Learn How to Build and Remodel Green with NW Natural, Discover Energy-Saving Solutions with Energy Trust of Oregon, and Get Inspired in the Garden with Oregon State University
PORTLAND, Ore. – March 17, 2011 – The Better Living Home, Garden & Lifestyle Show, the Northwest‘s largest sustainable lifestyle event, will pack the Portland Expo Center with inspiring, sustainable home and garden ideas, March 25 – 27. Whether a person is looking to build a new home from scratch or update an existing home with sustainability and energy savings in mind, the Better Living Show has something for everyone.
Going Green with the Blue Home
The Blue Home, created by NW Natural for the Better Living Show, is a 1,100-square-foot installation, showcasing the ultimate in sustainable, natural gas living. Visitors will be inspired when they see the latest in building and eco-friendly design from Legend Homes and Progressive Builders Northwest. New this year, cutting edge technologies like Honda‘s Freewatt® heating and power system, stylish green decor, behind-the-wall views of sustainable construction, and demos in universal design in the kitchen and bathroom.
On the ‘Build Green’ side of the home, Legend Homes demonstrates high-performance design modeled after its EarthSmart™ Homes. Attendees are able to take a sneak-peek behind the walls of the EarthSmart™ Home and see how the construction process sets it apart from other builders in exceeding Oregon‘s energy code—giving homeowners a $99 monthly energy bill guarantee. For those looking to update an existing home, the ‘Remodel Green’ side by Progressive Builders Northwest demonstrates how to make sustainable upgrades. Progressive Builders Northwest will also illustrate principles of universal design in a state-of-the-art bathroom and kitchen, helping homeowners use thoughtful remodeling to create a house that transitions with them, no matter what stage of life they are in.
New features outside of the house include a Flattop Grill or ‘social grill’ by Evo®, a 30″ diameter surface designed for a social chef in mind; a living wall to keep the house cool in the summer; a kitchen garden for easy back-door harvesting of vegetables; and an alternative to front lawns no-fuss groundcover, all designed by the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. Show-goers can watch grilling demonstrations by local chefs from Milo‘s City Café and The Resort at the Mountain, among others, on the social grill and enter to win an Evo® of their own.
Energy-Saving Solutions with Energy Trust of Oregon
Energy Trust will help show-goers unlock the best energy-saving ideas for their homes at the Good Energy Pavilion. Inside Energy Trust‘s ―Key to Good Energy‖ booth, guests can explore hands-on displays that showcase a variety of money-saving, energy-efficient ideas (from lighting to solar, to refrigerator recycling) and reveal some common energy wasters many homes have hidden in their walls. Energy advisors will be on hand to offer personalized guidance and help guests create their own plans for energy savings. Utility customers can even sign up for some free energy-savers from Energy Trust right from the show and check their Home Energy Profile at the computer kiosks. Also at the Good Energy Pavilion, attendees can learn how to tap into solar, wind, geothermal and other renewable resources and find out how cash incentives from Energy Trust and state and federal tax credits can help make renewable power more affordable.
Visitors will have an opportunity to learn from the energy experts during the OSU Seminar Series, which features topics including smart energy-saving solutions and the basics of going solar (for homes and businesses).
Gardening Advice with Local Experts
For the gardening enthusiasts and do-it-yourselfers, Oregon State University (OSU) brings experts in various sustainable home, garden and lifestyle topics for an informational Seminar Series, each day of the show. Each hour, two new topics will begin, featuring local and OSU Extension Service experts on topics including gardening, composting, pest management and food preservation. Additionally, attendees can listen to talks by authors, Carol Deppe of The Resilient Gardener and Tara Rae Miner of Your Green Abode. Master Gardeners will also provide quick tips on topics like pruning, starting a garden, raised bed gardening and starting a worm bin on Saturday and Sunday, during OSU‘s extremely popular 10-Minute University program at their booth.
Featured Home and Garden Presentations Will Include:
- Raise Your Home Energy IQ
- Food Preservation – The Basics
- Native Plants for Birds, Bees and Butterflies
- Eat Your Landscape
- Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening
- Basics of Going Solar for Homes/Businesses
- Climate Friendly Gardening
- Vegetable Gardening Year Round
- Urban Backyard Composting
- Rain Gardens
- Green Remodeling
- Slugs and Snails
- Backyard Honeybee Keeping
- Making Biodiesel
- Living with Backyard Chickens
For a complete list of seminars, details, dates and times, click here.
About the Better Living Show
Free to the public, the Better Living Show, the Northwest‘s largest sustainable lifestyle event, takes place Friday, March 25 from noon – 9 p.m.; Saturday, March 26 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; and Sunday, March 27 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Portland Expo Center. The Better Living Show is designed to empower attendees to become more thoughtful consumers and lessen their impact on the environment by learning about sustainable, healthy and practical lifestyle products and services. The Better Living Show is part of the National Home and Garden Show Series presented by DISH Network. Official show sponsors include Energy Trust of Oregon, NW Natural, American Family Insurance, Ford Motor Company, Portland Tribune and Portland General Electric. For more information, click here.
