From the mail I've seen lately, two bad habits that annoy responsible residents are (1) idling by vehicles of all kinds: trucks, buses, and private autos, and (2) doors of air-conditioned stores and restaurants propped open on the hottest, most humid days of the year. I will address vehicle idling in a future entry, but 
let's think about open doors of commercial establishments for a bit.
In the summer, some retailers think propping their doors open is a way to pull in foot traffic from the sidewalk. But in Canada, a new program called the Doors Closed Campaign has popped up to encourage retailers and restaurants to welcome customers with a poster that says "Please Come In - Our Door is Closed to Save Energy." This campaign has the blessing and assistance of the Retail Council of Canada. How cool is that?
How much common sense might it take for Arlington retailers and restaurants to save energy in a similar manner - especially considering how much longer our summer cooling season is? How much sales revenue is needed to cover the additional energy costs from keeping the door open? How many customers are turned off by the practice?
As we head into summer, I encourage potential customers to make your views on this known to retailers and restauranteurs.
John Morrill
Energy Manager, Arlington County
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