The 27th annual Clark Public Utilities Home & Garden Idea Fair at the Clark County Fairgrounds April 27-29 is an annual tradition for tens of thousands who flock to the free event to get home improvement ideas, browse landscape displays, buy plants from the largest plant sale in the area and hear local experts give tips on the latest trends for homes, inside and out.
This year, in addition to providing limitless inspiration for projects from replacing roofs to adding raised beds, the Home & Garden Idea Fair will feature examples of two trends: plug-in electric vehicles and accessory dwelling units, or ADUs.
Throughout the weekend, electric car enthusiasts will have an opportunity to get up close with new models of EVs and take a test drive. Go Forth Electric will bring several Chevrolet Bolt EVs for fair attendees to explore and even take for a drive. An e-car advocacy non-profit, Go Forth Electric was founded in 2011 as Drive Oregon. Now it organizes events and test drives across the region to showcase the technology, economy, and fun of modern electronic cars.
The Bolt EV, made by Chevrolet, is a five-door, all-electric car for less than $40,000. It comes with a 60-kilowatt hour lithium-ion battery giving the car an estimated 238-mile range, about the same range as a similarly sized gas-powered automobile on a full tank. With its 120-volt charging cable for use at home, homeowners can charge a Bolt overnight.
“Customers can charge an electric car for about $20 a month at the utility’s current rate,” said Matt Babbitts, residential program manager at Clark Public Utilities and the lead for utility efforts to support electric vehicle adoption. “For many, that’s a significant savings over a gas-powered vehicle.”
When you travel longer ranges, Chevrolet has an app that will help you find charging stations along the way. Chevrolet also offers an add-on option to charge the Bolt in minutes instead of hours. Several fast EV chargers are scattered around Clark County in business parking lots including some Fred Meyer and Walmart stores, and the utility’s downtown location has a Blink Level 3 rapid charger in the south parking lot.
The Nissan Leaf EV will charge in about six hours on a level one residential charger, which makes it compatible for overnight charging at home. Level two chargers are available across the county and Portland Metro for quicker charging while out and about.
In addition to the electric vehicle ride and drive, the Home & Garden Idea Fair will feature tours of a 300 square foot, fixed foundation ADU built by WOLF Industries. On the heels of a hot tiny house trend the last few years, new policies in areas of Clark County are now allowing for more convenient construction of Accessory Dwelling Units such a mother-in-law apartments, garage conversions or free-standing small homes like the one you’ll find on display in the landscape area at the idea fair.
Trends toward small or shared living is an extension of ongoing interest in aging in place and adapting homes to multi-generational living.
On April 28 at 12:30 p.m., join local expert on accessible living for seniors Aaron Marvin of ACT Builders in the speaker’s area at the Clark County Event Center for his session on creating your forever home.
To learn more about the free Home & Garden Idea Fair, visit the Clark Public Utilities website or homeandgardenideafair.com. Fairgrounds parking is $6 and visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for the Clark County food bank.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
