Phone: 503-823-7700
Fax: 503-823-7800
1900 SW 4th Ave, Suite 7100, Portland, OR 97201
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2012
CONTACTS
Christine Llobregat
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
503-823-7007
christine.llobregat@portlandoregon.gov
Sarah Lazzaro
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
(503) 688-5439
slazzaro@neea.org
Portland City Council directs Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to enter City-owned buildings in energy efficiency challenge
Portland,Ore. -- Portland City Council adopted a resolution today that commits the City of Portland to working with commercial building owners and managers in Portland to improve building performance. Resolution 1231 directs the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and the Office of Management and Finance to enter the Portland Building and City Hall in the Kilowatt Crackdown energy efficiency competition for commercial office buildings.
“Commercial buildings consume considerable amounts of energy, and cities around the country are mandating that large office building owners benchmark their buildings and disclose their energy performance publicly,” said Portland Mayor Sam Adams. “We decided to try a different approach — a more cooperative and market-based approach by showing the rest of the country that there are market reasons for doing this work — and that we can improve performance because it makes financial sense.”
Kilowatt Crackdown is the energy-saving competition where ‘everybuilding wins,’ and the recruitment goal is 150 commercial office buildings. Over 20 buildings have signed up so far. New participants will find helpful tools and resources, including:
The competition includes a new website, www.kilowatt-crackdown.com/Portland and social media tools so participants can follow colleagues’ progress on Facebook, www.facebook.com/BetterBricks and Twitter, #kilowattcrackdown.
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, buildings in theUnited Statesaccount for more than 40 percent of total energy consumption, and about 72 percent of electricity consumption. If current trends continue, it is estimated that buildings will be the largest global energy consumers by 2025.
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NEEA’s BetterBricks, www.betterbricks.com is the commercial building initiative of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, which is supported by local electric utilities. Through the BetterBricks initiative, NEEA advocates for changes to energy-related business practices in the Northwest buildings. In this era of heightened appreciation for the impact climate change is having on our environment and our economy, energy efficiency is a crucial component in addressing global warming.
BOMA Oregon, www.bomaportland.org is the industry’s leading commercial real estate organization, representing over 30 million square feet of commercial real estate inOregon. Through a strong membership base, leadership, networking, advocacy and professional development, BOMA Oregon is the voice of the commercial real estate industry.
City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS), www.portlandoregon.gov/bps develops innovative and practical solutions to create and enhance a prosperous, educated, healthy and equitable city. The bureau provides: Citywide strategic and comprehensive land use planning; neighborhood, district, economic, historic and environmental research, planning and urban design; policy and services to advance energy efficiency, green building, waste reduction, composting and recycling, solar and renewable energy use, and local sustainable food production; as well as actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Clark Public Utilities, www.clarkpublicutilities.com is a NEEA funder and customer-owned utility providing electric and water service inClark County,Washington. A public utility district organized under the laws of the state ofWashington, the utility was formed by a vote of the people in 1938. The utility currently provides electric service to more than 184,000 customers and water service to more than 30,000 homes and businesses.
Energy Trust of Oregon, www.energytrust.org is a NEEA funder and independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping utility customers benefit from saving energy and generating renewable energy. Services, cash incentives and solutions have helped participating customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas save more than $1 billion on their energy bills. The organization’s work helps keep energy costs as low as possible and builds a sustainable energy future.