Advancing a healthy, resilient future in Central Oregon requires change at both the individual and governance levels. To ensure a better future for the next generations, we must communicate with elected officials and empower our community members and leaders to stand up for bold action today. Which is why we’re committed to having a seat at the table when key decisions are being made in our region and state.

Across all program areas, our team works every day to not only educate our community, but to advocate for local policies and infrastructure that protect the environment and support economic success. From council chambers to classrooms, we collaborate with others to prioritize climate action and equitable solutions in the face of rapid growth and development.

Below is a high-level summary of initiatives we’re currently invested in, as well as past successes; plus a few links to helpful resources. Keep checking back for updates and ways to participate, and sign up for our e-newsletter to receive timely action alerts and our latest blogs. We will also keep you informed about bills we support during legislative sessions.

Help Us Move Forward The Home Energy Score Ordinance

The Home Energy Score (HES) Ordinance would require all homes being sold in Bend to receive an energy score reflecting the home’s overall efficiency at the time of listing. Learn more about the proposed program for Bend and make a public comment here.

We believe it is a crucial step for climate action because Bend has set ambitious goals to reduce its contribution to climate change. Real progress towards meeting those goals requires making our homes more energy efficient — getting more homes to go solar and in other ways reduce their energy footprint. A big part of emissions from buildings are because a substantial portion of our energy comes from fossil fuels. Another big contributor is that many of our homes leak energy. Poor insulation; leaky windows, air ducts and building envelopes; and old, inefficient heating and cooling systems and appliances are just three examples.

A HES makes the full cost of home ownership visible during the buying process. With a HES, buyers won’t be surprised later by high energy bills. This actually supports affordable home ownership because unexpectedly high utility bills can quickly become unmanageable for homeowners on tight budgets. The HES shows buyers possible energy efficiency investments they could make at the time of purchase. This opens the door to wrapping these costs into their home loan, with only a small increase in a monthly loan payment that is often less than a higher energy bill without the improvements. Voluntary HES programs are not effective at making real progress on reducing home energy use community-wide as not enough people participate. The climate crisis demands substantial change, not minimal change.

READ OUR BLOG ABOUT THE HES

What are the benefits?

Increased transparency in the homebuying process
Informs consumers of the true costs of homeownership
Allows for a level comparison of energy use across the housing market

This proven standardized process helps homebuyers contribute to reducing carbon emissions by giving them a prioritized list of energy improvements that can be made to their homes at the time when they are most likely to make upgrades to the residences.

What is the timeframe?

Summer 2022 – Community input on draft ordinance*
Fall 2022 – Council votes on ordinance*
Summer 2023 – HES program implemented

*These will be critical times to show your support to get this important policy passed. Be on the lookout for upcoming calls to action for you, our community, to help spread the word and advocate for this much needed change.

The 2022 short legislative session ended with some exciting developments:

Joint Task force on Resilient Efficient Buildings (REBuilding)

We have been working hard for the last two years on statewide policy to help decarbonize buildings through our support of the Reach Code Bill. Although this bill never came to a vote, the Oregon Legislature created a Resilient and Efficient buildings (REBuilding) joint task force. The job of this task force will be to propose legislative solutions to reach state climate goals while maximizing co-benefits around resilience, equity, and affordability. Our Climate and Transportation Policy Manager Neil was appointed to fill one of the two Environment and Climate seats on the task force.

The task force will have bi-monthly meetings from April through August of this year. With Neil at the table, we are advocating for the following strong outcomes:

Strong legislative supporters in the coming Legislative sessions
A broad set of allies
A roadmap of how we can get both our existing and new construction to decarbonize and meet our state climate goals

Re-shaping Bend’s Transportation System

In 2018, the City of Bend launched an update of its transportation system plan (TSP), to set transportation policies, programs and infrastructure investments through 2040. Our executive director was appointed as one of four co-chairs of the city-wide transportation advisory committee (CTAC), to oversee development of the new TSP and recommend a final plan to the City Council.

During the two-year process, we advocated for increased investments in walking, biking and transit, which are key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as meeting the daily transportation needs of those who cannot drive or afford a car. We also advocated for explicit transportation equity policies. In August of 2020, the Bend City Council adopted a new transportation plan that reflects these priorities.

In fall 2020, we also co-chaired the campaign to pass Measure 9-135, Bend’s transportation bond measure, which included over $60 million in improving safety, walking, biking and transit over the next ten years. That’s the biggest investment in these parts of our transportation system in Bend’s history. And the measure passed with 58% of of the vote! Learn more about the bond projects here.

Community Climate Action

After two years of hard work by our staff and other local climate activists, the Bend City Council adopted a Climate Action Resolution in December 2016. The Resolution set community-wide fossil fuel reduction goals of 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2050 and directed staff to develop a Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP). That plan, developed collaboratively by community stakeholders and City staff, was adopted on December 4th, 2019. Our own Lindsey Hardy, Energy Challenge Program Director, chaired the citizen committee that oversaw development of the plan.

The CCAP includes 20 strategies and 42 related actions that consider environmental, social and financial impacts in four key emission areas: Energy Supply, Energy in Buildings, Transportation, and Waste and Materials. Learn more by reviewing the Executive Summary or the full CCAP.

Other Noteworthy Successes

√ Bend’s Urban Growth Boundary

Due to our efforts and the work of Central Oregon LandWatch, the UGB expansion plan adopted by the City Council in December 2016 was substantially smaller than originally proposed because it prioritized infill over sprawl and multi-family over single-family housing. Those outcomes will better protect our local landscape and wildlife and will better meet the housing needs of moderate and low income families. Learn more here.

√ Bend Climate Action Resolution

In collaboration with the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, we led a team of local activists who persuaded the Bend City Council to adopt a climate action resolution in September 2016. Since then, the City has hired a sustainability coordinator, completed a carbon emissions inventory, and appointed a Climate Action Steering Committee (CASC) to develop a community climate action plan by September 2019. The CASC was co-chaired by Lindsey Hardy, director of our energy program. See above section for updates on community climate action planning. Learn more here.

Programs

Advocating for Change

Help Us Move Forward The Home Energy Score Ordinance

What are the benefits?

What is the timeframe?

The 2022 short legislative session ended with some exciting developments:

Joint Task force on Resilient Efficient Buildings (REBuilding)

Read more about the legislative outcomes here:

Re-shaping Bend’s Transportation System

What's Next?

Community Climate Action

What's Next?

Additional Resources:

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Other Noteworthy Successes

√ Bend’s Urban Growth Boundary

√ Bend Climate Action Resolution

In the News: