Earth Day 2025: "Our Power, Our Planet"

April 22 is Earth Day, a day of awareness and mobilization for environmental protection. This year’s global Earth Day theme is “Our Power, Our Planet”, highlighting the importance of transitioning to clean, renewable energy to improve public health, create jobs and drive economic growth, and reduce climate pollution. Learn more at EarthDay.org: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2025/.

Interested in switching to cleaner sources of energy for your home? Look for opportunities to switch from appliances that run on fossil fuels to versions that use electricity, such as by driving an electric vehicle, using an induction stove (check out an electric cooktop from the Library of Things to try it out), or installing an electric heat pump for AC and heating. Investor-owned utilities in Oregon, including PGE, are required to provide 100% clean electricity to customers by 2040, so switching from fossil fuels to electricity means the energy we are using is coming from cleaner sources. You can also consider whether rooftop solar might be a good option for your home, or subscribe to community solar and receive credits on your monthly utility bill. Learn about resources to save money on clean energy home upgrades: https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/sustainability/save-clean-energy-home-upgrades. 

Did you know? The City purchases 100% renewable energy from PGE for electricity in all of our facilities. We also generate a portion of our own energy though rooftop solar on City Hall, the Maintenance Center, and the Water Treatment Plant. By participating in PGE’s Green Future Impact and Green Future Enterprise Programs, we are matching our energy use with 100% solar and wind power. PGE reports that the renewable energy the City of Lake Oswego and more than 225,000 other PGE Green Future customers supported last year prevented over 3.7 billion pounds of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere. In recognition of our community's use of clean energy, Lake Oswego has been an EPA Green Power Community and the City as an organization has been a Green Power Partner since 2015. 

Using energy efficiently also supports the clean energy transition and can help you save money on utility costs. Energy Trust of Oregon is a nonprofit organization that provides energy efficiency information and resources for homeowners, renters, and businesses. Check out their low- and no-cost energy efficiency DIY Tips & Resources, cash incentives for energy-efficient home upgrades, and rooftop solar resources.

Earth Day is a great opportunity to think about what you can do to help protect the environment and contribute to a healthy, sustainable future for all. On Earth Day and every day, the City of Lake Oswego is commmitted to sustainability in our operations, providing services to residents in a fiscally prudent, socially responsible, and environmentally sound way to meet current needs without compromising the needs of future generations. To learn more about how we are doing so, see our Sustainability and Climate Action Plan.