Oregon Public Broadcasting

Top leaders at Portland State University introduced the notion of building "an eco-district" to the campus community. Rob Manning has more.

Eco-districts are called for in Portland's recently approved climate action plan, but what they mean isn't entirely clear yet.

The PSU district would model hyper-efficient buildings, and other innovations in hopes of demonstrating how a city can make deep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions.

Ideally, faculty research would improve it, and students would work on it and learn from it. But even district's borders are up for discussion.

PSU President Wim Wievel supported the idea, but he acknowledged its limitations.

Wim Wievel: "The notion of an eco-district at some level is a bit of an oxymoron. Because if there's anything we know about ecology and sustainability, it's that it's about systems' thinking."

Eco-district planners are already discussing a similar idea area around the Lloyd Center.

Three more are possible – in the Lents, Gateway, and South Waterfront areas.