Portland, Oregon is recognized as a green city. Our burgh is both literally and figuratively green—visually verdant, but also committed to earth-friendly practices. However, Portland isn’t sitting on its famously green laurels. Instead, the City of Portland continues to find new ways of prioritizing the environment. In this post we discuss the latest additions to Portland’s Climate Action Plan, and what the new provisions mean for demolition in Oregon. Let’s learn what this plan entails and how green Portland building demolition practices can help create a healthier environment for all residents.
Portland’s 2015 Climate Action Plan goes back to 1993 when Portland became the first U.S. city to create a local action plan for cutting carbon emissions. Since then, Multnomah County and the City of Portland have worked together to produce updated plans with the end goal of reducing carbon emissions. Portland’s 2015 Climate Action Plan Summary states the Rose City’s goals and vision for year 2050. In this document the City puts forth its recommendations for prosperous, healthy, connected, and equitable communities.
The 2015 Climate Action Plan (CAP) presents climate change as a serious threat to our community. Scientists predict that if we fail to prevent climate change, Oregonians will see more heat waves, droughts, fires, heavy rains, floods, and landslides, and of greater intensity.
Portland has already realized some climate change progress. The CAP states that since 1990 carbon emissions for Portland have dropped 14%, even while we have seen growth in population and jobs. Although Portland is ahead of the national average, too much carbon is still being released into the atmosphere, destabilizing the Earth’s climate.
By 2050, Portland’s CAP calls for an 80% reduction in emissions compared to 1990 levels. An additional interim goal aims to reduce emissions 40% by the year 2030. The CAP calls for various steps, many of which are already being implemented, in the areas of energy consumption, ecological design, gas use, recycling, tree planting, energy efficiency initiatives, solar power, light rail, bicycle use, and composting. If you are interested in more about the Portland Climate Action Plan, here’s a video that explains more.
How demolition companies can help battle global warming. When old buildings are torn down and replaced with new, energy efficient buildings, it’s easy to assume progress has been made. However, consider that it can still take about 50 years to recoup the environmental impact of new construction. Moreover, the demolition process can produce its own pollutants such as crystalline silica, dust, noise, and even asbestos if not properly contained. Oregon demolition pros, including Elder, take environmental precautions, including dust control, construction barriers, fans, HVAC system analysis, and other equipment such as HEPA-equipped vacuum cleaners.
Beyond these environment protection approaches, green demolition practices can also help the earth. At Elder, we are committed to minimizing pollution, including the flow of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. We use asset recovery, deconstruction, and on-site recycling to reduce and prevent waste, and we are constantly on the look-out for new equipment and procedures to boost our eco-friendliness.
Elder Demolition and other forward-thinking demolition contractors are looking ahead to see how we can help be agents of positive change. As experts in green demolition practices and environmentally friendly deconstruction, we will continue to be at the forefront in the battle against greenhouse emissions and climate change. Give us a call today to learn how we can help you conduct green-friendly demolition today, and help Portland reach its goal of 80% reduction in 1990 level emissions by 2050.
[Photo by: Wonderlane, via CC License]