This presentation outlines some of the environmental benefits of smaller homes compared to other green building practices. Policy actions for encouraging small homes are discussed.

1. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Small Homes:
Benefits, Trends And Policies
Jordan Palmeri
Oregon DEQ
palmeri.jordan@deq.state.or.us
503-229-6766

2. Size Matters
2
+38%
-18%
-36%
Source: Oregon DEQ
Lifetime = 70 years

3. Small is effective
Source: Oregon DEQ

4. Energy Trust of Oregon data (preliminary results)

5. House size has increased
Source: City of Milwaukie / URBSWORKS / Paste in Place.com

6. Global House size

7. Households are getting smaller
Source: City of Milwaukie and URBSWORKS
7

8. More 65+ seniors
Source: Oregon AARP and US Census Bureau
8

9. POLICY WORK

10. REACH Code
Size-based
tiers in
residential
energy code
Oregon Building Codes Division
http://www.cbs.state.or.us/bcd/programs/reach.html

11. Earth Advantage
Revised
points
allocation
for small
homes
Revised
material
resource
points http://www.earthadvantage.org/

12. Green Point Rated - California
Accounts for home
size and materials
used in home in
scoring
http://www.builditgreen.org/greenpoint-rated/

13. Certification and Labeling programs
• LEED
• Earth Advantage Size
• Energy Star
directly
• Energy Performance Score
addressed
• NAHB Greenbuilding / ICC 700
• Living Building Challenge
Size not
• Passive House directly
addressed

14. Energy Trust of Oregon
Increased the
incentives for
Accessory Dwelling
Units (ADU)
http://energytrust.org/residential/

15. Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Potential
15

16. Energy Trust Incentive Requirements
Requirements for full “new home” incentives:
• ADU must have its own USPS mailing address separate from main residence
• ADU must receive an Energy Performance Score (full incentive available through EPS)
• ADU must receive its own third party verification
• ADU must be detached from the main residence
• ADU must be intended to be used as a residence
• Detached structure must be permitted as an ADU
• Builder or owner builder must be a trade ally with New Homes program
Photo: Jordan Palmeri

17. System Development Charge (SDC) waivers
$ 7 – 12K savings
Portland: April 15, 2010 and June 30, 2013
Wilsonville: Permanent

18. Portland permit data

19. Space-efficient housing workgroup
• Oregon DEQ • University of Oregon
• Oregon DLCD • AARP Oregon
• Metro • Greenhammer
• City of Portland • Orange Splot, LLC
• City of Eugene • Cascadia Region Green Building Council
• OHBA • Numerous space-efficient housing
advocates
Drawing: cullygrove.org

20. accessorydwellings.org
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21. Past Events
Appraising ADUs – a new method At Metro Building
Bus tour
http://cascadiagbc.org/living-future/12
Pedalpalooza bike tour of
Bike tour
ADUs and Tiny Homes

22. Upcoming Events
October 26th, 2012
Portland

23. Thank You!
23
Jordan Palmeri
– Oregon DEQ
– 503-229-6766
– palmeri.jordan@deq.state.or.us
– http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/sw/wasteprevention/
greenbuilding.htm