Green Building Hotline

Help is on the way for area residents who have ever contemplated how to green their upcoming remodels, additions or new construction projects.

In a collaborative effort, Metro, the City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development and Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah counties have launched a new region-wide Green Building Hotline. As part of the new Green Development Resource Center, the hotline provides a wealth of information about green building strategies and resources, as well as financial incentives for new and existing commercial and residential projects.

Through telephone and email exchanges, individuals and business can find answers to questions about green materials, renewable energy, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, sustainable site development and storm-water management, along with strategies to improve the environmental and financial performance of a building.

"The Green Development Resource Center will be invaluable as more people build green and need all the information that they can get," said Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman. "Based on their questions and comments, well get a sense of what more we can provide and how we can continue to support green building."

The hotline is available to residents, businesses, developers, builders, contractors and government agencies. The Center eventually plans to offer a library, a mobile workshop and an expanded website with solutions and strategies to help inform current practitioners and inspire those who have ever contemplated green building.

"I certainly would have appreciated having one place to call for green information when I was remodeling my house," said Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder. "Now people anywhere in the region can find the information they need for green do-it-yourself-remodeling in one phone call. At the same time, businesses can use the hotline to find the newest green products, learn how to manage storm water runoff and otherwise make their projects more sustainable."

The hotline enhances Metro's recycling information hotline and other regional sustainability programs such as the City of Portland's Recycle at Work and Gresham's GREAT Business Recycling programs. The launch of this centralized resource accelerates the regions continued ability to be a pioneer in the field of green building.

The hotline is available to callers Monday through Friday during regular business hours at (503) 823-5431 or online at www.portlandonline.com/osd/greenbuilding .

Date:  November 23, 2007.