Portland Built » Featured

Welcome to Portland Built!

Shawn — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:28:57 +0000

Portland Built is a site dedicated to the great things being built in and around Portland, Oregon. We’re writing about smart development, sustainability, design, architecture, and the outstanding businesses and artisans of the region.

Portland Built is divided into three main focus areas: Products, Design+Build, and Partners. Here’s how it works…

We select businesses and individuals that provide outstanding products or services in the Portland metro region. We create profiles and comprehensive articles highlighting the business’ offerings.
Portland Built uses case studies to show how innovative products can be used in real-world applications. Think “This Old House” meets Consumer Reports (or Yelp, Angie’s List, etc.) Whenever possible, we like to showcase products/services in action.
Business/Individual profiles are developed free of charge: Portland Built is a non-commercial venture designed to show the best-of-the-best.
Certain select businesses are chosen as Portland Built Partners. Partners are highlighted throughout the site and provide Portland Built with additional resources for in-depth reviews. Our writers and editors have an ongoing relationship with our Partners, and provide our audience with regular updates on the Partner’s service offerings.

Learn more about Portland Built on our About Page

Serious Windows Comes to Portland

Shawn — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:13:39 +0000

Serious Windows have been around for some time now, but only recently have they been readily available in the Portland market. Medallion Industries (a site partner) is the distributor of Serious’ triple-pane windows, providing a much-needed solution for architects, designers, and green-motivated homeowners.

Unlike most windows (which have an R-value between 2 and 3.5) Serious Windows are rated between R4-R11…in some cases, 4x better than Energy Star requirements! Here’s a chart showing the performance advantage of Serious Windows.

Considering that the minimum R-value for an insulated 2×6 wall is around R-21 (minimum in Portland), you can see why windows are such an issue for energy efficiency. If you build a home full of basic, double-pane windows (R2), you’re essentially working with a bunch of “energy holes” in your otherwise efficient building. While no window will come close to the R-value of an insulated wall, Serious’ Windows make a massive difference in your home’s efficiency.

In the coming weeks we’ll be talking more about the Serious Window line and how the technology is revolutionizing the building industry. In the meantime, check out the Serious site or visit Medallion’s Serious Windows page for more information.

(Photos and graphic credit: Serious Windows Website)

WingScapes: Portland Built’s Newest Partner!

Shawn — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:35:55 +0000

I first discovered the world of time-lapse cameras while doing some research for one of my Kinesis clients. I wanted a solution that would allow them to easily produce short videos for their website. It struck me that time-lapse was perhaps the best way to show the comprehensive, detail-focused nature of their business.

Fast forward to several weeks later and I am now perhaps the foremost expert on time-lapse options. There’s intervalometers, game cameras, custom solar-powered camera housings, specialized construction cams…the list goes on. You can spend anywhere from $50-$2000, depending on your needs (big thanks to Mike D over at A House by the Park – he’s got a great post on his time-lapse solution).

In the end, I discovered what I hope to be an ingenious solution: a small camera designed to take time-lapse photos of growing plants. Built around WingScape’s original “Bird Cam,” The Plant Cam eliminates the motion-sensing, but adds built-in video creation (in other words, the camera automatically combines the image sequence into one complete video – very cool!).

Here’s a brief video about the product.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I’ll do a follow-up post once I have the product in hand. Thanks WingScapes!

Fuez: Portland’s Green Countertop Option

Shawn — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:03:36 +0000

I’ve followed the evolution of the Fuez line of countertops for some time. Last spring I visited the facility and showroom to see how this great product is made. Aside from the fact that it’s positively beautiful, Fuez offers some great advantages over other materials.

First, if you’re in the pacific northwest, it’s a relatively local product. By producing the slabs in Portland, Fuez minimizes your carbon footprint. Recycled glass and fly-ash concrete contribute to the products green qualities. And, unlike most granite, this product won’t contribute to strip mining. Oh, and did I mention you can have just about any combination of glass size, color, and shape? All around, this is an outstanding product.

If you want to see samples, it’s available at several outlets. In the Portland metro, you can visit the Fuez showroom in North Portland. If you live in SE Portland, Fuez is available at a number of showrooms including Ecohaus.