| Oregon is often referred to as a green state | | | | use it to determine tax savings. |
| because its bountiful rainfall. As Oregon's green | | | | Oregon has other tax credits that are green |
| construction tax benefits reveal, the title is just as | | | | related. The Business Energy Tax credit is one. |
| applicable to its environmental philosophy. | | | | This credit is designed to encourage the reduction |
| It is at the state and local level that green | | | | of energy use and waste, and to encourage the |
| construction has been meeting much success in | | | | use of alternative energy sources. It is also a tax |
| the area of funding and all in tax credits and | | | | credit that shows Oregon's commitment to green |
| reductions. Several states have emerged as | | | | construction ideals. Recently, Oregon introduced a |
| leaders and supporters of the United States | | | | program to allow non profit organizations to |
| Green Building Council and the LEEDs Certification | | | | benefit from this credit even though they were |
| program. Among the leading states is Oregon. | | | | mostly exempt from Oregon taxes anyway. |
| Oregon, which is one of the States that make up | | | | Although Oregon is a leader among the states in |
| the Pacific Northwest region of the country, has a | | | | support of green construction via tax breaks, |
| full range of environmental issues. It borders the | | | | other states have instituted similar credits. New |
| ocean and has an extensive inland system of | | | | Jersey is another state offering credits. The |
| rivers and lakes. It has all of the urban issues with | | | | recognition of green construction and its |
| the City of Portland, and it is a fast growing state | | | | importance by state governments has been a |
| that has seen development encroaching on its | | | | critical factor in the progress of the movement in |
| pristine forest areas. | | | | the United States. |
| Oregon has become one to the leaders of the | | | | It is only with the combined efforts of all |
| green construction movement, and one of its | | | | segments will the problems of our environment |
| heroes, with a Sustainable Building Tax Credit. This | | | | can be solved. Individuals must do their part by |
| credit starts by determining the value of a building | | | | demanding green construction standards of |
| based on its square footage and its LEED | | | | sustainability in their own home choices. Business |
| Certification level. Once this value is determined a | | | | and industry must also contribute. It is the |
| tax break of up to 35 percent is given as a credit. | | | | government sector that holds the real key. |
| The important thing here is the use of the LEED | | | | Without the support of government, and without |
| certification level to determine value. It is a way | | | | laws that can give teeth to environmental |
| of saying that the higher the level, the more | | | | initiatives, little real progress can be made. Oregon |
| valuable the building. There could hardly be a | | | | has become a leader with its tax benefits, and we |
| better way to support the LEED program than to | | | | can only hope other states follow this example. |