On a recent trip to the supermarket, my wife brought home a new detergent for the dishwashing machine. We both responded favorably to the “Eco” labeling on the soap, which indicated that it did not include phosphorous.

Increases in phosphorous in waterways can cause harmful algae blooms, so finding an opportunity to cut back can be a good thing. Unfortunately, the good feelings of reducing our impact on the water system faded with each new load of dishes. The soap left a lot of filmy residue, and more importantly failed to remove the food particles we wanted to wash off.

To get them clean, we had to run the dishes through a second cycle, which obviously brings us to the point of THIS SPACE: how to save electricity and keep a few more dollars in your bank account. More...

Many houses have heaters, fireplaces, woodstoves or a combination of all three, yet are still uncomfortably cold inside. Aren’t we smart enough to keep ourselves warm? Even beavers build their dens to stay incredibly toasty and dry, so what’s going on with us? You may have taken one look at your heating bill over the last few months and wondered the same thing.

Spring is finally here and we can use this time to prepare and remodel for next winter. Here are some ways to manage staying warm, saving money and being green (besides wearing that green thrift store sweater you bought for St. Patrick's Day). More...

Your number one green building resource is the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, which is hosting an Ecoroof Vendor Fair free to the public on April 25th. But we know that these times call for cash, so we've gathered your top money back options to aid your green remodel.

4 Areas to Check
Have you used our Personal Energy Analyzer yet? If you don't own a Chinook Book, you can download it right here. Reducing your water heater temperature, lowering your thermostat (or raising it this summer), and eliminating phantom power suckers can save you money with zero cost up front.

Cash and Tax Incentives
Review the list of cash incentives from Energy Trust for home weatherization, heating and cooling, water heating, and renewable energy.

• Clothes washer: $75-$100 back
• Refrigerator: $50 and $30 to recycle your old model
• Solar water heating: Up to $1,500
• Duct sealing: Up to $400 (Use Energy Star's DIY guide to insulation and sealing)

Energy Trust can help you navigate the Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit, where you can save up to $1000 on appliances and heating improvements. Finally, be sure to check the Energy Trust allies page for incentives on installation of windows, heaters, and more.

Using water also uses the electricity needed to pump it to you and through your home. Apply for a $100 WaterSense toilet rebate if you purchase a certified toilet and install free faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads, and toilet displacement bags from the Portland Water Bureau.

Get a Professional Audit
Get a free 1 hour home energy review, conducted by a professional, through Energy Trust. More...

Sometimes when a good thing becomes THE hot thing, the ensuing rush by other companies to jump on the bandwagon and produce as many widgets as possible can create big disparities in quality.

Unfortunately, compact fluorescent light bulbs appear to be suffering from a touch of this malady.

Some consumers, eager to save energy and lower their bills, are finding out the compact fluorescent bulbs didn’t last as long as they expected. With constant use, one of these bulbs should last about a year. With normal use, it should last seven to 10 years. But not all manufacturers’ products are living up to that expectation.

Two factors appear to be at play. More...

Personal behavior change is so subtle you don’t see it happening, and can forget how far you’ve come. There are thousands of tips for reducing your impact and living the green and good life, but realizing which you are really doing and what that means can be difficult to pin down. Your efforts deserve to be recognized, monitored, and charted over time. We'll even throw in some reader prizes eventually, too!

Here’s how to start your own sustainability journal, which you can use to set goals and to look back on as you change your lifestyle. We'll bring you more features weekly, including printable guides to a home waste audit, travel diary, games for kids, and a home energy analyzer, all from our green living guides. I’ll also be doing this all myself, and roping in guests from the EcoMetro staff and friends, so we can both gripe and high-five together. Ready? Read on... More...

The simple fate of growing up in Southern Michigan ties virtually everyone to the automotive industry.  I grew up reading Car & Driver cover to cover.  I knew 0-60 stats of every production performance car manufactured.  I worked summers in college at my neighbor’s machine shop.  Most of the time I mindlessly pushed Ford fuel pump covers through an industrial grinding machine.  When I wasn’t grinding fuel pump covers under the watchful eye of Rusty, the machine’s operator, I milled mounting brackets for air conditioning units. More...

Choosing an Environmentally Friendly Computer

When Apple debuted its famous “1984” Super Bowl commercial, the personal computer immediately became a statement of personal values, just as the Prius is today. But while most Portlanders wouldn’t be caught dead in a Hummer, they probably don’t know that their PC can be pretty “un-P.C.” if you’re into sustainable living. More...

How many Oregonians does it take to screw in an energy efficient light bulb? The answer is just one, and the results are big. Each standard bulb you replace with a compact fluorescent light will keep one ton of CO2out of the atmosphere and last long enough to save you the cost of purchasing 5 old-fashioned light bulbs. More...

It’s fitting that the word “eco” comes from the ancient Greek “oikos” meaning home. Our homes use significant energy. Whether you are building a home or remodeling, there are myriad ways to go green, increase your comfort, and lower your bills.
We’ve included some info for renters, too. For inspiration, learn the impact of your home energy use by calculating your CO2emissions at carboncounter.org, and use our newfangled EcoMetro Decoder in our book to record your results. More...