Earth Smart Program Discontinued

As some had feared, the beginning of utility deregulation appears to be taking a toll on one of the most progressive utility programs promoting green building. Not long after Portland, Oregon’s municipal utility, Portland General Electric, was purchased by energy services giant Enron, their residential

Earth Smart program was discontinued. At the time of its demise, the program had signed up over 1,000 houses and nearly 400 multifamily units, and it was gaining acceptance in the marketplace, according to architect Mike O’Brien, an environmental building consultant with the program. Portland General Electric had a strong track record of using broader environmental awareness programs to promote energy conservation, but it appears unlikely that this success will be continued under Enron. A companion program, Earth Smart Commercial, is continuing for the time being. For more on electric industry deregulation, see

EBN

Vol. 6, No. 4.