Use less energy (and lower your energy bills) with better built homes

Feb 13, 2025 | Community, Education

February 2025

Better Built Homes

Image: Residence in Richmond neighborhood, built by Greenhammer Design Build.

Electrify LO has lauded the benefits of clean, renewable energy in the home through electric heat pumps and solar energy. It also pays to consider other home energy upgrades that reduce energy waste such as sealing air leaks, adding insulation, or upgrading windows.

Reducing Home Energy Loss

According to ENERGY STAR, homeowners in Lake Oswego save, on average, 20% on their heating and cooling bills after adding insulation and sealing air leaks. These upgrades also reduce other costs by reducing the size of your heat pumps or the number of solar panels you install.

Homeowners can also reduce the cost through financial incentives. Current incentives can save you up to $1.50 per square foot for insulation from Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO), provided you use an ETO-allied contractor. You can get an additional 30% federal insulation tax credit, up to $1200.

As an added benefit, insulation will reduce outside noise and keep you more comfortable by reducing swings in temperature.

At the Lake Oswego Electric Home and Vehicle Fair in September 2024, we hosted two exhibitors, Greensavers and Home RX, who specialize in these home energy upgrades. They offer free to low cost consultations and more extensive audits with:

  • Blower door tests to determine how much air is leaking out of your home

  • Thermal infrared camera tests to determine where the leaks are

  • Duct blaster tests to measure leaks in the duct work

  • Air quality tests

Passive Home Design

Net Zero Energy Homes

Ever wonder where your trash goes? Take a tour and find out

Jul 1, 2024 | Community, Education, Past

July 2024

Ever Wonder What Happens to Your Curbside Trash and Recycling? Now you can find out!

Please join the LOSN Materials Management Action Team for a 60-min tour of the material recovery facility operated by our residential hauler, Republic Services in Wilsonville.

Republic Service’s Materials Recovery Facility Tour

Friday Aug 9, 2024 ⋅ 11:30am – 12:30pm (Pacific Time – Los Angeles)

10295 SW Ridder Rd, Wilsonville, OR 97070, USA

There is a maximum of 30 participants who can attend. Please RSVP to Susan Mead at semead90@gmail.com. If you are interested in carpooling, please let Susan know.

Tour details:

  • Be sure to allow enough time to arrive for the tour start at 11:30 AM. Approiximately 30 minutes should be adequate from downtown Lake Oswego.
  • To join the walk-through of the facility, you must wear close-toed shoes. All needed personal protective equipment will be provided by Republic Services.

How should we care for our urban forest?

Jun 1, 2024 | Education

June 2024

Our Urban Forest

The trees of Lake Oswego define our urban forest, but we need to remember that trees do not function alone. What we do to enhance our landscapes has a huge impact on trees.  What is planted near our trees? How do we protect and improve the soil? How do our trees get watered? How do we prune our trees? How do we know our trees are healthy and don’t provide unnecessary risk?

All of these questions need to be answered if we are going to have a healthy urban forest. Each of us needs to take responsibility in taking care of our urban forest. This newsletter includes information to help find answers to those questions.

Annual Urban Forest Summit

Save the date for the Urban Forest Summit on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 9:00 am to noon. We’ll be learning about how to care for our urban forest, and we will have professionals available to answer your questions. Registration will open in early September.

Tree Care in Summer

We may get a lot of rain in western Oregon but not in the summer. Add to that a changing climate that can prolong the summer drought, and our trees can face problems. How we water our trees can make a significant difference in tree and root health.

Tree Risk Assessment

This past winter weather caused major damage to many trees within Lake Oswego. Many of us are wondering if anything can be done to prevent such extensive damage in the future.  No one can control winter storms with high winds, but we can take care of our trees to reduce possible damage. An arborist trained in risk assessment can help determine how what your tree needs to reduce the chances of your tree losing a major branch or falling down. When you talk with an arborist, make sure they are trained in risk assessment.

Know Your Dirt

Trees are anchored by their roots. How we care for soil is very important in making sure our trees are healthy. Healthy soil retains water, supports the natural transfer of nutrients, and provides a stable base for tree roots. Check out what we need to do to maintain soil health.

You can also join the Oswego Lake Watershed Council’s annual Reveal Your Undies event on July 10th at 6:00 pm, at the West Waluga Park Picnic Shelter. They will have educational experiences to help you understand how to support healthy soil. Hope to see you there!

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.

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.

Sustainability Certifications

Jun 1, 2023 | Education, landscaping testimonial

June 2023

Certifications for Individuals & Families

Sustainability can seem to be a complex and difficult concept to get your hands around. Fortunately, certifications are toolkits for assessments that we can use to become more sustainable in our lives.

In this newsletter, we cover various certification programs that can help individuals and families live more sustainably. We hope you find these resources valuable on your personal journey.

So what are the benefits of getting certified? What do certifications provide us?

Certification programs can help us:

  • Educate ourselves about sustainability;
  • Discover new practices and build new habits that are more sustainable;
  • Find products that deliver more with less impact on the environment and save us money;
  • Help us spread the word to others through signage and example;
  • Be part of a movement to build a better future.

Note: our June 2021 newsletter covered business certifications.

EcoHome LO Certification

The City of Lake Oswego launched a sustainability certification program in 2021 known as EcoHome LO. This program focuses on actions that residents and households can take to become more sustainable. It also serves as an excellent educational tool about sustainability and provides a comprehensive framework for building a more sustainable life.

The checklist and program cover essential topics such as:

  • Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle
  • Energy Conservation
  • Transportation
  • Civic Engagement
  • Emergency Preparedness
  • and much more

As the program website notes:”EcoHome LO’s certification program, checklists, and resources are tools designed to guide you toward a holistically sustainable lifestyle. We’ll provide a framework and structure for your sustainability plan, connect you with community groups and activities that align with your interests, and provide answers and guidance as you work to accomplish your checklist items.”

When you have attained certification, you will receive a free lawn/window sign showing your certification level and accomplishment.

An updated version of this program will be rolled out for the residents of Lake Oswego by the end of July. Meanwhile, we encourage you to look over the checklist and start reviewing the resources which are linked to each topic area title.

Backyard Habitat Certification

The Backyard Habitat Certification Program provides technical assistance and incentives to Lake Oswego residents who wish to restore native wildlife habitat in their yards. Participants are guided through three levels of habitat restoration: silver, gold, and platinum. The program focuses on the removal of invasive weeds, naturescaping with native plants, stormwater management, and wildlife stewardship.

The Lake Oswego Backyard Habitat Program is supported by the City of Lake Oswego and facilitated by Friends of Tryon Creek, in collaboration with the Portland Audubon and Columbia Land Trust.

Check out the amazing testimonials about this program below.

Using Certification to find better products

Certified products provide homeowners a way to buy products that have been assessed to be more sustainable. Products that are certified use less energy, water, and produce fewer toxins.  Certification provides value even when building or purchasing a home.

Whether you are planning a major remodel or repair or just looking to replace a light bulb, faucet, or appliance, or buy a new electric lawnmower, you should look for product certifications that provide you with the best and most sustainable choice.

ENERGY STAR (www.energystar.gov…) is your resource for information on projects and products to help make your home energy efficient. Learn how you can upgrade to energy-efficient products and make other home improvements that can deliver significant energy and cost savings, and help you transition from fossil fuels for a cleaner, healthier and more comfortable home. Also, learn how to take advantage of tax credits.

WaterSense (www.epa.gov/…) labeled products are backed by independent, third–party certification and meet EPA’s specifications for water efficiency and performance. When you use these water–saving products in your home or business, you can expect exceptional performance, savings on your water bills, and assurance that you are saving water for future generations.

Earth Advantage (www.energytrust.org/…) adds sustainability features and building processes to ENERGY STAR guidelines to produce homes that use natural resources more responsibly. Earth Advantage New Homes awards three levels of certification—silver, gold, or platinum—based on the building’s score in five categories: energy efficiency, healthy indoor air quality, resource efficiency, environmental responsibility and water conservation.

LEED® for Homes (www.energytrust.org/…) – LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification program operated by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED for Homes aims to increase energy and water efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, use natural resources thoughtfully and improve the quality of the indoor environment.

Certifications help spread the word

“Sustainability begins with an awareness of the impact of our actions, and there is no better way to spread awareness than by harnessing the power of your community and sharing what you know to help achieve a greener world.”

It is hard to walk around Lake Oswego without seeing a Backyard Habitat Certification sign. This program started over 10 years ago and now there are many yards that display certification signs. These certification plaques inspire others in our community to start their journey to beautiful and more sustainable yards.

Our neighborhoods have sprouted other signs that create a healthier environment for our families and all the critters that rely on the shelter and food we provide.  Here are some of the other signs you might see as you travel around Lake Oswego:

Metro program – Take the no pesticide pledge: Garden chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife and waterways. The good news is there are many surprisingly easy ways to care for your lawn and garden that avoid putting your family and neighbors at risk.

Xerces – Leave the leaves: Leaves are not litter. They are food and shelter for butterflies, beetles, bees, moths, and more. Show your friends and neighbors that you plan to leave the leaves this fall with this beautiful yard sign produced by The Xerces Society.

Xerces – Promote Pollinators: Support conservation and spread the word about the importance of pollinators by displaying this sign in your yard.

Backyard Habitat Certification Story

-by Monica Delzeit

Rachel Carson saw it coming 60 years ago. As a medical professional, I see our number one public health concern as the climate crisis. No other public health concern will affect us all. After retiring, I felt that I could add to my love of gardening and include all the portions of the Backyard Habitat Certification Program. Despite my orthopedic issues, I’ve been able to introduce and maintain all 5 pillars of this program, without much outside help.


Monica’s beautiful certified yard

READ MORE…

The humble habitat re-wilding project

-by Mark & Leah Puhlman

We’ve always loved a project.  When we moved to the Portland Metro area, our housing search brought us to a bank-owned rancher style home on half an acre in Lake Oswego. As you can see from the pictures, we had our work cut out for us.

We quickly learned transforming a neglected, blackberry and ivy infested half acre is a marathon, not a sprint. We started slow and are still working toward our vision 11 years after we purchased the home.

READ MORE…
Pollinator Celebration

When:   Thursday, June 22, 2023
Time:     4 pm to 7 pm
Where:   Luscher Farm, 125 Rosemont Rd, West Linn, OR 97068  (map)
What:     Come celebrate pollinators
Repair Fair in Lake Oswego

When:   Saturday, August 26, 2023
Time:     10 am to 1 pm
Where:   Lake Oswego United Methodist Church, 1855
South Shore Blvd., Lake Oswego 97034 (map)
What:      Join this free community event that brings skilled volunteers and people with broken items together.
More:       Download the Flier
Save the Date: LOSN Electrification & EV Fair

When:   Saturday, September 23, 2023
Time:     10 am to 2 pm
Where:   Lake Oswego United Methodist Church, 1855 South Shore Blvd., Lake Oswego 97034 (map)