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Corvallis Sustainability Coalition

Addressing our most pressing sustainability issues at the local Corvallis level and beyond

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Home/What We Do/Action Teams/Housing/Sustainable Housing

Sustainable Housing

Want help evaluating your home’s energy usage? Home Retrofit Clinics are offered by Nancy Evenson, one of our volunteers who is a retired architect. She helps homeowners evaluate their existing home energy usage and establish a path forward to improve sustainability.

To sign up for the next clinic or for more information, contact Nancy Evenson.

The most effective steps to retrofit an older home:

  • Conserve energy with thermal barriers under deep insulation
  • Upgrade windows (including storm windows), seal leaks in envelope
  • Install heat pumps to heat/cool, to heat water, and to dry clothes
  • Install solar PV panels or other renewable energy source
  • Install other energy efficient appliances such as an induction cooktop

What is Sustainable Housing?

The ultimate in sustainable homes produce more renewable energy than they consume, harvest water from rain, recycle all wastes, and build with nontoxic, locally sourced materials. Even if we do not accomplish this high standard, we encourage homeowners to electrify and conserve energy for increased comfort and savings.

Why is Sustainable Housing Important?

Sustainable homes help save the planet by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Existing buildings operated with fossil fuels generate at least a third of all greenhouse gas emissions in the USA. Newer technologies, like heat pumps, offer solutions. Sustainable homes also save occupants money and are more comfortable.

Heating buildings and water with fossil fuels is rapidly heating our planet. Currently, Oregon’s existing buildings contribute at least a third of our state’s greenhouse gas emissions. Even if we improve building codes, without retrofits most of today’s buildings will still emit greenhouse gases in 2050. Optimum insulation and electrification of existing buildings–powered by renewable energy like solar or wind– would significantly slow the rate our planet’s warming. (OR Global Warming Commission 2020.) Further, as our planet warms, we will face water shortages so buildings that harvest rain and reuse gray water will be increasingly desirable.


A list of valuable sustainable housing resources can be found here.

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MEETINGS
The Housing Action Team meets on the second Monday of each month from 12 noon to 1:00 pm.

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Email the Housing Action Team.

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Join the Housing Action Team Google Group to get up-to-date info on our activities.

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Learn more about volunteering, fill out an application, and we'll hook you up.

Download a copy of the Housing vision, goals, strategies and actions outlined in Community Sustainability: A Framework for Action.

Recent Housing Posts

Discussion re. New State Land Use Rules – Feb. 3

February 2, 2025

On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, the League of Women Voters of Corvallis organized a program called “Oregon’s New Land Use Rules: How and Why Your Neighborhood May Be Changing”. A […]

Annual Meeting – Monday 1/13/25

January 6, 2025

Want to hear some good news? Join us on Jan 13th for an overview of our 2024 accomplishments.

Next Quarterly Gathering is October 16th

October 14, 2024

Join us for presentations, networking & snacks

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Corvallis Sustainability Coalition

PO Box 2310
Corvallis, OR 97339

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