Search the site

Nature-friendly home improvement

Sustainable living  ›  Healthy home  ›  Repair, remodel and maintain safely  ›  Nature-friendly home improvement

With a little planning and inspiration, you can create a home that balances beauty and comfort with sustainable resource use and environmental health. Get ideas, practices and resources.

Make a difference in your neighborhood

There are many nature-friendly practices you can use or build at home. Homes using these "green" practices are not only good for your health, they are also good for the fish, wildlife, water quality and natural areas of our region.

Want lower utility bills? Reduced maintenance? A healthy, clean planet? With a little planning and inspiration, you can create a home and lifestyle that balances beauty and comfort with sustainable resource use and environmental health.

Why every backyard matters

Over half of the land in the Portland metropolitan area is privately owned. So when it comes to improving and protecting the nature and character of the place we call home, the practices used in every household and backyard matter. And that means every person really can make a difference!

Discover nature-friendly practices

Preserve and plant trees

Every tree matters. Plant, protect and care for trees on your property and in your neighborhood for healthier air, cleaner water and cooler homes. More

Rain gardens

Some gardens are planted for a specific purpose, like growing good things to eat or flowers to pick. A rain garden's purpose is to catch rain water with its plants and soil. More

Pervious surfaces

Drain the rain. Pervious surfaces, like pervious pavement or pavers, allow rainwater to pass through them and soak into the ground instead of flowing into storm drains. Result: healthier urban waterways. More

Native plants for yards and gardens

Find out how native plants are good for people, pets, the planet and your pocketbook. More

Learn more

Nature-friendly resources

Want to learn more? Explore these great nature-friendly resources to get you started:

• Habitat begins at home
  Oregon Zoo conservation program
  Learn how to invite animals into your backyard or share your space with them by creating your own home habitat! Help animals and build a place you and your family will enjoy for years to come.
• Green building hotline
  Metro, City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development, Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah counties
  Information about green building strategies, materials and financial incentives
• G-Rated program: Residential Green Building
  City of Portland, Office of Sustainable Development
  Extensive information about building practices and strategies, local resources, emerging technologies, financial incentives and more
• Clean water starts at home
  Clean Water Services
  Tips, resources, ideas and information in English and Spanish on ways you can protect water quality at home
• Bureau of Environmental Services fact sheets
  City of Portland
  Information, ideas and pictures of nature-friendly practices
• Green Home Guides
  City of Seattle
  Healthy homes for a healthy environment: beautiful, visual guides for landscaping, roofing, salvage and reuse, and other green building and remodeling options
• Green Building Tools
  City of Seattle
  Popular topics, extensive tool kit and quick links to other resources

Related Documents

• Factsheet: Make the place you call home nature-friendly 335K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published December 27, 2007
• Factsheet: Gardening naturally makes your home more nature-friendly 390K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published December 27, 2007
• Nature-friendly design solutions: Residental applications 1.1M Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published March 12, 2008

Related Links

Natural gardening

You can grow a garden that's not only beautiful and abundant, but also safe for children, pets, forests and streams. Find out how with tips from Metro's experts, workshops, learning gardens, guides and more.