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June 2023
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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…
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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…
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Upcoming Events
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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
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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
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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)
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Oftentimes when we think about climate change we think of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Yet human contribution to the rise in carbon emissions in the atmosphere is not only due to our burning of fossil fuels, but also in the impoverishment of nature’s ability to absorb carbon in soil, in trees, and other high-carbon ecosystems. The degradation of our lands, including the earth’s fertile agricultural soils, is in itself another massive disaster facing humans. Yet, by looking to nature, we can take actions that can change this trajectory. 
We love our trees! We love their shade, their graceful patterns against the sky and how they store carbon to combat climate change. But where would trees be without their roots? The roots we cannot see but know anchor the beauty towering over us. Where does that stability come from? The soil into which the trees reach. What do we know about that soil? Do we just take it for granted? It’s always there!
Lake Oswego has a diverse urban forest and has been a member of Tree City USA for over 30 years! This means that individual trees throughout the city connect to create an urban forest system that provides countless benefits to the community. Do you love Lake Oswego’s trees and want to make a difference? OLWC is encouraging the community to celebrate Arbor Month 2021 by working together to preserve our urban forest.
Date: Tuesday, March 16th, 2021
Councilor Mboup, who has lived in Oregon for over twenty years and in Lake Oswego since 2011, is the founder and Executive Director of the International Leadership Academy (ILA), a private, nonprofit French immersion school located in the heart of Lake Grove on Boones Ferry Road in the Hope Community Church.
Speaker: Kristin Ohlson, Author, 
Speaker: Dan Mabe, CEO, President of 