Fresh AIRE

Revelations from an Energy Audit

By now we’re all feeling the pinch on our wallets from escalating energy prices.  Undoubtedly, these costs will continue to rise and we’ll all need to discover ways to use and get by with less.  So, here’s a question...which pollutes more – your home or your car?  Okay, maybe it’s obvious by the title of this entry, but yes, your home!  That was one of the first questions I was asked when I first entered the field of energy efficiency and I got it wrong.  Most people just don’t think of their homes spewing out pollution.  But the truth is, they do.  And one way to know just how much is through a home energy audit.  Through the Fresh AIRE program, Arlington County has been providing a limited number of home energy audits to residents of Arlington.  If homeowners have a better understanding of how their home is using and/or wasting energy, he/she will be more inclined to do something about it. In all cases, these have been very revealing.  And while there are some home improvements that require some up-front investment, many small low-cost, no-cost things can be done.  Check out this short WUSA-TV video clip and write-up on a recent home energy audit conducted by Troy Tanner of The Home Energy Detective, Inc. on an Arlington home.  You may just feel the urge to act!

Another “Green” Friend?

I can’t take credit for turning another friend “green,” but I would certainly like to boast a bit about her efforts!  A very dear friend came to me recently and shared the details of an interview she saw on TV with Julia Louis-Dreyfus.  In this interview, Julia listed off a host of tips anyone can employ to save energy and live more sustainably.  My friend was astonished by the amount of energy saved in one CFL (80%), and even more so by the impacts of using those pesty plastic bags at the grocery store:  those bags aren’t biodegradable, contribute to litter, harm animals, and require tremendous amounts of energy in camparison to reusable shopping bags. 

This simple interview really pushed my friend into action.  She’s trying CFLs now, considers reusable shopping bags, and, most notably, she’s looking at other ways to reduce her consumption.  She asked me recently, “are those plastic red party cups bad?”  She uses two of these cups a day, only once, and then discards them.  My answer, “YES!”  If you have to use them, reuse them.  But, better yet, get a reusable travel mug – stainless steel are best! 

Having worked in the environmental field for nearly 10 years now, you would think that my environmental habits would extend to all my family, friends and neighbors.  I do have my environmental peeps for sure, but I just don’t like to be pushy to those that aren’t.  My preferred approach is to brag about my “lighter shade of green” friends when they do truly wonderful things for our environment. 

Thanks Friend!

Small Steps...Big Difference!

I just spent the weekend hanging out with some friends, one of whom I just learned has taken one small step towards environmental responsibility - without even knowing it!  In an effort to get more fit, he began biking to work three days a week.  He claims his "motives are not so noble" since he does it "primarily for fitness," but I have to applaud him.  This is a tremendous environmental commitment as well.  Emissions from transportation are fairly sizable in most communities.  In Arlington, transportation accounts for about 30% of the community's total emissions.  Any steps we can take...big or small...can and do make a big difference. 

I went to CarFreeDiet.com and did a quick assessment of the impact.  Here are the results of my friend's biking commitment, he is: 

• Saving $16 on gas and related car expenses per week
• Reducing the amount of CO2 emitted by 27.9 pounds per week
• Burning over 1200 calories per week

Rock on!

Finishing the Community Bike Ride: priceless!

Registration: $18.
Water bottle: $3.
Feeling of accomplishment at completing the 24-mile, 2008 Arlington/Alexandria Community Bike Ride: priceless!

On Saturday, I completed my THIRD Community Bike Ride -- we took a huge loop around Arlington and Alexandria, including what I call the "million-dollar" monumental view from the GW Parkway. Of course what I will remember about this particular bike ride is the heat, baby! Temperatures neared 100 degrees; event organizers kept us well hydrated and cared for. It's a great way to see the wide variety of biking -- trails, lanes, and routes -- in our community, and a lot of fun, too.

Since my first Community Bike Ride three years ago, I've bought a bike (I rented that first year) and have traveled many of the local trails. But more importantly, both my husband and I have been using our bikes to run errands and day-to-day tasks, e.g., doctor's appointment, farmers' market, pharmacy, grocery store, even business meetings. The bikes help us stay fit, and with gas hitting $4/gallon, it's a wise financial choice as well. We feel brilliant!

This year, I rode with my colleague Shannon Flanagan-Watson -- we're pictured here at the finish line, still standing and still smiling! We had a lot of  fun riding together and hope to recruit even more colleagues to join us next year! The police (on bikes) escort going down Fairfax Drive was AWESOME. Hope to see you out there!

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Diana Sun is Director of Communications for Arlington County, a walking commuter and bicylist, and a happy resident of the urban village of Clarendon.

24 hour green TV launch at the Washington Nationals Stadium tonight

Do not adjust your television set, this is not a test.  If you are scratching your head wondering if 'green' is mainstream yet, your answer has arrived.

First we had the all news network, then ESPN, the weather channel, and now Planet Green.  Yes, the Discovery channel is launching the very first 24-7 green television channel called Planet Green tonight at 6pm EST at our very own LEED certified stadium in DC.  Now we have American pie, baseball, and green tv. 

This evening some 50 million homes will be introduced to 250 hours of original green lifestyle programming as the 24/7 Planet Green network launches.

Here are the details:

Planet Green Launch Celebration at Nationals Park on Wednesday, June 4
6:00 PM - Planet Green Goes Live
6:59 PM - Opening Pitch
7:10 PM - Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Tune in to the game and Planet Green, then let us know what you think about the new network.

Eat, Drink & Be Merry...& Talk about Science!

I just learned about a group called Cafe Scientifique Arlington and an upcoming event that is worth sharing:

WHAT: Keeping the lights on and holding electricity cost as low as possible

WHEN: Tuesday, June 3rd — 6:30-8:00PM

WHERE: The Front Page Restaurant, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA,
Located near Ballston Metro on the ground floor of the NSF building. Parking is available under the NSF building or at Ballston Common Mall.

WHO: Dr. Martin Lowery, Executive Vice President, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association 

HOW: Short presentation, followed by Q&A.  No science background required!    Free and open to the public.  Register online here!

ABOUT THE TOPIC: Exploration of ways that technology is helping to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions, what timelines and scenarios are workable in the present regulatory and political climate, and what are constraints and barriers. Discussions of ways that individuals can help address and solve energy challenges.

ABOUT THE CONCEPT: Cafe Scientifique flourished first in the U.K. as a way for the public and scientists to mingle and discuss science issues in an informal setting. 

ABOUT THIS CAFE: The Ballston Science and Technology Alliance, a nonprofit organization, is the sponsor of Café Scientifique Arlington. Since April 2006, the goal of Café Scientifique has been to make science more accessible and accountable by featuring speakers whose expertise spans the sciences and who can talk in plain English. Café is generally held each month on the first Tuesday, at the Front Page in Arlington. 

For more information contact Kaye Breen, kbreen@arlingtonva.us or visit www.arlingtonvirginiausa.com/bsta

Looking for a Free Ride?

A program called Ride Free is going on now!  The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission set up this program for the summer to help residents do our part to improve air quality.  On high ozone days (code red) from May 1 to September 15, Ride Free offers free bus rides in Northern Virginia to help keep cars off the road and their emissions out of the air.  Hopefully we won't have many, if any, code red days, but just in case...

The Six Habits of Money-Wasting (and Energy-Wasting) Drivers

If you’re one of the millions of American’s that owns or drives a car, you may very well be wasting some of your hard earned dollars on some easy-to-cure gas guzzling driving habits.  CNNMoney.com issued an article today entitled, “6 ways you’re wasting gas.”  I must first say that it’s pretty funny/ironic how I came across this article.  My husband, who I lovingly refer to as ‘the worst driver on the planet,’ sent the article link to me early this morning.  I see myself as a decent driver and have been guilty of the habits noted from time to time, but my husband is guilty of these far more frequently!  In brief, the article points to some very common driving habits that are costing loads of dollars at the gas pump.  If you’re guilty, breaking just two of the habits can improve fuel economy by as much as 35%!  Plus, you are reducing the amount of emissions your car is spitting out into the air.  It’s a win-win all around.  I have to send a huge THANK YOU out to CNNMoney.com, because now I’m not so much the nagging wife as the money saver! 

Energy Efficiency & Your Abode

Home energy efficiency is a hot topic and with Dominion's rate hike looming it's likely to garner more attention much the way gas prices have. 

Last night we had a good crowed for the presentation on Practical Steps for Energy Efficiency in Your Condo.  In Arlington, over half of our residents live in condos, townhomes, or multi-unit dwellings which make this topic all the more germane.

For those of you who couldn't join us, the presentation is attached below.  If your condo association or board would like more info on how you can save energy please engage us at climage@arlingtonva.us   

Also, it bears repeating that every action makes a difference!

Click the link here to view the presentation: Download arlington_condo_energy_presentation_20_may_08.pdf

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How It All Ends

If you've never seen this video, I think it is one of the most powerfully convincing efforts to help people understand the need to take action on climate change.  If you like it, you can also watch the more than 6 hours of additional supporting video in the "Expansion Pack." . . . . . but you don't have to.

If you are committed to fighting global climate change and liked the video, feel free to pass it on.
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Steve Offutt, Arlington Resident and climate change battler