benefits in mind can help you stay on course—not only the climate, but comfort, lower energy bills, a healthy and safe home, and personal energy independence. Remember there are easy, inexpensive first steps that can help you feel successful such as purchasing a single burner induction hotplate, subscribing to community solar, purchasing electric landscaping equipment, or buying an outdoor electric grill.

2. Look up incentives.

Electrify Now has all the Oregon incentives listed on one page.You can layer these incentives all in one project.

  • Federal incentives through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).Tax credits are available now, and larger rebates for low- and middle-income households will become available as early as mid-2024. Here is a summmary of tax credits and a calculator from Rewiring America with both federal tax credits and potential future rebates.
  • Energy Trust of Oregon incentives
  • Contractor incentives. Use Electrify Now to find recommended contractors. Read through the recommendations for coupons and discounts. Contractors and discounts are also available through Electrifypdx.
  • Finance your home electrification and energy efficiency upgrades with a Portland General Electric on-bill financing loan for up to $30,000 through Craft3—even if your credit is not perfect. Pay for major electrification projects over 15 years.

3. Schedule a home energy audit and consultation.

A home energy audit examines your present situation. It will give you an idea of how efficient your home is and where you might be able to improve its efficiency. Weatherization, insulation, and sealing might allow you to save money because you would need a smaller heat pump or fewer solar panels. A blower door test will help find air leaks within your building envelope. The IRA includes a $150 tax credit for a home energy audit from a qualified professional.

A home energy consultation, on the other hand, gives you a breakdown of costs, cash incentives, and tax credits for home energy upgrades such as adding insulation, upgrading HVAC, or replacing windows. One contractor, Greensavers, offers free energy consultations in addition to audits, electrification, energy efficient windows, insulation, and HVAC services. Schedule a consultation at greensavers.com/community and use the code, LISAADATTO. If you complete a project of $2,500 or more, Greensavers will donate $200 to LOSN. Other companies that offer energy consultations and electrification plans are available at Electrify Now.

4. Make an electrification plan.

Your energy plan can serve as the roadmap to electrify your home over time and make the best use of the incentives. With a plan you are prepared to act flexibly—either preemptively when your appliances are just old and inefficient, or when you need to act quickly because things stop working. If you want to take your first step today, Canopy is a free online platform that can help you figure out which electrification project to tackle first based on information you submit. They provide a step-by-step checklist for making upgrades and maximizing available incentives. They also provide LOSN with anonymized information about how Lake Oswego residents are progressing with their electrification projects, and we report that information back to you in our newsletter. Sign up to start here.

5. Get support.

Canopy also offers advisor services to answer detailed questions and help you make a prioritized plan with follow-up phone support and email encouragement.

There Are Some Major Changes Coming to the Electric Vehicle  World in 2024.

The big changes in EV tax credits

The biggest change in the EV world this year is that many popular models will temporarily lose the full $7500 federal tax credit due to tightening battery requirements in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Passed in 2022 the IRA requires a greater percentage of EV battery materials not be sourced from China and other countries the Treasury Department has labeled a “foreign entry of concern.” Effected vehicles include all of the least expensive Teslas, the Ford Mach-E, Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Blazer EV. The Chevy Bolt and Ford F-150 Lightning still qualify.

The good news is that starting in 2024 dealers can absorb the full tax credit for those vehicles that do qualify and pass the savings on at the time of purchase. To learn more about which vehicles will qualify and how to claim your credit, check out the article on 2024 EV Tax Credits at PlugIn America

Consider leasing

One option to overcome this limitation in tax credits is to consider leasing. Almost all EVs purchased for business purposes are eligible for the full $7500 tax credit, without any of the other IRA restrictions, and, through a quirk in the tax law, the leasing company receives this tax credit and can pass it along to the person leasing the vehicle. If you have never leased, there are other benefits for considering leasing of EVs right now.  As pointed out by Andrew Moseman in Heatmap, the EV revolution is young and there are many new EVS coming out. At this point, new developments are coming rapidly, and we don’t know what improvements are coming in EVs or which ones will age well. It might make sense to lease a few years until you can see what works and buy with confidence.

Tesla chargers will become available to all

The other big EV news for 2024 is that virtually all EV manufacturers have signed agreements with Tesla to allow their vehicles to access the Tesla fast charging Supercharger network. This significantly reduces “range anxiety” by making available tens of thousands of what is considered the most reliable and extensive DC fast EV charging network to all of those EV owners. For more on how each manufacturer is making this transition check out this article from Car and Driver.

Electrify Your Landscaping

LOSN Board member Kathleen Wiens attended the Oregon Gas to Electric Landscaping symposium at the Nike Campus in November 2023.  It was sponsored by American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA), the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association (OCLA).

This well-attended workshop was an informative day of presentations, dialogue and commercial landscaping equipment demos. A leaf blowing contest took place at this workshop and an electric leaf blower came in first place against a gas blower. The landscapers using electric equipment are happy to be using electric, which are quieter and have no fumes. It’s great to see so many landscapers transitioning to electric landscaping equipment.

American Green Zone Alliance is a national leader in low-impact low-noise landscape solutions. You can view the AGZA summary video of this workshop.

Check out the LOSN Electric Landscaping page. We also have an Electrify Your Landscaping committee doing work in our community.

By the Numbers
The 2023 Lake Oswego Home & Vehicle Fair

Our fair was a big success, thanks to those who came out to visit, our volunteers, our sponsors and the LO United Methodist Church.

More than 500 people attended our 6th annual event. As part of National Drive Electric Week, 12 dealers brought 18 EVs for test drives and 35 EV owners brought vehicles. We hosted 7 presentations on electrification and 30-60 people attended each and 20 event exhibitors shared information. We received 2 stories in the The Lake Oswego Review including this front page coverage. Our event was an overall success thanks to 24 volunteers, including support from the LO United Methodist Church.

We’ll soon share details soon about our 2024 Home & Vehicle Electrification Fair.

Benefits of a Healthy Urban Forest and Yard

Oct 1, 2023 | Electrify Your Landscaping / Healthy Yard Care, Past

October 2023

5th Annual Lake Oswego Tree Summit
Our Urban Forest: Rooted in Care and Commitment

As residents of our urban forest, you are invited to attend and participate in the fifth annual community Tree Summit. This year’s Summit will be held in person.

Saturday, November 4th from 9 am to Noon
Mountain Park Clubhouse – Hawthorn Room
2 Mt. Jefferson Terrace,  Lake Oswego

The LO Tree Summit is held annually as a forum for people to gather together to increase their arboreal knowledge, discuss the importance of a healthy, interconnected urban ecological system, and share opportunities to maintain the health of the urban forest.


Keynote Speaker: Scott Altenhoff, Urban and Community Forester, Oregon Department of Forestry.  Scott will speak on the unique character of the Lake Oswego urban forest and its complex habitats, as well as the intrinsic relationship people have with the health of an urban ecosystem. Scott’s presentation will be followed by a panel of residents who will share their experiences cultivating and participating in the Lake Oswego urban forest. The City of Lake Oswego will also provide an update on the Urban and Community Forestry Plan.

Join us to deepen your understanding of your natural surroundings and how you can help reduce human impacts.

LO Tree Summit is presented by the Oswego Lake Watershed Council
in partnership with the Lake Oswego Sustainability Network.

Mary’s Garden

We recently lost Mary Ratcliff, one of the founding LOSN board members. Upon hearing of her death, John Movius with Terraccord Landscapes shared with us:

“Mary was a longtime landscaping client who became a friend. She realized her vision of transforming her yard into a sanctuary for native plants and wildlife. She was a steward of the 150 year old Heritage Elm tree on her land, and the miner bee colony living deep beneath the soil outside her house. Her enthusiasm and curious spirit made working with her a joy. Mary was generous with her knowledge of bird life around her and would often pause while talking because she heard a call from near or far, which would allow us both to listen more closely in the moment. I had the opportunity to see over the years of working on her garden, how much joy she found in the natural world, and how much she liked to share laughter and wonder. I will always appreciate the trust she put in me to help her restore her landscape, which was part of a property that had a long history for herself and her family. We will deeply miss you, Mary.”

Mary’s garden is the epitome of what it means to Leave the Leaves. She had a deep appreciation of our interconnectedness within a natural environment. When the leaves fell in the fall, they remained in her garden and were allowed to compost in place. She knew those leaves provide habitat for frogs, salamanders, worms, a wide variety of insects and other invertebrates. That they provide nourishment for fungi and microorganisms that live in the soil. Mary trusted nature!  She understood the importance of allowing natural systems to work together. Her greatest joy was the birds that flocked to her garden to feed on insects, berries and seeds, build nests under bushes and in the trees, and drink a bath in clean water provided by her fountain. Her garden was free of insecticides and herbicides and she never used artificial fertilizers that would interfere with the way nature was thriving under her protection.

Please join us in honoring Mary: trust nature, leave the leaves and avoid using artificial fertilizers or pesticides.

Leave the Leaves…
and other sustainable gardening ideas for fall

Leave the Leaves:

  • If they fall in garden beds let them stay in place

  • If they fall on your lawn use an electric lawn mower to chop them up and let them stay in place

  • If they land on your driveway, patio or walks leave them for a while and let the wind blow them off.  Leaves that are not removed by the wind can be raked, swept or blown with an electric blower into your flower beds or onto your lawn before you chop them up with the mower.

By spring, all of the leaves will disintegrate into a leaf duff, which is just another name for natural compost. Some will even be pulled underground by earthworms.

Leave the flowers:

  • Birds will come to eat the seeds.

  • Wait until early spring to cut back your perennials to maximize winter food for birds and small mammals.

Leave the berries and other fruit on shrubs and trees.

Leave small branches and twigs – they provide good food for fungi. They will also disintegrate into the leaf duff.

Save yourself a lot of work and Leave the Leaves!

Get more ideas from the Oswego Lake Watershed Council and Electrify Now on Healthy Yard Care.

Electrify Your Landscaping

One of LOSN’s projects is working with others in our community and region to switch from gas powered landscaping equipment to electric landscaping equipment. Gas powered landscaping equipment causes significant air and noise pollution that negatively affects the workers, neighborhoods, habitat and health of the soil. Electric landscaping equipment is readily available and works great!

Communities all over the United States are targeting gas powered landscaping equipment in response to the significant noise and air pollution they produce.

The benefits of switching to electric landscaping equipment helps to significantly reduce carbon emissions and has major benefits for the well-being of our community.

Get more information from Electrify Now on the advantages of all electric landscaping equipment and healthy yard care.

For more information and resources check out the LOSN page on Electric Landscaping. American Green Zone Alliance is also a great resource. They are a leader in low-impact low-noise landscape solutions and does excellent work helping landscapers and communities transition to electric landscaping equipment.

A local volunteer organization, Quiet Clean PDX, is working to educate and offer solutions to eliminate gas powered leaf blowers.
Lake Oswego Home & Vehicle Electrification Fair

Thank you to everyone who attended the Lake Oswego Home & Vehicle Electrification Fair on September 23. For the first time, we were fortunate to record our speaker presentations and post to LOSN’s YouTube channel so you can watch anytime:

You Can Do It: How Electric Vehicles Work for All of Us

Financial Incentives for Home Electrification

Holistic Home Electrification

Selecting the Right Heat Pump for Your Home

How to Go Solar + Storage

Putting the Community in Community Solar
Webinar: What’s New in the Rapidly Changing EV World

If you missed our webinar on September 21, What’s New in the Rapidly Changing EV World, you can view it from our YouTube channel.