Our blog is your go-to resource.
The Environmental Center is your friendly neighborhood sustainability hub.
Our blog tells the stories of the people and organizations, the programs, tools and technologies, that make sustainability real every day. You’ll find the inspiration and resources you need to put sustainability into action in your life, at home or at work.
Be sure to check out our community calendar for upcoming events, and get to know our Partner Groups. Need a space for an event? Our door is open for learning, collaborating, and a whole lot more.
Recent Posts
The Hub
Green Spotlight: Tyler Wilson
March 11, 2019
Tyler is a sustainability educator at The Environmental Center, helping to deliver our growing EarthSmart program to even more schools. He teaches at Bear Creek Elementary, Pine Ridge Elementary, and Jewell Elementary. Tyler’s creativity and education background are a great asset to our youth ed team; he’s even provided our lessons with some refreshing updates! […]
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Green Spotlight: Kersey Marion
February 11, 2019
With donor support, The Environmental Center accomplishes a lot with a relatively small team of staff, Board of Directors, and several amazing volunteers and interns. And we consider ourselves very lucky that Kersey Marion has committed so much time and energy to make our work possible! Kersey has helped out in several programs and continues […]
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Action Alert: Think Global, Act Local
February 1, 2019
A letter from our Executive Director, Mike Riley. A simple but powerful idea guides our work here at The Environmental Center: Local action can make a world of difference. I’m reminded of its importance as we enter the new year and a new season of decision-making by our elected leaders. Climate change is the environmental […]
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Why Less Matters
January 28, 2019
Explore how the stuff we buy, use and get rid of everyday, is impacting our world. From furniture to food, our purchasing decisions and behaviors are where we have the most impact, both positively and negatively. We all know the 3 R’s: Reduce Reuse and Recycle, but while most people focus on the 3rd R, […]
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Mountainfilm on Tour to Arrive in Bend
January 21, 2019
WHAT: Two nights of culturally rich, adventure-packed and inspiring documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival held every year in Telluride, Colorado. The tour will soon visit Bend at the Tower Theatre on February 22-23 with films that explore themes connected to Mountainfilm’s mission: using the power of film, art, and ideas to inspire audiences […]
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Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation Supports Local School Gardens
January 15, 2019
The Environmental Center was awarded a one-year grant in the amount of $5,000 to fund a FoodCorps Service Member and to support the Central Oregon Garden Educators Network. The Environmental Center is committed to increasing garden-based learning opportunities for schools across Central Oregon. Garden activities and education provide a wide range of positive benefits for […]
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Clean Up Your Furnace Filter’s Act
January 10, 2019
Want in on a dirty little secret? A less-than-pristine furnace could be costing you, big time. Furnaces with dirty filters or ducts waste energy and money, shorten the life of your furnace, and pollute your indoor air. The good news? Cleaning up your furnace’s act starts with changing the filter regularly. It is recommended that […]
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Denise Rowcroft Receives Cooperator Award
January 2, 2019
Last month, Denise Rowcroft, Sustainability Educator at The Environmental Center, received a Cooperator Award from Oregon State University Extension Association. She was nominated by local extension Nutrition Educators Katie Ahern, Ashley Joyce, and Kaitlin Greene for her work in Deschutes County. As shared during the presentation, “OSUEA has recognized cooperators for more than 30 years. Each […]
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Oregon Electric Vehicle Rebates
December 28, 2018
Did you know that Oregon Has one of the best EV incentives in the country? The Oregon Clean Energy Rebate Program offers Oregon residents a rebate of up to $2,500, when paired with the $7,500 Federal tax credit drivers can save $10,000 off a new electric car. In addition to the standard rebate there is an […]
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Green Spotlight: Tatiana Guerra
November 26, 2018
“You look busy, how can I help?” Let’s just say Tatiana Guerra is a super volunteer. And we mean really super. We met Tatiana in the spring of 2017 when her AmeriCorps NCCC team was based at The Environmental Center. Her team, Blue 3, primarily worked on our Energy Challenge program. “We went around to houses and […]
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