Sustainability

Ethos Music Center is a community organization founded on sustainable business and environmental practices.  Ethos’ North Portland headquarters are undergoing modest capital improvements to lessen the organization’s carbon footprint, including the installation of solar panels, an eco-roof energy efficient appliances, double paned windows, passive lighting, on-street bike parking, and ample insulation among many other eco-friendly improvements.  With community support, Ethos has turned two boarded up and abandoned buildings into one of the most eco-friendly music schools in the country.

Ethos and the Environment

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Ethos has recently completed the installation of an 8.39 kW photovoltaic system that generates over 1/3rd of Ethos’ electrical use on-site.  REC Solar, one of the largest solar installers in the nation, completed the installation of Ethos’ system in April 2010.  Phase two will include another 12kW worth of solar panels that will help Ethos generate all of its electrical use on-site.  This project is made possible by a generous grant from the Portland Development Commission, the Kresge Foundation, the Energy Trust of Oregon, and Oregon’s Business Energy Tax Credits.  Thank you for your support!

Please flip through our photo album to see some of Ethos’ environmental projects including our solar panels, water cistern, eco-roof, community gardens, rain gardens, etc.  Click on “Full Screen” on the lower right hand side of the gallery in order to see the pictures full size.

Ethos is in the final planning stages of implementing a new 26,000 rainwater cistern project that Ethos will use for fire protection and to flush all of our toilets on site, thereby saving precious drinking water from going down the drain.  Funding for this massive project has been made possible by the Portland Development Commission and the Kresge Foundation.  If you would like to help, please sign up for our email newsletter (on the right) and answer the call when we ask for volunteers or funding.  Together we can eliminate Ethos’ carbon footprint while continuing to bring music to the masses.

Ethos’ headquarters is located in a building that was boarded up and abandoned when Ethos first moved in.  Ethos purchased the building in 2005 and has been working on it ever since.  Flip through the pages in the gallery below to see some of before and after pictures of our volunteer-driven building rehab.

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