"On climate policy, there's one main thing and then there's everything else.... Clean electrification is the entrée; everything else is a side."

David Roberts, climate journalist, July 9, 2021

Electrify LO—How You Can Help Save the Planet

Many of you are alarmed about the climate crisis and trying to figure out what you can do to help slow global warming. You are not alone. In the 2021 Lake Oswego Community Survey, addressing climate change was one of the top concerns of Lake Oswego residents. 

LOSN’s newest project is called Electrify LO—a campaign to promote electrification of homes and vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are the cause of the climate emergency.

The electrification movement is about moving away from fossil fuels as energy sources in our lives and substituting electric vehicles, high-efficiency electric appliances, and electric heat pumps for space and water heating. By 2030, 80% of electricity in Oregon will be free of fossil fuels and by 2040 it will be 100% fossil fuel free. In the future most of our electricity will be from “clean”, renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydropower. Data from the CoolClimate Network, an affiliate of UC, Berkeley, shows that a Lake Oswego household can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 40% by electrifying everything.

Newer high-efficiency appliances use less electricity which allows the clean energy transition to go faster. Electric appliances and vehicles are frequently quieter, safer, have lower maintenance and operational costs, and are fun to use. You can electrify without compromising your quality of life.
 
Through our Electrify LO program we hope to get everyone in Lake Oswego on to electricity as quickly as possible. We will show you step-by-step how to make the transition to clean energy and help you along the way through--

• Information in online forums and videos, in-person events, and written guides.
• Network of local contractors: Find contractors who understand your objectives and will work with you to give you good service.
• Connect with your neighbors: Hear testimonials and advice from community members who have already begun the transition.

Through electrification each of us can make a positive difference and through Electrify LO we can support each other as we go.

EVENT: Forum: Accelerating the Transition to a Clean Energy Economy
When: April 7th, 2022, 6:30-8:00am
For details see EVENTS section below

Heat Your Home and Water with Heat Pumps: Make a Real Dent in Your Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In most houses, heating of space and water are the highest energy users and most homes in our area use fossil gas (natural gas). Up to 90% of fossil gas is methane. Methane is over 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas and at least 25% of today’s warming is driven by methane from human actions.
 
There are great alternatives to fossil gas for heating. Replace your furnace/air conditioner with an electric heat pump. A heat pump works like a refrigerator. In the winter it takes the heat from the outside air and pumps it into your home. In the summer you flip a switch, and it works as an air conditioner by taking heat out of your home and into the outside air. That’s right—one system for both heating and air conditioning. Heat pumps use about one half of the electricity as electric resistance furnaces or baseboard heating and are known for their comfort. Heat pumps for water heating are similarly energy efficient. Both have lower operational costs than fossil gas in most areas of the country.  
 
Fossil fuel furnaces typically need to be replaced every 15-20 years. Fossil gas water heaters typically last 8-12 years. Both become less efficient in the years before they fail. Consider retiring your furnace or water heater early before it breaks down and you need to make a hasty decision. Our partner Electrify Now has developed a list of vetted local vendors and installers that can help you decide what is best for your home, what it will cost and what financial incentives are available.

Induction Cooking: A Great Cooking Experience with Less Climate Pollution

Fossil gas stoves have been prized for their ability to heat rapidly and to control temperature changes more quickly. Unfortunately, methane in fossil gas leaks into your kitchen even when the stove is off. Nationwide this has the same climate impact as about 500,000 gasoline powered cars. In addition, a growing body of evidence shows that cooking with gas produces harmful emissions and pollutants that are bad for health. Fossil gas stoves are associated with development of asthma in children.  
Electric induction stoves also offer rapid heating and control of temperature-but without these pollutants--and are preferred by many professional chefs. They work by using electromagnetic energy to agitate iron in cookware which results in the pan becoming hotter--essentially turning pots and pans into their own heat source. This is different from other electric stoves in which the burner heats up first and then transfers heat to the pan. Induction cooktops use less electricity than traditional electric resistance stoves because they are more efficient—primarily because less heat is lost to the air around the pots and pans.
 
Induction cooktops do have some drawbacks. They are currently more expensive than other types of cooktops, though the costs are likely to come down as they become more common and induction hotplates are available for less than $100. Also, because they work through magnetism, they require pans that have iron in them—some pans only have aluminum.  
 
If you want to discover the benefits of induction cooking, check out an induction hot plate from the Lake Oswego Library of Things.

Electric Vehicles: They’re Here and They are Cool

Automobiles and trucks burning fossil fuel are one of the greatest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. That is why making your next purchase an electric vehicle (EV) is one of the best things you can do to eliminate toxic air pollutants while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. EV options are rapidly expanding. They are fun to drive, less costly to maintain, and have numerous financial incentives that make them more affordable. 

Make it a point to come to this year’s Electric Vehicle Fair on October 1st to see what is available, take test rides and speak with fellow neighbors about their EV experience. Then consider your goal this year is to trade your gas-powered car for an EV.

Electric Landscaping Equipment

Interested in eliminating the noise and air pollution from gas powered yard equipment? There are now electric options for every piece of landscaping equipment available that you or your landscaping service can use. To start your transition, sign up for the PGE Electric Tool Exchange at the Lake Oswego Sustainability Fair scheduled for April 24th (see event info below).

For more information on electrification, the benefits, recommended vendors, costs, discounts and potential financial incentives, visit our table at the Lake Oswego Sustainability Fair on April 24th or go to losn.org/electrify-lo-project.

Testimonial: Kathy Kremer Has Approached Electrification Step by Step

Kathy Kremer was always interested in sustainability, which she routinely incorporated into her work as a residential building designer. In the last five years she has also retrofitted her small (830 square feet--“I like small”) Lake Oswego home mindful of the climate crisis and a slew of available incentives. She still had her original decades-old oil heater. Kathy started her electrification journey by converting to a type of electric heat pump called a “ductless mini-split” that is wall mounted and does not use vents or ducts. She hesitated because she was not fond of the wall mounted look, but finally decided energy efficiency was more important than aesthetics. And the truth is “I began liking its looks when I began to truly appreciate its efficiency and value.” She followed with a heat pump water heater that “paid for itself in two years,” and then an electric vehicle. Her favorite appliance, being an avid cook, is her new induction range “So precise and so freaking fast! Whoever said a watched pot never boils is wrong when it comes to induction.” She understands that her clients may have an “atavistic pleasure in fossil gas”, but induction cooking is not only safer, but “just plain joyful.” 

Overall, Kathy is impressed by how much her energy costs have been reduced. In 2017, as she started her electrification journey, her one-year energy cost, including hot water, heat (oil), gas for the car, and electricity, was $3786. Last year, with all her energy now electrical, her cost for hot water, heat, electricity, and EV car charging was $1607. “Imagine what the savings would be with a larger home.”

LOSN Forum: Accelerating the Transition to a Clean Energy Economy

Speaker:  Brian Stewart, founder of Electrify Now
When:      Thursday, April 7, 2022
Time:        6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where - on Zoom: Registration link

Are you alarmed about the climate crisis and trying to figure out what you can do to help slow global warming? Through our new Electrify LO program we will show you step-by-step how to transition your home to clean, renewable energy. This transition will not only reduce your greenhouse gas emissions but can make your home healthier, save you money, and improve your home’s performance. Your comfort and quality of life will not be compromised.  

Join us for the kickoff of Electrify LO on April 7 when Brian Stewart, founder of Electrify Now presents “Accelerating the Transition to a Clean Energy Economy.” For a sneak preview, check our new project website.

Brian has over 30 years of experience in product design, manufacturing, innovation and sustainability. He began his career as an industrial designer at IDEO and has held various senior leadership roles in footwear and apparel product creation at NIKE Inc. While at Nike, he was the Vice President of Sustainable Innovation where he directed projects and created tools to deliver on corporate sustainability goals. He has spoken at group events and made presentations about the benefits of electrification at Nike, adidas, Google, Grid Forward and numerous other organizations around the U.S.

Forum: Get the latest scoop on healthy soil and how it affects our food

Speaker:  Dr. David R. Montgomery
When:      Thursday, April 14, 2022
Time:        6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Hosts:      LOSN & OLWC
Where - on Zoom: Registration link

The brewing soil health revolution cuts through standard debates about conventional and organic farming. On farms in both the industrialized and developing countries improving soil health through the adoption of three transformational farming practices—ditching the plow or minimizing soil disturbance, planting cover crops, and growing diverse crop rotations—offers a profitable way to rebuild the fertility of the soil and thereby reduce dependence on fossil fuels and agrochemicals. Combining ancient wisdom with modern science, these regenerative practices are good for farmers and the environment, translating into farms that use less water, generate less pollution, lower carbon emissions—and stash carbon underground. It can also produce more nutrient-dense food to better support human health—what’s good for the land is good for us too.

David R. Montgomery is a MacArthur Fellow and professor of geomorphology at the University of Washington. He studies landscape evolution and the effects of geological processes on ecological systems and human societies. An author of award-winning popular-science books, he has been featured in documentary films, network and cable news, and on a wide variety of TV and radio programs. His books have been translated into ten languages.  He lives in Seattle with his wife, and co-author, Anne Biklé.  Their new book What Your Food Ate: How to Health Our Land and Reclaim Our Health will be published spring 2022.  Connect with them at www.dig2grow.com or follow him on Twitter (@dig2grow).

Presented by: 

First Annual Lake Oswego Sustainability Fair

When:  

The City of Lake Oswego’s Sustainability Advisory Board is partnering with the Lake Oswego School District, the Lake Oswego Sustainability Network, and the Oswego Lake Watershed Council to host the first Lake Oswego Sustainability Resource Fair.
 

Save the Date -- Lake Oswego Repair Fair

Mark your calendars for the return of the beloved Lake Oswego Repair Fair on April 30th, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm! More details coming soon!