ZERO Blogs
Rachel Person
ZERO Coalition and Sustainable Building Week ...

ZERO Coalition (ZERO) and Sustainable Building Week (SBW) are combining forces to continue helping the Oregon sustainable building community advance sustainability in a way that leaves no one behind. Together, we will expand opportunities for education, advocacy, and collaboration to make sustainability more accessible and actionable. 

ZERO Coalition and Sustainable Building Week Officially Join Forces to Continue Advancing Equity in the Sustainability Sector
ZERO Coalition Blog
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Building Codes Decisionmakers Need a ...

If you're reading this, you may have an interest in sustainability in the built environment or in how buildings' energy use impacts climate change. However, applying for an open seat on the Bureau of Codes Division (BCD) Advisory Boards may not have crossed your mind. You may have never thought about how building codes are developed or how often they are updated. But if you care about climate change and future generations, you should know that buildings account for approximately 40% of Oregon's energy use and emit around 28% of the greenhouse gas pollutants that are harmful to our health and contribute to more and worse climate destruction. Volunteering for a seat on a BCD Advisory Board is an excellent way to help reduce the climate impact of the built environment. 

Building Codes Decisionmakers Need a Climate-Friendly Makeover. You Can Help Make It Happen.
ZERO Coalition Blog
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The ZERO Coalition Urges Governor’s Housing ...

In response to calls for Gov. Kotek’s Housing Production Advisory Council to expedite residential construction by relaxing energy efficiency and climate mitigation building requirements, the ZERO Coalition has submitted a series of policy papers urging the Council to ensure that climate impact remains a key consideration for equitably increasing housing stock. The papers outline recommendations that can be adopted to ensure the state meets both its housing supply and building decarbonization goals.

The ZERO Coalition Urges Governor’s Housing Production Advisory Council to Proactively Consider Climate Impact
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Champions of Change: 350 Eugene and Fossil Free ...

In an era defined by unprecedented environmental challenges, the call for climate justice has grown stronger than ever. As the global community grapples with the consequences of climate change, there is hope to be found in the many passionate organizations committed to effecting positive change. In this blog post, we turn our spotlight to 350 Eugene and Fossil Free Eugene, two of ZERO Coalition’s Community Partners, to learn how these organizations have risen to the forefront of the battle for a sustainable and equitable future. 

Champions of Change: 350 Eugene and Fossil Free Eugene
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Cost-Effective Retrofits: 7 Steps to Zero Energy

Due to the sheer number of existing buildings, it’s not enough to focus solely on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through new construction. And wider implementation of energy-efficient systems through retrofitting will have a massive impact. Moreover, retrofitting presents opportunities to address longtime inequities in the housing sector, providing broader access to energy-saving measures. The most common barriers are capital costs, and owners’ lack of knowledge that today’s reliable technologies pay dividends far into the future.

Cost-Effective Retrofits: 7 Steps to Zero Energy

Zero Energy Ready Oregon Supports Governor’s Mandate to Transform Buildings to Zero Energy Ready Performance

Zero Energy Ready Oregon Supports Governor’s Mandate to Transform Buildings to Zero Energy Ready Performance

When Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed Executive Order 17-20 in the fall of 2017, she set Oregon on the path to addressing climate change by ramping up efficiency in Oregon’s buildings. Addressing building efficiency is a critical climate action strategy as commercial and residential structures account for 40% of carbon globally. Her order calls for a number of specific actions including that Oregon should “establish an aggressive timeline to achieve net zero energy ready buildings as a standard practice in buildings across the state.” Zero energy (ZE) buildings are highly efficient and only consume as much energy as is produced through onsite renewables (usually solar panels) over the course of a year. Zero energy ready buildings have efficiencies on par with ZE projects, but don’t yet have sufficient onsite renewables.

Solar Energy and “Virtual Net Metering” in Ashland

Solar Energy and “Virtual Net Metering” in Ashland

In December 2017, the Ashland City Council unanimously adopted changes to update the City’s net metering resolution, including a new section which enables a Virtual Net Metering (VNM) policy. In the City of Ashland, VNM is a policy which enables energy produced at one electric meter, to be credited to another meter within the Ashland’s municipal electric utility. The policy expands opportunities for Ashland citizens to develop offsite solar generation (where their own residence may not have good solar access), and to co-develop larger community solar systems with others.

2018 ZERO Celebration

Last night was our 2018 ZERO coalition celebration on our rooftop deck! We heard about what the ZERO coalition has been up to over the past year from David Heslam, Earth Advantage (EA)'s Executive Director, Amy Cortese, the Director of Programs at New Buildings Institute (NBI) and Stacey Hobart, Director of Marketing at NBI. Dave Cady, an EA builder and graduate of EA's Sustainable Homes Program, spoke about building zero energy homes and also living in a zero energy home. Then, Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability's Green Building Policy Coordinator Vinh Mason spoke about the City of Portland's goals and how they align with ZERO's mission. Finally, we heard from Reilly Loveland, a Project Analyst at NBI and Webly Bowles, a Project Manager at NBI, as they introduced Sustainable Building Week, coming up in October. Check out some photos from the party! Thanks to everyone who came out!