A Century-Old Home Gets Set for a Sustainable Future
Portland couple taps into Energy Friendly Homes Program for environmentally friendly upgrades
Proud homeowners in the Sumner Neighborhood of Northeast Portland, Becca and Evan Burton love their old home and want to make it last far into the future. “Our home is 100 years old,” Becca said, “We want to set it up for success for another 100 years.”
Tapping into the City of Portland’s Energy Friendly Homes Program was an outstanding way to do that. When the project was complete, the couple was delighted to find that they were not only saving energy but also enjoying a more inviting home. “The house is just really a lot more comfortable – the air feels different,” explained Becca.
Launched in early 2026, the Energy Friendly Homes Program aims to invest $140 million in energy upgrades across 3,100 homes over the next five years. The program was created with people like Becca and Evan in mind and blends together a range of goals: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut energy use and utility bills, and improve comfort, health, and homeowner stability.
Making the (Up)grade
The Burtons strive for meaningful improvements in their work and home life and do what they can to be environmentally friendly. They installed solar panels on their roof and have wanted to make more sustainability- and efficiency-minded upgrades to their home. Those included updating old knob-and-tube electrical wiring and adding insulation.
The couple went through the intake process and were pleased to learn they qualified for $30,000 in upgrades and repairs through the program, including a new heat pump and a new exhaust fan in the bathroom for improved air quality in their home. Crews also replaced the old electrical wiring and added insulation. The Energy Friendly Homes contractors were careful to leave the home tidy when the project was complete.
Creature Comforts
The Burtons noticed the difference right away.
“I grew up in an old drafty house, and when we bought this house, we were so accustomed to closing the doors to save electricity,” Becca said. “We don’t need to do that now, and that makes me so happy. It’s just a different, better home.”
Evan enjoys that the old furnace doesn’t kick on every morning and promptly overheat the whole house. And the heat pump will also help keep their home cool in the summer.
“The heat pump just keeps it consistently comfortable,” Evan said.
Although the Burtons noticed only a slight decrease in their energy bill – roughly $30 the first month – Becca said program representatives were clear that energy savings will be different for every project because of many factors, including how energy is used in the home and if a new cooling system is added.
In addition to comfort, the program upgrades protect health and safety in the couple’s home. Becca said the program also offers another very important benefit. “Our footprint on the Earth is going to be a lot better.”
