Seven steps to sustainability
Lifestyle lessons from a green-living champion
“I’m always thinking: What else can we do to be more sustainable?” says Bill Tyson, a senior who lives on Bull Mountain in Tigard. “I want to be the greenest person in the world.”
Although he laughs as he makes this declaration, Bill is serious about his commitment to the earth. Serious enough that when he and his wife Charleen retired to Oregon to be closer to family, they sought out a house with a large south-facing roof that would be ideal for solar panels.
The Tysons recently increased the size of their solar electric system so they would have enough additional solar energy to charge their electric vehicle.
“What could be better than having an electric car and charging it with your own solar power?”
Bill has also invested in big home energy improvements, tends a large vegetable garden and makes recycling and reusing a habit. His motivation? “I’d like to do all I can to help save the environment and be an example for how people can be better stewards of our earth,” he says.
He believes the time for action is now — on a large scale. “We need the kind of commitment Americans had in World War II. Everything changed to beat the Nazis,” he says. “We need that now to save the earth.”
Feel inspired? Here are seven steps you can take to make a big impact for the earth:
1. Harness the sun
Bill Tyson is proof that solar can work for Oregonians. He originally purchased a 5-kilowatt solar electrical system for his home. Cash incentives from Energy Trust of Oregon and tax credits helped make the system more affordable. It’s connected with PGE through our Net Metering program, which allows him to offset the cost of the electricity he uses from PGE with the energy his panels generate.
Recently, he added more panels, bringing the system up to 7 kW, so he would have enough additional solar power to charge his electric car. But this time he opted for a third-party lease, where a solar company installed owns and operates that portion of his electric system.
Bill’s seen a big drop in the price of solar panels. “More people should be putting them in,” he says.
Learn more about going solar.
2. Drive greener
The Tysons have two green cars in their garage: the all-electric Nissan LEAF and a Nissan Altima hybrid. They purchased the hybrid first, but Bill wasn’t satisfied. “I was still buying gas,” he says, “and the car was still polluting.”
Since adding the all-electric vehicle in 2011, it has become their go-to choice for trips around town. “The most we usually drive is about 40 miles roundtrip, and the LEAF works fine.”
While electric vehicles typically cost more up front, they can save money over the long haul because they’re less costly to operate than gasoline-powered cars. In fact, with gasoline at $4.00 per gallon, the EV can save 80 percent per mile driven on fuel costs. See our comparison chart (PDF).
Get the scoop on electric vehicles and how PGE can help you get plug-in ready.
3. Make your home more energy efficient
Saving energy is one of the greenest things you can do. The Tysons’ house was built in the 1970s, so they figured it would need some energy-efficiency upgrades. To get started, they called for a free Home Energy Review from Energy Trust, which helped them identify the needs and priorities.
Of the many improvements they’ve made, Bill figures adding attic insulation and caulking to seal air leaks generated the biggest energy savings for the lowest cost.
The heating ducts were also sealed and insulated after testing revealed they were in sad shape.
“Contractors tried to do a blower-door test and it completely failed. They couldn’t even do it because the ductwork was so leaky,” Bill says.
They also installed energy-efficient windows, and replaced an aging heating system with a new high-efficiency one. A programmable thermostat helps maximize energy savings.
In addition, the Tysons chose energy-efficient appliances and installed energy-saving compact fluorescent and LED light bulbs throughout the house.
Most of the upgrades qualified for Energy Trust cash incentives.
4. Support renewable power
Even with their solar array, the Tysons still use some electricity from PGE, and Bill made sure it’s green power. They’re enrolled in PGE’s Green Source renewable power option, which means 100 percent of their electricity use is offset with renewable energy.
Visit our Green Power Oregon website to explore the different PGE renewable power options available to you. Use our green power calculator to figure monthly costs.
5. Take care of bills online
Like the Tysons, you can sign up for PGE’S convenient Paperless Bill and Auto Pay options to reduce paper waste. These options are sustainable, simple and secure.
6. Eat local
The Tysons shop at local farmers markets to supplement their homegrown fruits and vegetables. They use compost bins to turn yard debris and kitchen waste into rich fertilizer.
Are you inspired to dig in to gardening this year? Metro offers extensive information on natural gardening, including how-to videos and a composting guide. They also offer compost bins for purchase.
If you don’t have the space or the inclination for gardening, check the Oregon Farmer’s Market directory to find a market close to your home.
7. Reuse and recycle
To conserve the earth’s resources, Bill believes in recycling and reusing, like the beautiful wall shelving he found on Craigslist. His dining room floor was oak reclaimed from an old home in Lake Oswego. It’s refinished to look new.
The Habitat ReStore locations and The Rebuilding Center are two great places to find materials for reuse in your home.
Bill was recently certified as a Master Recycler. Now he can teach recycling and composting classes to schools and community groups, making good on his goal of helping others to become better stewards of the earth. Visit the Master Recycler website for information on the eight-week course to become a Master Recycler.
Looking for more sustainable ideas?
See photos and summaries of our other green champions. Also, read our story about five ways PGE can help you be green.