This article was about Portland’s Water House, which is a green home built by the Portland Water Bureau. The bureau spent over $400,000 to build the house, and is designed to showcase some of the features residents can use in their homes. The Water House will also be the first EPA Water-Sense certified home in Oregon.
The problem with the project is that it is increasing costs for Portland residents, who pay the fifth highest utility bill in the country. The large bill is affected in part by the Water House and other similar projects. The article provided a link to the original story, and the article states that the Water Bureau has a history of working on projects that are in some views removed from the bureau’s mission and services, and may not provide benefits for residents. Because they are a public agency, the Water Bureau doesn’t have to prove that its projects are “used and useful” according to its mission, leaving them free to spend money on these controversial projects. Should public agencies be able to spend money on projects that may not be beneficial to the public?
Article: http://www.earthtechling.com/2011/02/portland-water-house-a-green-housing-dream/
Original Story: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/01/as_big_construction_projects_d.html
Of course they shouldn't be able to build projects that aren't beneficial to the general public.
ReplyDeleteFrom reading the article it looks like city officials see this house and other one like it to provide benefit to their users and to the environment. They didn't consider the financial burden it places on other residents.