City To Invest $267K Energy Rebate Into Sustainability Projects

From Portland Parks and Recreation: Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) earned more than $250,000 in rebates in 2017 for the Bureau's efforts towards energy efficiency and sustainability. The savings to taxpayers are thanks to PP&R staff efforts and a partnership with the Energy Trust of Oregon.

The Bureau will be reinvesting those rebates to launch an energy- and water-saving project at 48 sites; an effort towards sustainability on a much larger scale.

Portland Parks & Recreation is making a significant contribution towards the city's commitment to using 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. This mark was established by a unanimous City Council vote in 2017, and Portland's elected officials continue to recognize the importance energy efficiency plays in reaching that achievement.

"Portland Parks & Recreation is leading the way towards sustainability and energy efficiency," said Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz. "Our City must move towards sustainable practices as soon as possible. PP&R's programs, sites, and staff are becoming a model of how city government can embrace sustainability, while reducing costs to taxpayers."

Portland Parks & Recreation earned $267,191 in rebates from Energy Trust of Oregon in 2017, and thanks to ongoing energy-saving efforts, the Bureau has another $120,841 in further credits earned for next year already.

The credits were largely awarded for upgrades to various building control systems.

"These savings, and the upcoming large-scale sustainability project, would not have happened without the innovative efforts of our dedicated PP&R staff," says Portland Parks & Recreation Director Mike Abbaté. "PP&R project managers and maintenance workers - electricians, carpenters, and other tradespeople -earned those rebates. I applaud our creative, committed staff and their ongoing work to ensure a greener future for Portlanders, of both current and future generations."

The Bureau will be establishing a pilot program — an energy & water savings performance contract — to study how utility use can be reduced. The target of the pilot is to reduce maintenance and utility costs at approximately 20 percent of PP&R's sites.

Portland Parks & Recreation is proud to take this important step in realizing the City's sustainability goals.

Image via Portland Parks & Recreation