Green Building

An Oregon Perspective on Green Building

Rob Bennett
Manager
Green Building Division
City of Portland's Office of Sustainable Development

Historically, buildings have existed as an expression of a particular culture in conversation with its environment. Totems, longhouses, Timberline Lodge, bungalows - all represent different periods of northwest history and their particular cultural "design assignments" to capture sunlight, shed water, encourage spirituality, and provide shelter. Indeed, buildings represent the culture that creates, where intentions and values are literally made concrete.

This dialogue between cultural expression and environmental conditions in architecture and construction has changed considerably in recent years. Today, building development is driven almost exclusively by economics. Proformas, return on investment, and value engineering is the language of development, a focus that marginalizes thoughtful, integrated design and resource-efficient building practices for short-term profit.   [full essay]

Next Green Building Event

View Entire Calendar of Events

Featured Case Study

Metafore

An independent, not-for-profit organization, Metafore is committed to promoting responsible forest products buying practices throughout North America in an effort to improve forest management practices worldwide. To that end, Metafore actively promotes and facilitates the increased purchase, use and sale of third-party certified forest products as an integral part of a comprehensive responsible wood purchasing policy. Formerly known as the Certified Forest Products Council, Metafore is based in Portland, Ore.

[Full Case Study]


View All Green Building Case Studies

Featured Oregon Organization

Other Featured Sections:
Banking & Finances
Brownfields Redevelopment
Business Resources
Certification & Labeling
Commercial Energy
Investing