Before temperatures soared in Portland, Catholic Charities of Oregon hosted workshops at some of its housing sites to help residents discover low-cost ways to stay cool.
The sessions included tips on using a fan to bring in cool night air and flush out hot air, plus reminders that lightbulbs, computers and other appliances create heat inside.
“The climate is getting hotter by the day. We are building these buildings for residents, but then it’s important for us to make sure that they know how to use them,” said Pooja Dalal, director of community development for Catholic Charities
“Most important is that they are thriving. That’s the goal for us — to make sure that the people who live in our buildings are thriving in their lives.”
Each participant in the workshops got a free box fan and weatherization gear.
Sara Wallach, strategic energy management coordinator for Community Energy Project, discusses how to use a fan to bring in cool night air and flush out hot air.
“We hope that the residents learn how to stay cool and stay healthy in their homes this summer, using energy efficient methods to do that and save on their energy bills as well,” said Lana Stern, energy coach with Energy Trust of Oregon. “It keeps getting warmer every summer due to climate change. And not everyone has air conditioning in their homes and not everyone could even afford to run it if they needed to.”
Sara Wallach, strategic energy management coordinator for Community Energy Project, led the workshops. She explained everything from pulling in night air to strapping an ice pack to your cat.
“A lot of folks have found themselves experiencing a lot more heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can be very deadly, especially in our older communities here in Portland,” Wallach said.
Dalal explained that Catholic Charities is constantly holding workshops for residents to enhance their lives and augment the agency’s case management and other services.
“We make sure the residents are okay,” Dalal said.