Building Climate Resilience with Better Buildings

Gazing at the downtown skyline of Portland? Rushing through PDX to catch a flight? Lost in the Silicon Forest? You probably aren’t thinking about how to reduce climate emissions. But Oregon’s large office, high-tech and public buildings are one of Oregon’s best opportunities to meet our climate goals by addressing our second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.

That’s because the overall “carbon footprint” of those buildings can be huge. Making the steel and concrete to build them is energy intensive. Construction equipment, the choice of materials that go inside, and the way the building is heated and cooled all contribute to climate pollution.

The larger the building, the larger the impact – but also the larger the opportunity to cut energy waste, use lower-carbon materials and appliances, and integrate renewable energy and storage.

A top priority of OEC and allies in 2023 — the Oregon Legislature’s approval of a Building Resilience Package – includes new “performance standards” for large commercial or public buildings, creating important spaces for many private businesses to innovate. The Portland office of Skanska, an international company based in Sweden, is one of them.

Photograph by Stephan A. Miller

As part of the massive $2 billion update at PDX, Skanska and forward-looking partners (including ZGF Architects and PAE Engineering) are incorporating “mass timber” – laminated, high-strength wood panels that have far fewer carbon emissions than concrete or steel. 

Skanska, along with other OEC supporters such as Fortis Construction are innovating with low carbon concrete. By using different binders in cement, it can cut carbon pollution by up to 70%. 

As Oregon transitions to 100% clean energy by 2040, any building, large or small, can also cut its carbon footprint by switching from fossil fuels like natural gas to clean electricity.

In Oregon, transportation is still the largest source of climate pollution. Skanska is also greening its fleet with four fully electric Ford F-150 Lightnings, and striving to make renewable diesel their default fuel for equipment in many locations.

Of course, you won’t see most of these changes. But you can see the growing number of wind farms and solar installations that are making this clean transition possible.

Still, laws like the Climate Resilience Package are only as good as the more detailed regulations that state agencies adopt to implement them. Those regulations come out best when people get involved. Rulemaking procedures by the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) recently began. Later this year, ODOE will be taking public comment on draft rules for the Building Resilience Package, and we need your help to make sure they stay strong.


Join OEC’s grassroots email list so you’ll know when and how to make your voice heard! We’ll send you ways to show up, and talking points on rulemaking to help raise your voice for Oregon’s environment. 

Related Posts
Filter by
Post Page
Policy Featured Climate Protection Eco-Healthy Homes Environmental Health Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Toxics-Free Environments Air Quality Transportation Solutions Living Green OCAP News Emerging Leaders Board OEC News/Updates/Events ELB Featured Projects
Sort by
architect in hardhat working on wiring

New Initiatives for Safe, Affordable, Climate-Friendly Homes and Buildings

The 2023 legislative session presents a vital opportunity to make progress in achieving our climate goals and protect families and communities from ever-worsening climate impacts. OEC is excited to support a “Building Resilience” policy package this session that will cut pollution and increase the climate resilience of our homes and buildings  
January 23, 2023, 9:13 pm
noraaoeconline-org

9

REBuilding Task Force Delivers Recommendations

The buildings we use for homes, workplaces, and gathering spaces play a special role in the future of our changing climate. They can provide a safe place to escape extreme heat, storms, or wildfires caused by climate change. But when those same buildings rely on fracked methane (“natural”) gas, the air insides in unsafe to breathe and methane is one of the worst climate pollutants. A special state task force cam
December 20, 2022, 11:26 pm
noraaoeconline-org

9

Worker building a house outside

Building for a Better Future

Right now, there is an important conversation happening in Oregon, and around the country, about buildings. The buildings in which we live and work are a critical piece of the climate puzzle. They are both vital to reducing climate change causing fossil fuels and our first line of defense against climate harms like extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and air
May 18, 2022, 7:46 pm
jacqui

9

Building Back Better with a Strong Reconciliation Package

OEC and nearly 50 other state-based partners call on congressional leaders to build back better through bold investments in climate, jobs, and justice. August 26, 2021  RE: Please help Oregon build back better by supporting an equitable economic recovery and health outcomes, family-sustaining jobs, and a transition to a clean energy economy. 
August 27, 2021, 5:40 pm
noraaoeconline-org

9

I-5 Interstate Bridge between Oregon and Washington

Building Bridges: Connections Between Communities, Climate, and Equitable Transportation

The Columbia River between Washington and Oregon has been significant for transportation around the region for thousands of years, with people moving along and across the river to meet their needs, make a living, and connect across communities. The I-5 bridge between Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon, is currently at the center of a regional conversation about transportation, connectedness, and community needs. 
August 10, 2021, 8:19 pm
saraw

9

Oregon Clean Fuels Program: Building Back Better

December 28, 2020, 9:00 am
mcadmin

9

Furnishings + building materials

April 29, 2019, 5:29 pm
jenc

9

Building advocacy with our Emerging Leaders

Guest blog by Kellen Klein, Emerging Leaders Board Member
January 17, 2018, 6:30 pm
mcadmin

9


No Replies to "Building Climate Resilience with Better Buildings"