Fresh AIRE

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

Things That Peeve the Citizenry (pt. 1)

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

6th Grade Environmentalists Take Action

My sixth grade students had a wonderful experience with environmental civic action this year. As part of the national Earth Force program, 10 students sponsored an Electronics Recycling Event for their home community of HB Woodlawn on March 24. Their motto was "We'll bring it to you," meaning they went to over 70 HB Woodlawn households with their parents, student and teacher volunteers, to pick up old, unwanted electronics. It was a huge success!

Staples vice president Pat Girard, who sponsors Earth Force in our area, was so impressed, he not only gave the students the award at the Earth Force Youth Conference, but also is going to initiate an electronics recycling day at the local Staples stores in the Metro area and has asked these students to help him run it some time this Spring.

The impetus for this project was protecting our local HB Watershed because in the fall, while on a trip to a local stream, students found a variety of electronic equipment, such as hard drives and cell phones, directly in the stream water. Discovering that Arlington did not have curb side pick up for electronics recycling, they sponsored their own event.

The breakdown -- 433 items collected

• 263 computer components (monitors were the most recycled item)
• 113 TV, video, and audio items
• 15 cell phones
• 32 communication devices (telephones, fax machines, and an answering machine)
• 35 miscellaneous household appliances (Easy Bake oven, a vacuum cleaner, and a curling iron, rechargeable batteries)

The students also sent out a survey to a randomly chosen number of HB Woodlawn households to find out how interested they would be in curb-side recycling of electronic equipment. It turns out that 85% of the respondents favored having quarterly curb side electronic pick ups at their homes.

The sixth graders also presented their project, before and after, to the County Board (see photo) - and received great support. Paul Ferguson championed out effort and we thank him tremendously. The entire County Board praised the students' effort and County government staff also helped ensure the project's success, offering tips and support in collecting the items.

Sixth Grade Electronics Recycling Group
Ibby Han, Grace Evans, Elliot Grace, Zack Shoultz, Julia Voight, Myranda Miller, Millie Smith, Catie Mitchell, Anna Toth, Jonathon Wabeke

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Kathy Molina, Katherine_Molina@apsva.us
6th Grade Science Teacher
HB Woodlawn School (Arlington)