| PORTLAND |
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Merkley visits efficiency-minded homeowner
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 U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, City of Portland Mayor Sam Adams and Rep. Jules Bailey felt the chill as they entered Roberta Hunte's basement and learned about the energy savings and comfort she will gain through air sealing and top-to-bottom insulation. The officials wanted to see the impact of federal funding and local collaboration on reducing energy costs and creating jobs. Hunte is a participant in Clean Energy Works Portland, a pilot to weatherize 500 Portland homes this year by tapping American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds granted to the City of Portland. Energy Trust energy advocates help identify the right improvements to make, connect homeowners to qualified contractors and help with applying for cash incentives and tax credits.
Portland and Oregon Department of Energy have applied for additional federal funding to expand the pilot statewide. "These additional funds would let us scale up the efforts to include significantly more Oregonians," said Steve Lacey, director of operations, Energy Trust.
Clean Energy Works Portland continues seeking participants, apply online
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| STATEWIDE |
Financial assistance and certification available for small commercial projects
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 Energy Trust and Earth Advantage Institute are working together to bring the power of energy efficiency and third-party green building certification to the small commercial building market. A pilot program for owners who construct office, school or retail buildings is the first of its kind in the state. Eligible new construction or major renovation projects can receive design assistance and cash incentives from Energy Trust for designing and constructing an energy-efficient building, and can achieve certification as a green building for implementing a wide range of sustainable features developed by Earth Advantage Institute.
Learn more about the efficiency pilots or sign up your project today
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| PORTLAND |
| Portland State University ahead of sustainability curve |
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 Portland State University uses its resources wisely to deliver a high quality and affordable education. A recent investment in improved heating and cooling at its Fourth Avenue Building is one way PSU is using energy more efficiently to control costs. With Energy Trust incentives, and a potential Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit, the energy-saving upgrades are estimated to save 1.4 million kilowatt hours or $126,000 in annual energy costs. "We need to invest in systems that last longer and work more efficiently. Incentives from Energy Trust make all the difference in getting the resources to invest in these large projects," said Mark Fujii, facilities engineer, PSU.
Read more about PSU's heating and cooling upgrade
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| STATEWIDE |
| Energy Trust and utilities shape future energy landscape |
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 Energy Trust works closely with Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas as they develop their Integrated Resource Plans for meeting increased energy demand in the next 20 years and beyond. Through ratepayer-funded Energy Trust programs, the utilities are investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy to help supply reliable, low-cost power. Energy Trust's energy-saving goals are aligned with the utility plans to help meet future demand statewide.
PGE recently updated its resource plan. "PGE projects more than a 45 percent increase in demand during the next 20 years, compared to 30 percent nationally. With the help of Energy Trust and by working with our customers to make their homes and businesses more efficient, PGE's IRP expects to meet nearly half our load growth from now through 2020 with energy efficiency identified as achievable by Energy Trust," said Jim Lobdell, vice president of power operations and resource strategy, PGE.
Read more about how Energy Trust and your utilities are securing our energy future
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| STATEWIDE |
Sustainability scores high marks at schools conference
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 Energy Trust joined Oregon Department of Energy at the Sustainable Schools Conference for the Oregon School Board Association in late January. With schools under pressure to do more with less, the goal is to connect districts with financial, technical and educational resources for new school construction, energy retrofits and in-classroom teaching tools. Energy Trust worked with other funding organizations to create a Guide for Oregon Schools to help districts boost energy efficiency and install renewable resources in their communities. Energy Trust and Oregon Department of Energy also were part of a panel discussion on funding resources, attended by more than 45 school representatives.
Find out more about the energy paths Oregon schools can take
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| TRADE ALLY OF THE MONTH |
| Green Savers |
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 As both a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® and existing homes trade ally, Green Savers delivers comprehensive assessments and performs the corresponding energy-efficiency improvements. "We are a one-stop-sustainable shop for customers. We make it easy for our customers to make their home more energy efficient and save money," said Robert Hamerly, general manager. Green Savers' five-member team completes more than 100 home performance assessments and 50 retrofit projects per year primarily in Central Oregon and Portland. "Energy Trust incentives are really helpful since the market is still being developed and they help educate people and give them the boost to get something done," said Hamerly.
Visit Green Savers' website
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