^Jortlanh (Observer
M a rch 2 8 , 2012
Page 5
Special
Edition
Upgrades for Better Heath, Energy Efficiency
Volunteers work on housing
rehabilitation project
A hands-on home improve
ment project led by the non
profit Portland Community Re
investment Initiatives is making
upgrades to PCRI rental homes
in northeast Portland.
Volunteers from all skill levels
this month worked alongside
C a sc a d ia G reen B u ild in g
Council’s Emerging Profession
als, to implement upgrades to
improve the efficiency, health
and durability of the homes, in
cluding air sealing and winter
ization and water efficiency.
Parr Lumber, a leading build
ing materials retailer, provided
lunches for the volunteers.
“It’s incredible to see the posi
tive changes a few individuals
can make,’’ said David Hamilll,
chief executive officer of Pan-
Lumber.
The Emerging Professionals
and Andrew Morphis of Green
Hammer Construction, tackled
projects to make homes healthier,
more comfortable and more ef
ficient.
Existing carpet was removed
to expose wood floors that were
ready for refinishing. Old kitchen
cabinets were deconstructed to
make way for new, more usable
ones. Windows that were previ
ously painted shut were once again
made operable for fresh-air venti
lation. Insulation was improved
and volunteers slathered mastic
on the heating ducts to ensure
they operated as efficiently as
possible. All of the materials that
volunteers removed were care
fully sorted to enable recycling
continued
on page 10
Local building materials retailer Parr Lumber provides lunches to volunteers who were working on
making upgrades to a home in northeast Portland associated with the non-profit Portland Commu
nity Reinvestment Initiatives.
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Reason No. 5
No pet deposit required.
Economist caution that the housing market is a long way from
fully recovering.
Mixed Signals in
Housing Report
Fewer new homes may lower prices
(AP) -- Sales of U.S. new
homes fell for a third straight
month in February. But prices
surged to their highest level in
eight months, suggesting build
ers anticipate more demand in
the months ahead.
The Commerce Department
says new-home sales fell 1.6
percent last month to a season-
ally adjusted annual rate of
313,000 homes. Sales have fallen
nearly 7 percent since Decem
ber.
The median sales price jumped
more than 8 percent in February
to $233,700. That's the highest
level since June.
continued
on page 10
There are many reasons why owning your own home makes sense.
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GROUND
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