EcoFlats: One More Unsustainable Green Icon for Portland

Cascade Policy Institute ^ | July 18, 2011 | Christopher Robinson

[Twotone]

So-called “sustainable development” is a longtime political interest in the city of Portland. Although the term itself is never defined, the concept implies the use of “green” design and technologies in order to reduce energy consumption, water use, solid waste and automobile travel. The loftiest goal is “net zero,” whereby all electricity and water needs are met from on-site generation and no outside sources are necessary.

One such “sustainable” project is the EcoFlats apartment building located on North Williams Avenue in Portland’s Boise neighborhood. Recently, the development received a good deal of media coverage due to its implementation of green technologies and an “affordable” price tag. EcoFlats has no interior hallways, no air conditioning, a large roof top solar array and the goal of net-zero energy usage. On the surface it would seem an excellent model for future affordable, sustainable development; but an extensive back-story to EcoFlats’ financing and planning reveal otherwise.

[Twotone]

Oregon ping...

[cranked]

More like a Fail Ping....

[RitchieAprile]

Looks like a roach motel...

[CitizenUSA]

I have absolutely nothing against people who want to pursue “sustainable development” on their own dime, but isn’t that the real issue here? It only becomes an issue when they want to pay for these things with other people’s money. I’d probably cheer them on and might even be willing to invest my own money if they weren’t already stealing it. Oh, I know it isn’t “technically” stealing, but morally speaking, that’s exactly what they are up to.

[Moonman62]

Or a rat trap.

[count-your-change]

“Sustainable development” would be a great idea if it were either self sustainable or could be sustained as it name implies but it is neither. Rather it is making someone else pay for one’s self aggrandizement.

In the same way I could call my vegetable garden work free by forcing my neighbors to do the care of it and free because they were forced to pay the costs of it.

As in these rental units, just how much less energy was used in their construction and operation compared to a similar sized project?

It sounds like everyone is paying more for less building and the developer is the only one being “sustained”.

[Portcall24]

In the Army we use something called BLUF which is Bottom Line Up Front. Here's the BLUF:

Oregon taxpayers and all who pay the Energy Trust surcharge are the big losers. They are required to make up the difference in costs for “sustainable development” but receive none of the touted benefits. EcoFlats is only one in a long list of heavily subsidized projects which have increased in number in recent years. Eventually, people will realize that “sustainability” in Portland is not about helping the environment, but rather about creating an image that only benefits a select few.

[ViLaLuz]

Sustainable development - refer to UN Agenda 21. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agenda_21

[kitkat]

***EcoFlats has no interior hallways, no air conditioning...***

That means that you would have to walk through other people’s bedrooms to reach the bathroom, kitchen, etc. and what do you do to keep the elderly and infirm breathing in hot weather with no air conditioner?

[dearolddad]

It sounds like everyone is paying more for less building and the developer is the only one being “sustained"

Does anyone out there know how much the developer contributed to the political party in charge?

[count-your-change]

It surely must’ve been a “sustainable” amount.