Earth Hour that is! Local Arlingtonians - businesses and residents - participated in this year's global event. This event, calling on organizations and individuals to turn off their lights for one hour, sends a powerful signal about the environment: we all need to take responsibility for our environment --climate change is upon us. Thanks to all of you who participated! Check out this link for some cool shots of the world going dim.
March 31, 2009
March 23, 2009
Boys just want to have “green” fun!
That’s right…they do! A local Arlingtonian celebrated his 10th birthday at Long Branch Nature Center with 13 friends to remove invasive plants from park grounds (check out another local blog for more). In lieu of gifts, party attendees made donations to the park…you heard that right. This 10-year-old passed on gifts for the sake of the environment. By my account, this is a win all-around. The kids got to be outside, learn something about protecting and conserving the environment, take part in something that will make a difference in the Arlington community, and hopefully gain an appreciation for our planet. Talk about making learning fun! And major props go to the parents of this very committed 10-year-old!
November 10, 2008
Come one, come all...Town Hall on EE!
Come on out this Wednesday, November 12th, to learn more about energy efficiency in Virginia! This Town Hall will review our options for electrical energy efficiency programs and recommend the best for Virginia. With a great line-up of speakers and exhibitors (including AIRE), as well as Q&A session, you just shouldn't miss it. Details here.
October 17, 2008
Parc Rosslyn -=- Affordable housing never looked so good!
One hundred or so camera-toting residents, project managers, contractors, architects, Arlington County board, County staff, and Congressman Jim Moran arrived en masse to tour and celebrate a pioneering 15 story apartment complex that's saving money and helping the planet: the Parc Rosslyn.
This project is one of the first LEED certified affordable housing project in the Country. <LEED Certification is pending, but it's all but certain> The project saves water, energy, and is healthier for the occupants than a traditional building. The driving force behind this 238 apartment building located within walking distance of the Metro is the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing. APAH is a private non-profit organization founded in 1989 whose goal is to provide safe and affordable housing opportunities to low and moderate income families and individuals in Arlington.
APAH has truly set a high bar with the 90+ affordable units in this project and the County is proud of their lead to create green affordable housing.
Here are a few pictures to take a peak inside; affordable housing never looked so good. Take note of the energy rating on the tankless hot water heater that is below the measurable energy guide range. 
For more information please visit the links below:
July 17, 2008
Join Al Gore's Fight for Climate Change
The We Campaign is an effort founded by former Vice President Al Gore – a campaign started to help bring awareness to climate change (a campaign we’ve discussed in this blog previously). As I am sure many of you know, the former Vice President has long been a leader in the fight against global warming. And earlier today, the We Campaign held an event in DC which included a speech by former Vice President Al Gore. The speech included a portion in which Gore issued an “unprecedented challenge” to politicians as to solving the climate crisis. Check out the details on their website. He hopes to change how the public views and thinks about energy and the effects of the climate crisis on the American economy. The event will certainly be history making and former Vice President Al Gore may change the American landscape from this moment on. For more information on the event and the Web Campaign, visit www.wecansolveit.org.
Nate Kresh, Intern with Arlington County and Student at Washington-Lee High School
June 02, 2008
April 18, 2008
March 25, 2008
Turn out the Lights!
It’s just four days away…Earth Hour 2008. 
As part of Fresh AIRE, Arlington is urging employees, local businesses and residents to participate in Earth Hour – a worldwide initiative to combat global warming – on Saturday, March 29th at 8 PM. Individuals, businesses, and entire cities around the world will turn out the lights for one hour from 8 PM to 9PM to take action against global warming. You can be part of the solution by turning off your lights - wherever you are – on Saturday, March 29th at 8 PM for just one hour. Together, we make an even greater impact! When Earth Hour was unveiled last year in Sydney, Australia, the city reduced its energy consumption by a whopping 10.2% - that’s equivalent to taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year. Tens of thousands have already committed! Learn more and make your commitment to turn out the lights today at www.earthhour.org.
March 17, 2008
March 13, 2008
DailyCandy on the Environment (Films!)
I admit it, I do subscribe to DailyCandy. Most days I don't have time to even open the email -- really. But this day, I did open the DailyCandy Weekend Guide and hit an environmental goldmine. The first thing they list is the upcoming D.C. Environmental Film Festival. On the website, you can view green short films online, find out about green filmaking, join forums and more -- it's way cool. Here are the festival details, from DailyCandy:
What: The annual screening of enviro flicks on topics ranging from melting ice caps to dwindling resources to endangered animals.
Why: Monkey see, monkey do.
When: Now through March 22.
Where: Various locations. Schedule online at dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org.
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--Jennifer K. Smith
Arlington County
