91视频

Gas stations may not be known for sustainability, but that could change in the near future if two businesses in Oregon continue to pump up their efforts.

Bob and Katy Barman, who recently opened what is being billed as the nation’s first green Chevron station, have never met the founders of . But they’re all linked by a common cause 鈥� taking the lead in setting what could become the standard for sustainability in gas stations.

The Barmans’ station at the corner of Allen and Murray boulevards in Beaverton features an eco-roof, a geothermal system, a solar array, and a free electric-vehicle charging station. The owners bill the new station as the first of its kind for a major oil company franchise, and the green systems may point to a shift in the industry standard.

A capital investment of approximately $2 million was supplied by the Barmans, who hope their effort will encourage other owners of gas stations and properties to limit their environmental impacts.

Bob Barman, who previously worked as a sales representative for Union Oil Co. of California and whose father worked for Texaco, said he was inspired by his 10-year tenure on the board of the Lake Oswego Corp. The organization manages lakefront property on Oswego Lake, and it was during those meetings that Barman for the first time learned about the environmental dangers associated with impervious pavement and storm-water runoff.

鈥淥nce I learned about it, I had to do something 鈥� that’s just in my DNA. And it’s not just the oil industry that’s a step behind,鈥� said Barman, who owns three gas stations in Oregon. 鈥淲hy aren’t chains of grocery stores putting grass roofs on every building?鈥�

Meanwhile, Oregon’s leading biofuel company is already several steps ahead when it comes to fuel station innovations. It’s planning to continue pushing existing practices at its second station in Eugene.

As a collector, a producer and a retailer, Salem-based SeQuential has been able to push the envelope on every level of the supply chain. The company in September 2006 opened the country’s first all-biofuel and biofuel-blend fueling station in Eugene. In addition to featuring a solar canopy, a living roof and bio-swales, it pumps fuel derived almost entirely from used cooking oil and ethanol waste streams.

CEO and founder Ian Hill would welcome more competition.

鈥淔rom a large perspective, we would love to see the whole industry shift,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e’re not threatened, but are really excited to see baby steps happen and hope it’s a precursor for more of the industry to move toward sustainable offerings and sustainable design.鈥�

SeQuential has worked with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to incorporate gray-water recycling into its on-site irrigation system. The plan to reuse the station’s sink water is on the edge of being permitted, according to Hill. The DEQ recently passed a program dealing with use of gray water.

The new fueling station is not under construction yet, but Hill hopes it will open in the first quarter of 2012.

鈥淲henever you’re trying to do something different, there’s an education curve for everybody,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e’re trying to do something different, and that will always take a bit of work.鈥�

Barman also faced challenges in pushing for features that were new to the city of Beaverton. Planning the 鈥済reen鈥� rebuild took almost two years in part because the city’s building code did not have rules for the living roof.

鈥淲e looked at the code, and our staff worked with Bob to make this possible,鈥� Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle said. 鈥淚t’s just a fascinating business decision he and his wife made, and when we have a citizen who wants to do something and is willing to spend a lot of money to make it happen, we are glad when we’re able to help.鈥�

But the Chevron station won’t include the highest available blends of biodiesel. When Barman looked into the possibility, he said, industry professionals cautioned that the market wasn’t ready for a blend higher than 10 percent biodiesel.

鈥淲e’re offering one pump with B10, and we have the piping and ability to take up to B99. We can switch it over tonight, and we’ll ratchet up the percentage as the market allows,鈥� Barman said.

Barman expects to accumulate $2,000 in monthly energy savings, and intercept 43,000 gallons of rainwater annually. He hopes it will send a message to other corporate managers who may otherwise remain unaware of their opportunities.

鈥淚f you went into many corporate board rooms of many companies, they wouldn’t know of these procedures or practices,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 didn’t.鈥�