How You Can Help | City of Bend

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Community Guide to Reducing Emissions

Energy

Improve Energy Efficiency at Home

Choose a smaller home with efficient features that require less energy to heat and cool.
Buy energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, water heaters, and appliances to save both money and energy.
Consider an all-electric heat pump when replacing your heating or cooling system for improved efficiency.
Upgrade to an ultra-efficient insulated electric water heater when replacing your hot water system.
Purchase Energy Star-rated electronics and appliances to maximize efficiency and savings:
Energy Star Products

Reduce Energy Costs with Incentives and Programs

If Central Electric Cooperative is your utility provider, explore their residential energy efficiency incentives:
CEC Residential Programs
If you are a Pacific Power or Cascade Natural Gas customer, check out Energy Trust of Oregon's incentives, financing options, and efficiency programs:
Energy Trust of Oregon
Renters can also benefit from energy efficiency programs - learn about ways to reduce energy use in apartments and rental homes:
 Energy Trust of Oregon for Renters

Support Renewable Energy

If you live in Pacific Power territory, enroll in the Blue Sky Program to purchase renewable energy credits and offset your electricity use:
 Blue Sky Program
Subscribe to a community solar project for potential savings on your electricity bill. If your electric utility is Central Electric Cooperative, learn about their renewable energy programs and incentives.
Explore solar energy options for your home or business:
Solar Energy - Energy Trust of Oregon

Additional Energy-Saving Tips

Transportation

Walk, bike, ride transit or carpool instead of driving alone

Learn about different transportation options with Commute Options:
Commute Options
Plan your trip with Cascades East Transit and check out the TransitApp:
Cascades East Transit | Central Oregon's Public Transit Provider
Download the Veo app to take advantage of the City's bike share program:
Bike Share | City of Bend
Share the ride with Get There Oregon:
Get There Oregon – Find and share a ride!
Visit Bend Bikes Road Maps to see various paths and biking streets in the City of Bend:
Bend, Oregon City Bike Map - Bend Bikes
Offset your travel by purchasing air travel offsets from Cool Effect:
Buy Carbon Offsets | Cool Effect

Consider buying an electric vehicle

Materials and Waste Management

Reduce and Prevent Waste

Plan before you buy: Purchase only what you need and choose high-quality, long-lasting products.
Ways to reduce waste from the EPA
Reduce food waste: Use an “Eat First” basket in your fridge, plan meals, store food properly, and compost scraps.
Home Food Preservation Tips
Opt for reusable products: Use refillable water bottles, coffee cups, cloth napkins, and shopping bags.
Borrow, rent, or share: Use local libraries, tool lending programs, and community swaps to reduce new purchases.
Deschutes Public Library of Things Program

Rethink Waste’s Reusable Dishware Program

Repair, Reuse, and Donate

Fix items instead of tossing them: Take advantage of free Repair Cafés or learn DIY repair skills. Check if your clothing brands offer repair or resale options.
Rethink Waste’s Repair Cafes
Shop secondhand: Support thrift stores, online resale markets, and community exchange programs.
Donate or swap items: Give away clothing, furniture, and household goods to local nonprofits or swap groups.

Recycle and Compost Properly

Compost organic waste: Use Bend’s curbside compost program for food scraps and yard waste.
Know what to recycle: Follow local recycling guidelines to keep contamination out of the system.
Cascade Disposal Recycling Guide

Republic Services Deschutes Recycling Information
Use RecyclePlus for hard-to-recycle items: Properly dispose of items like batteries, Styrofoam, and electronics.
Cascade Disposal RecyclePlus

Republic Services RecyclePlus
Dispose of hazardous waste safely: Take materials like paint, motor oil, and chemicals to designated drop-off locations.

Attend an Environment and Climate Committee Meeting

More Information on the Environment and Climate Committee

Follow Our Social Channels

Follow the City of Bend on Instagram and Facebook to receive monthly Climate and Environment program updates.

Got an idea?

Check out The Environmental Center’s Community Innovation Fund, a grant that supports programs aimed at reducing waste in our neighborhoods, workplace, schools, restaurants, and other community spaces. The program awards grants to individuals, businesses, non-profit and community organizations to support waste reduction, reuse, repair, and sharing projects throughout Deschutes County.

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