Green Pearls

Life is looking a little 'greener' in the Pearl District these days. With the Jean Vollum EcoTrust and the Brewery Blocks initiating a 'greener' way to do business, Portland's Pearl District is fast becoming the epicenter for green building and green living.

When The Henry, a fifteen story 244 unit condominium tower was completed in 2004, the building had completely sold out months in advance. Located in the heart of the Pearl District's Brewery Blocks, The Henry had achieved LEED 'Gold' rating; only the second residential building to obtain such a rating in the United States.

The Edge Lofts were built above REI, who along with architectural partner Mithun, achieved a LEED 'Gold' for Commercial Interiors.

Some of the most authoritative magazines are bringing national and worldwide attention to Portland. The Green Guide Magazine named Portland as one of the top 10 "green cities" in the United States for its air quality, renewable energy resources and for its miles of bike, running and hiking trails. Renewable Energy World magazine named Portland as one of its top 10 "green cities to watch," worldwide.

Moreover, Portland's two electric companies, Pacific Power and Portland General Electric were ranked second and third nationally for the amount of green energy they sold.

'I have had two clients, one from the Bay area and another from Manhattan, who have bought sight unseen' says Heidi Andrews, co-creator and co-owner of PearlDistrict.com. 'The only stipulation they had was that the building had to be green.'

With each new crane that erects in the Pearl District, you can be sure that the developers behind the construction are aiming for some level of LEED certification. Ben Andrews was recently quoted in The Oregonian as saying; 'Portland is a haven for eco-conscious living and the Pearl District offers more opportunities than any other neighborhood in the United States!'

Green Buildings in the Pearl District

There are now over 80 buildings in Portland that have obtained LEED certification.

The Pearl District has the most "green" buildings per square mile than in any other part of the United States.

937 Condos - LEED Silver

• An eco-roof is on the North side of the building.
• Massive storm water planter is used to capture and recycle rain run-off.
• Enormous beams and planks from the existing building were used in the new construction.

Edge Lofts - LEED Gold

• REI achieved this rating for its commercial construction.

The Henry - LEED Gold

• Storm water retention system

The Casey - LEED Platinum

• Eco-roof used for storm water management
• Photovoltaic panels used for generating energy for common area spaces
• Window glazing to reduce heat and glare
• Ground source cooling and heating

The Metropolitan - LEED Silver

• Energy efficient mechanical systems
• Window glazing systems
• Storm water retention for landscape irrigation
• Durable, low-maintenance durable materials
• Natural ventilation

Waterfront Pearl - Undetermined

The Wyatt - Undetermined

• Regeneration; use of century old materials in new construction
• Recycled brick

It's Easy Being Green!

Green Groceries:

• Buy Local - When you buy local you are reducing the dependency on oil and gasoline emissions to transport your food.
• Bring a Bag - Don't fret on paper or plastic…bring your own bag and reduce waste. The Pearl District's Whole Food's sells reusable bags for $5.00.

Home Economics

• Adjust Temperatures - Maximize refrigeration energy by keeping the refrigerator at 37 F and your freezer at 0 F.
• Shed Some Light - Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. They are slightly more expensive but they do last up to 10 times longer than conventional light bulbs. To save even more money and energy, install dimmer switches
• Get Soaked - In a family of four, a low-flow shower head can reduce 280 gallons of water a month

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