A bird’s-eye view of a hopeful future
Source Thursday, March 5, 2020 – 12:45am Folk Life: Stephen Blanquie Aerial view of Mount Hood in Portland, Oregon. Something about looking out the window of an airplane allows one’s perspective time to cultivate. Watching, as the residential and commercial developments of the city’s framework transform into toy houses and, seconds later, neat sections revealing […]
All New Rooftops Must Be Covered in Plants or Solar Panels in France
Source: Returntonow In an effort to make concrete jungles more eco-friendly, France recently passed a law requiring the rooftops of all new buildings in commercial zones to be fully or partially covered in plants or solar panels. The concept, known as “green roofs,” is becoming so popular in some cities, like Paris, that even the owners of […]
Planned I-5 Freeway Widening Project In Portland Keeps Taking Hits
Source: OPB Three years ago, the proposed freeway widening project near Portland’s Rose Quarter was a jewel in the crown of a landmark transportation bill passed by Oregon Legislators. Gov. Kate Brown touted the Oregon Department of Transportation’s claim that the $450 million project would address “one of the worst bottlenecks for freight and passenger vehicles […]
Fashion’s latest trend? Why H&M, other big brands are investing in garment recycling
Lillian Childress Wednesday, January 22, 2020 – 2:00am The fashion industry has a pollution problem. If the industry continues on its current pathway, it could use more than a quarter of the carbon budget associated with a 2 degrees Celsius pathway by 2050, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. These skyrocketing emissions are compounded by […]
The climate case for construction
Source: Green Biz Thursday, January 2, 2020 – 1:36am It’s not easy to make the transparent visible, particularly when it comes to infrastructure. It’s easy to take the mundane for granted except for when things go wrong: our cell phone networks; the modern electrical grid that has been around for more than 100 years; our […]
The truth behind Portland’s Holiday Martini
Source: Oregonian Over the years, various people have read various meanings into the oversized and ornately lit martini glass that beams down over Portland each holiday season. To some, the West Hills fixture is a familiar symbol of Christmas cheer. To others, it’s an homage to Portland’s anti-establishment ethos. To a few, it’s unfortunate encouragement […]
City of Portland-Holiday garbage & recycling tips
Source: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/748439 HOLIDAY DELAYS If your garbage, recycling, and compost pick-up day is Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, expect a one-day delay after Christmas and New Year’s. Never miss a pick-up: Sign up for email reminders at www.garbagedayreminders.com. SNOW OR ICE In case of bad weather, your pick-up may be delayed. Leave bins at the curb. Your garbage company will […]
Salmon Die-Off Linked To Extremely Dry Conditions On Oregon’s North Coast
Source: OPB Extremely dry conditions have fueled a widespread die-off of fall chinook salmon on Oregon’s north coast. After two months of low rainfall, hundreds of adult fish on multiple coastal streams are dying from an unusual outbreak of a naturally occurring parasite before they get a chance to spawn. According to the Oregon Department […]
Taking Inspiration from Plants’ Phototropism, New Solar Power System Harvests Up to 400% More Energy
Source: Energy Trend In an effort to capture more sunlight, solar power experts and technicians wrack their brains to find the perfect angle for solar panels, sometimes even needing sun-tracking mounting systems to do the job. But now, a group of American scientists took inspiration from heliotropic plants and created a solar power system that […]
Will California say bye to diesel-burning trucks and hello to zero-emissions ones?
Thursday, October 10, 2019 – 12:45pm Image: Folk Life Creative Toy truck carrying two AA batteries as its power supply. California officials are gearing up to launch a momentous new rule to tackle one of the largest sources of pollution in the state: medium- and heavy-duty commercial trucks. After years of deliberation and public input, […]