Living Green
Monthly news and tips focused on helping you create a greener, healthier life for the world around you.
Your Voice. Your Vote. Your Planet
It’s that time of year again. Election season always seems to creep up quickly and navigating important deadlines, candidate debates, and ballot measure information can be tricky. But voting in Oregon is one of THE most important actions one can take, not only for our environment but for the stability of democracy and our collective future. This page has key information needed to make a difference this November 8th!
Why Vote?
We need elected officials at every level of government to protect our environment and fight for a stable climate, clean air and water, and ...
Moving the Decimal Point on the Price of Gas
When I was learning how to drive, back in the middle of the 1973 Arab oil embargo, with long lines and gas rationed on “odd/even” days, everyone was completely shocked when the price of gas rose from 39 cents to 53 cents.
Today, gas is selling at an average of $4.72 per gallon here in Oregon. As the old Bob Dylan song said, “the times they are a’changing” and it may be time for many drivers to consider making a change that can save you a lot of money. If you need to replace your car, think electric.
Consider this: for a 25 mpg car, paying $4.72 per gallon, it ...
Hold the wrapping paper! Most of that gift-wrap is not eco-friendly nor recyclable
It is that time of year again—no matter what holiday you celebrate, or what religion you subscribe to, it is difficult to be unaffected by the enthusiasm of the season of giving and reflection. It is predicted that the average American will spend $942 on holiday gifts this year. It is no secret that as consumerism spreads, landfills also fill up, and the Earth suffers. According to Stanford University, Americans throw away 25% more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year's holiday period than any other time of year. And most of that holiday wrap is not eco-friendly ...
Removing Barriers to Safe Home Cleaning Products
Many popular and inexpensive home cleaning products contain toxic chemicals. There are alternatives, but they can be expensive or require extra steps. What happens when those barriers are removed? OEC partnered with Hacienda CDC to find out.
Hacienda CDC Eco- Healthy Home Survey
In the Fall/Winter of 2020, socially distanced, in-person focus groups and bilingual online surveys were held in Hacienda CDC’s housing communities to listen to residents' concerns about toxic chemicals in the home. COVID-19 hit the Latino/x community particularly hard, and the increased ...
Summer isn’t the only time to worry about woodsmoke
As we roll into fall, many people start cleaning out their wood-burning stoves and fireplaces to start heating their homes, or just to get that cozy ambiance. What many people don’t realize is that, when a lot of people are burning wood in their homes, the cumulative effect on air quality can be similar to a wildfire. OEC has been advocating to reduce harmful air pollution from urban wood fires and to provide healthier options for those that rely on woodburning as a primary heat source.
Specifically, OEC has been working closely with Woodsmoke Free Portland and the ...
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.
Replacing the bridge has been discussed for decades. Most recently, a proposed project to replace the bridge died when the Washington State Legislat...
E-Bike Q&A: You have Questions, We have Answers!
E-Bikes are growing in popularity, yet many people still are hesitant to purchase one. In this Q&A, current and former OEC staff answer questions about their recent E-Bike purchases. OEC Summer Intern Juliáe Riva sat down with former OEC staff member Jonathan Lin and OEC’s Rural Partnerships and Water Policy Director Karen Lewotsky to learn more about their personal experiences with recently owning e-bikes.
JR: What e-bike do you own?
JL: Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0 EQ. Specialized uses a smaller motor [than most other brands] that they developed to fit ...
Sustainable Fashion and OEC’s Newest Impact Partner
As Oregon emerges from 16 months of shut downs and people begin to return to stores and restaurants with a sense of safety, we at OEC want to bring some more good news for the Summer. We are thrilled to have been chosen as the Impact Partner for the next 6 months with a local Portland, OR boutique called Foundation: Fashion and Philanthropy. Foundation’s business model is centered around donating 100% of their profits to an organization that aligns with their mission.
Foundation works like any other business, paying expenses like salaries and suppliers first. But then ...
Buying a car? Go electric!
Are you considering buying a car? This is a great time to consider your electric options!
Before we even get started, though, we have to ask you a tough question. Depending on where you live, do you really need a car? At Oregon Environmental Council we know that we won’t reach our climate and equity goals if we don’t reduce the number of cars on the road or how many miles they are driving, so we will always encourage you to take the time to think about whether you can meet at least some of your transportation needs without a car. (Hint: electric bikes can make a ...
An Earth Day Challenge
When the pandemic ends, will we go back to business as usual? Take the #MyPlanetMyPledge for a healthier future for all.
