Fresh AIRE

Solar “Barn Raising", First of Many

Congratulations on a job well done to ACE Board Member Dan Conant for a successful launch of the pilot Solar Raisers program this past weekend. This achievement has been anticipated by several localbloggers and the installation was also covered in TBD.com,Sun Gazette, and ArlNow.com.  We would be remiss if we didn’t highlight this housing success too.

Solar hot water heating is one of several technologies that have a relatively fast payback for single-family homeowners. When volunteers help to coordinate, schlep, and install the system the price for installation drops to about $2,300 after tax rebates.

County Board Chairman Jay Fisette was one of the willing voluteers that helped to install a solar hot water system as part of this pilot.  Many more volunteers and homeowners have expressed interest.  The County congratulates ACE and we look forward to watching many more solar systems go up throughout Arlington.

If you are interested in volunteering or having a solar system installed.  Please contact ACE board member Dan Conant at (571) 243-0745 or e-mail conantd@gmail.com

 

Got Drugs?

 

DEA Heads First-Ever Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Saturday, September 25, 2010  |  10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Federal officials are  taking a new step to reduce the spread of pharmaceuticals such as pain killers and depression medicine on our environment that cause inter-sex fish in the Potomac River to frog mutations in Wisconsin.  These drugs have turned up in our drinking water and the cumulative effect of these drugs in our waterways isn’t known on humans, but they have already been linked to behavioral and sexual mutations in fish, amphibians and birds, according to EPA studies.

Kudos to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for taking preventative measures to address this issue.

A few general tips on pharmaceutical drug disposal:

·     DO NOT flush old prescription drugs, this goes right back to our waterways and our water pollution control plant can’t remove the drugs.

·     DO wrap them up and place them in your trash bin if you can’t make it to the take-back day drop spots.  Arlington’s trash is taken to the waste to energy facility in Alexandria where it is incinerated to create electricity, rather than the Potomac to create hermaphroditic fish.

As for the take-back event, the DEA and government, community, public health, and law enforcement partners are holding a nationwide prescription drug "take-back" day. On September 25, 2010, collection sites around the country will take any expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for safe, legal, and environmentally friendly disposal.

More information on how to take action on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day:

• Visit the DEA Web site: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/takeback/
• View Collection Sites in Your Local Community
• Fire Station #9 – 1900 S. Walter Reed Drive, Arlington VA 22204
• Fire Station #8 – 4845 Lee Highway, Arlington VA 22207
• Fire Station #1 – 500 S. Glebe, Arlington VA 22207
• DEA                  - 600-700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington VA 22202

 

Climate Change in the U.S.

Looking for a quick primer on climate change in the U.S.?  The U.S. Department of the Interior is hosting "Climate Change 101" on Wednesday, April 7, from 1-2pm, at the Sidney Yates Auditorium in the Main Interior Building. 

"The U.S. Department of the Interior is adapting to abrupt changes in the environment of the United States and anticipating impacts on ecosystems, infrastructure, and natural resource management.  Dr. Thomas Armstrong, DOI Senior Advisor for Climate Change, will discuss the past, present, and future of climate change while focusing on the distinction between natural and human-induced change."

 

Thinking + Drinking + Sustainability = GREEN DRINKS

If you haven't heard of Green Drinks before, it is an informal networking event for people of all kinds with a personal and/or professional interest in local sustainability. The drinks aren't green but the people are! 

It's a low-key, accessible way to:

• find out what positive things are happening in Arlington
• share what you know and do
• learn what you can do to green your own lifestyle at work, home, or play
• connect with like-minded people
• or even find a job/an employee  

The spirit of Green Drinks is that anyone can come, and this makes for interesting interactions. 

Green Drinks is NOT directly associated with the Green Party or any other political, corporate or government groups in any way (although they are more than welcome to come…and we will).

There are lots of benefits to green drinks; they are hard to quantify, but when you have seen people come and make new links and learn and argue and set up new schemes and get new jobs etc, it is a good feeling.  

Don't miss the first meeting for our local chapter of Green Drinks!  Visit their Facebook page, become a Fan, and mark your calendars for the inaugural meeting! 

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=298277643025 

DC Environmental Film Fest Starts Next Week!

Don't miss out on this incredible event!  This is the 18th year of the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital, and the biggest.  155 films will be shown in various locations around DC this month, starting on Tuesday, March 9th.  The 2010 Festival explores the vital connections between food and the environment (an area of focus for Arlington too!).  What we eat is essential to our health and wellbeing; how food is produced and transported to our tables affects the condition of our planet. There are films for everyone, adults, kids, and families.  Search the film schedule online. 

International Day of Climate Action - How It Went

Saturday was the International Day of Climate Action organized by 350.org. Check out their website for the photos, which are inspiring. I personally participated in three different events. The site claims over 5200 events in 181 countries, which is enormously impressive, but might be padded slightly based on my own experience.

The first event took place in the Twittersphere. Between noon and 1:00 PM EDT, everyone with a twitter account was to twitter to Barack Obama this message: "@barackobama USA MUST formally adopt the 350ppm CO2 target at Copenhagen 09 – the ONLY WAY to prevent runaway climate change NO EXCUSES!"

For those not familiar with Twitter, the "@" sign is used to direct a message to a particular twitterer, but all your followers can see it, too. The idea was that the White House would receive literally thousands of tweets with this message in it. Unfortunately, by my count, fewer than 200 people actually did it (including me; you can follow me on twitter at twitter.com/steveoffutt).

Second was an event at Bourbon Coffee at 21st and L. I wanted to join the big rally at the White House at about 4:00, which I was biking to, so I passed literally right past the coffee shop. This event was described on the site thus:
Come to Bourbon Coffee on at 21st & L Streets NW at 3:50 pm! Join other like-minded 350.org supporters in grabbing an afternoon coffee drink.
I used this as an excuse to get a cup of coffee to take with me to the rally. The girl behind the counter when I got there (at 4:03) had no idea what I was talking about. Good thing I stopped in, so at least that event had one participant.

Finally I got to the rally at the White House. This event had started in Malcolm X Park at noon with entertainment, speeches and other activities. The crowd then marched down 16th St. to Lafayette Park, which is where I met up with them. They got soaked on the march, because it was raining like crazy (I got a bit wet, too, on my bike).

This event was more successful. Even with the rain, there were probably at least 1000 people there at the White House with a 350 foot banner, encouraging the administration to take a strong leadership role in the Copenhagen negotiations in December.

I hope you were able to participate in an event. If not, keep an eye on 350.org for more opportunities to help in the effort to avert dangerous climate change.

-----------------------------
Steve Offutt, Arlington resident

International Day of Climate Action This Saturday

 
This Saturday, October 24, is the International Day of Climate Action organized by 350.org, an organization co-founded and directed by famous environmentalist, Bill McKibben.   The number 350 represents the maximum CO2 concentration the atmosphere can hold without causing significant climate disruption according to highly regarded climatologist, James Hansen.  As of the writing of this post, more than 4000 events in 170 countries have already been organized.  Join an event and show your support for strong action on climate from our political leaders.
===========================
Steve Offutt, Arlington

For more information about the U.S. DoE Solar Decathlon

The Department of Energy is holding an hour long webinar on September 15, 2009 starting at noon EST.  Some of the topics the webinar will address are the history of the U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon, the technology, and the students who make it happen.  From homeowners, professors to residential and commercial industry professionals anyone who is interested in solar energy can participate.  Check it out; it’s free but registration is required.

The Next Generation

 

I really have to hand over some kudos to the group of Wakefield High School students that participated in the school's environmental fair with their educational display on CFLs.  These students reached out to the community and their local government to get materials and information.  What a great way to get the message out to other students and fair attendees!  So, kudos!! 

And I'm sure there were many other informational and educational displays at the fair as well - congrats and thanks to Wakefield High for hosting an event on this very important topic!

Busboys & Poets in Shirlington Starts new Sustainability Series May 6th!

This is the start of a new ongoing sustainability series for Busboys & Poets that continues their commitment to raise awareness and create action in our community for the environment.

 

 

Don't miss this *FREE* movie and discussion! 

 

G.R.a.S.P. {Green Resources and Sustainable Practices}

Wednesday, May 6, 2009        7pm - 9pm

Interested in leading a more "earth-friendly" life but not sure how? Join us each month for our new sustainable living series, G.R.a.S.P. {Green Resources and Sustainable Practices}, during which we offer a forum for people to learn about, ask questions, and actively engage in ways to live a more eco-conscious lifestyle. There will be a new theme each month! *G.R.a.S.P. takes place on the first Wednesday of the month* This week's theme is *FAIR TRADE* Join us for our kick-off event, featuring the film "Black Gold", a discussion led by Global Exchange and samples of fair trade coffee and chocolate. 

"BLACK GOLD": As westerners revel in designer lattes and cappuccinos, impoverished Ethiopian coffee growers suffer the bitter taste of injustice. In this eye-opening expose of the multi-billion dollar industry, Black Gold traces one man's fight for a fair price. 

GLOBAL EXCHANGE is an international human rights organization dedicated to promoting environmental, political and social justice. Since their founding in 1988, they have increased the US public's global awareness while building partnerships worldwide. 

Film screening and discussion will take place at the Shirlington Library with tasting to follow at Busboys and Poets. Free and open to the public!