A building so ugly, neighbors avoided walking past it. A building so dark and run-down the executive director’s manicurist said, “Well, I’d be afraid to go in there.”
When Sherry Burbach became executive director of the Community Energy Project (CEP) in September 2004, she covered her eyes to avoid seeing the cracked and pitted dirty gray stucco facade as she walked inside.
Built as a garage at 422 NE Alberta in 1929, the CEP’s office-warehouse had seen better days.
A large pine tree had grown into and blocked the downspouts, water flowed between the concrete walls and the stucco siding. In places on the back wall, so much mortar and stucco were missing, staff could see outside.
The CEP’s mission statement is to enable people to live healthier lives in more livable homes while controlling utility cost and conserving natural resources, the nonprofit had the incentive and enthusiasm to renew it’s building.
Painting the Building
As with any re-hab project, simply applying paint is not enough.
The staff and volunteer painting crew quickly learned what television’s Brian Santos, “The Wall Wizard,” preaches: “Eighty percent of the success of any painting project is in the preparation, another ten percent comes from skills of the painter, the final ten percent from the materials.”
The pine tree had to be trimmed. The gutters and downspouts needed cleaning. Lead paint chips had to be captured from the pressure washing. Mortar and stucco needed to be repaired. Water stains had to be covered with primer-sealer.
Then the building was ready for a crew of Reynolds High School students to brush and roll on two coats of paint.
Rick Stern, a Reynolds High School educator, who teaches students both business and law learned about the CEP several years ago. Since then, members of his Future Business Leaders of America group participate in an annual community service day with the organization.
Stern says, “I thought volunteering would be a good experience for my students. They help others learn about conservation, and most important, they see the homes of those who are less fortunate. After the kids helped with weatherization they seldom complained about their own homes after that.
“The dozen kids that painted the Comm-unity Energy Project headquarters were very proud of their work,” he adds. “They called it ‘beautifying the place’ since it transformed the appearance dramatically.”
New Color, New Respect
It was only appropriate that a building that had served various purposes — garage, bar, storage warehouse, and office — would use recycled paint.
As Burbach explains, “I was first attracted to MetroPaint because it cost so much less than new paint, and I liked the color possibilities. Later, when I thought about it, yes we were practicing conservation by using paint re-blended from other people’s leftovers.”
Inside, Burbach was more creative, mixing Metro light green and dark blue to create teal; this was used for trim and doors. For the walls, she added a small amount of teal paint to Metro’s white to create a look that is clean and refreshing.
Exterior khaki walls with dark brown trim complement the neighborhood, and send a message to would-be vandals: Hands off, this building is well-cared for now.
CEP Empowers Volunteers
The CEP educates more than 1,800 Portland residents each year on weatherization, water conservation and lead poisoning prevention. All classes and materials are provided to participants at no cost. Free classes are also available to businesses, schools or community groups.
Jill Kolek, Outreach and Education manager for Portland’s Office of Sustainable Development says, “CEP has been a valued partner with Portland’s Fix-It-Fairs for eighteen years. They are committed to teaching the community how to save energy and live a more productive life with increased job and team skills. Each person they teach can teach a friend or family member.”
In the end the CEP is about harnessing the energy of the community to conserve and protect resources and people in the community.
The CEP is a 501c3 nonprofit whose primary funding comes from government contracts, grants from foundations and trusts, and private donations from local businesses and individuals.
For volunteer opportunities and a schedule of free classes or to learn more about its programs logon to www.communityenergyproject.org. Or call 503-284-6827. For Metro Recycled Paint, call 503-234-3000, color brochures are available, or logon to www.metro-region.org/paint.
Paulette Rossi is a Certified Master Recycler and freelance writer living in Portland, OR.
