What if we could create communities that are compact, complete and connected—providing easily accessible amenities in smartly planned, vibrant neighborhoods? Or develop highly efficient buildings and district-scale infrastructure, successfully capturing energy and water for neighborhood reuse, while providing a rich diversity of open space and green transportation options?

That depends on the built environment, and why it's one of our focus areas. We believe the region can be a living laboratory of innovative policies and local, sustainable products and services in the areas of building science, infrastructure, distributed utility services, and finance.

The built environment—the collection of buildings, roads and infrastructure—plays a significant role in a region’s ability to meet long-term sustainability goals. Land patterns influence the rate of sprawl and resilience of natural systems; transportation infrastructure dictates mobility; and neighborhood development impacts human health, housing affordability and livability. While the Portland region enjoys a well-deserved reputation in green building, transportation and smart growth, the negative impacts of development limit progress towards greenhouse gas emission reductions, watershed health, and other sustainability indicators.

Portland Sustainability Institute will promote a market transformation agenda in net zero building and green neighborhood development. Through select pilot projects, the Institute will help test and validate redevelopment models by brokering business partnerships, focusing university research, and promoting innovative public policy.

Current Projects:

• The EcoDistricts Initiative
• Oregon Sustainability Center