Thursday: AYD/ACE Happy Hour

The Arlington Young Democrats Environment Caucus & Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment are hosting a joint happy hour this week:

Time: Thursday, September 23 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Ireland Four Courts, 2051 Wilson Blvd, Arlington

Join the Arlington Young Democrats and Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment on Thursday, Sept 23 from 7-9pm at Ireland 4 Courts. Network with local green activists, learn about the Green Living Challenge and how you can make a difference in your community! To learn more, contact Heather at environment(at)arlingtonyoungdems.org.

RSVP on Facebook!

ACE Goes Amish: Introducing Solar Raisers

ArlNow.com has details on a cool new program from ACE:

In an effort to promote the use of energy-saving solar water heaters, Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment is launching a new initiative this fall. The group will organize volunteers to install solar water heaters for Arlington residents willing to shell out the cash to purchase the systems.

ACE is calling it their “Solar Raisers Program” — a take-off on Amish barn raisings. They’ve started recruiting members to volunteer on weekends for the day-long installations. They’re also looking for homeowners who are interested in the solar systems.

People should only be allowed to volunteer if they grow beards, wear straw hats & memorize the words to Weird Al Yankovic's Amish Paradise:

Saturday: ACE Green Living Expo

Ready for some spring greening? Here's a great event coming up on Saturday:

ACE Green Living Expo
Saturday, March 20, 2010
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
4301 Wilson Blvd. in Ballston

On March 20, Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE) will be sponsoring a Green Living Expo. The Expo will feature green suppliers, products from local and national businesses, exhibits and seminars from government agencies and nonprofits, and a free Going Green Guide for Apartment Renters! [...]

The Expo will also include seminars, a raffle, and plenty of activities for children. It will provide an important venue to showcase new technology and products available that can help soften our carbon footprints in Arlington. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), is located near the Ballston metro and several bus routes. The Green Living Expo is family-friendly and free and open to the general public.

Children's activities will include:

• Native seedling planting
• Crafts
• Nature games
• Naturalists with animals to meet

Wait, children's activities? What if certain adults are wildly excited to meet the wildlife?

ACE Endorses Geothermal at New Wakefield

Big news in the debate about geothermal power at the new Wakefield High School. The Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment board has endorsed the plan:

Dear Ms. Baird:

On behalf of the board of directors of Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE), we’re pleased to offer support for the School Board’s plan to adopt geothermal energy, solar hot water, and photovoltaic generation for energy at Wakefield High School. Your commitment to adopting a framework to evaluate school construction projects in both financial costs as well as environmental and educational value is commendable.

We specifically support your inclusion of these alternative energy features at Wakefield to:

* Reduce carbon emissions and pollution.
* Provide a world-class learning opportunity for students.
* Reduce dependence on fluctuating global energy markets.

With Arlington’s history as a community committed to sustainability, the integration of alternative energy features is the right decision for our students. Thank you for your continued leadership in providing outstanding learning environments and minimizing the footprint of our schools.

Sincerely,
Elenor Hodges
Executive Director

The School Board will vote on the environmental options tonight (Thursday 12/17) at 7:30pm. If you can spare the time, please attend tonight's meeting (Education Center, 1426 North Quincy Street) and speak up in favor of the clean energy options. If you can't attend in person, please email the Arlington County School Board to tell them you're willing to put your money where your mouth is by investing our tax dollars in a sustainable future for our children.

UPDATE 3:13pm: The APS Advisory Council on Facilities & Capital Programs has also endorsed the clean energy options (including geothermal power):

ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ADVISORY COUNCIL ON FACILITIES AND CAPITAL PROGRAMS
Recommendation on Wakefield High School Environmental Alternatives
December 16, 2009

The Advisory Council on Facilities and Capital Programs (FAC) supports the inclusion of the recommended environmental alternatives for the design of Wakefield High School. These include a geothermal heating and cooling system, a solar hot water system, and photovoltaic generation of electricity sufficient to meet 2.5% of the building’s total energy needs. It is our belief that the inclusion of these items will allow Wakefield to control its long term energy costs as much as possible and to operate in an environmentally sensitive, efficient manner. Although there is an up front cost associated with all of these alternatives, when one evaluates the alternatives using a life cycle analysis, it is clear that over the life of the investment, the costs are minimal and the benefits are positive. Overall, the projected additional upfront costs represent less than 1% of the projected cost of the new building. Most importantly, APS needs to be sure that it implements LEED Enhanced Commissioning. The intent of this would be to begin the commissioning process early and allow time to execute verification and training activities after the systems’ performance verification is completed. Finally, these systems should be fully integrated into the overall design of the building.

Tonight: ACE Sustainability Social in Ballston

Here are some details on an Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment event coming up tonight in Ballston:

Sustainability Social
Monday, October 26, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Sangam Restaurant, 1211 N. Glebe Rd.

Learn more about living green, ACE volunteer opportunities, mingling, and delicious Indian food. ACE board member Takis Karantonis will be delivering a "Plastics Recycling 123" presentation, designed to answer all your questions about what those plastic recycling numbers mean. We'll have information about upcoming volunteer opportunities and ongoing volunteer positions. And everyone can meet fellow volunteers committed to protecting our local environment.

To RSVP, please email Lily or call 703-228-6406.

There's limited parking at Sangam (in the Comfort Inn lot) so Metro's the best bet to get there. Sangam (corner of Glebe & Washington) is only a 10 minute walk from Ballston Metro. You can find a full list of upcoming ACE events here!

Saturday: ACE/CVN Pickup & Drinkup

When there's a stream that needs cleaning and an organic beer that needs drinking, The Green Miles cannot turn down an opportunity to serve his community. Will you join my crusade to leave no trash behind and to let no Peak Organic Amber Ale go flat?

I'll be heading down to South Arlington on Saturday, as Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment and the Community Volunteer Network team up for a Pickup & Drinkup from 3-7pm.

We'll start by cleaning up Four Mile Run, meeting at 3pm at Arlington Mill Community Center (4975 Columbia Pike). Wear sturdy shoes and bring work gloves if you have them.

Then at 5pm, we'll head over to Busboys & Poets in Shirlington (4251 South Campbell Ave). Busboys is a leader in sustainability and their Saturday happy hour includes organic draft beer.

Should be a great way to get outside and enjoy a summer Saturday afternoon. Sign up here!

In case of bad weather, call 703-228-6406 after 1pm on July 25th to find out if the event is postponed (rain date is the next day, Sunday July 26th, same time and place).

July 27: Local Foods Tasting

Here's an Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment event coming up next week:

Local Foods Tasting: Explore Seasonal Foods from Arlington Farmers' Markets. Monday, July 27, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Arlington Central Library Auditorium, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington. Join Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment and Virginia Cooperative Extension to try local foods and learn new recipes for food gathered from the Farmer's Market. $15 per person (payable in check at the event). To reserve space, please email Alison Foster or call 703-228-7772.

A Look at Proposed Cuts to Arlington's Environmental Services

Just got this email from Elenor Hodges, executive director of Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment:

I am sure you know that the Arlington County Board is facing a lot of hard decisions, including budgetary constraints. Some of you may have received information that the County Manager's proposed budget includes closing Gulf Branch Nature Center and cuts to the County's invasive removal program.

Some people have asked for information on the budget timeline and how to comment:

- The February 21 meeting will include a presentation of the proposed budget by Ron Carlee (CountyManager@arlingtonva.us or telephone 703-228-3120).

- Interested members of the public may comment on the proposed budget at the Tuesday, March 24 County Board Public Budget Hearing or via email at countyboard@arlingtonva.us.

- The budget will be finalized at the April 29 County Board meeting.

Visit the Arlington County web site for additional information and updates on the FY 2010 County Budget process.

I'm watching Carlee unveil his budget right now on Comcast channel 74. Considering the overall cuts under discussion, including 100 staff positions, cutting services and eliminating Planet Arlington and the Neighborhood Day parade, it doesn't seem unreasonable to ask the environmental community to give something back as well. As long as Gulf Branch park remains open, closing a less-utilized nature center seems unfortunate but not draconian.

What do you think? Did Carlee's proposed budget do a good job of protecting important environmental programs? Any other cuts that you'd object to?

Answering President-Elect Obama's Call to Service

With a noontime wind chill in the single digits, I wondered if today's Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment cleanup to answer President-elect Barack Obama's call for a weekend of service would even happen. Instead, I arrived at Arlington Mill Community Center to find a dozen people already picking up trash from Four Mile Run and the surrounding area, another dozen grabbing bags and getting instructions, and another dozen still pulling up.

I managed to fill one bag from the steep southern bank of Four Mile Run before my numb face and feet told me it was time to leave the rest of the cleanup to the eager kids scrambling all over. In fact, that was the best part of the event -- watching the children bounce rocks on the frozen stream, . One excitedly yelled, "Mom! Look! An animal bone!" He held up something smaller than a chicken bone -- but he'd found this in the wild!

ACE is also partnering on cleanups on Sunday and Monday, you can get details at ArlingtonEnvironment.org. To find more MLK Weekend of Service events near you, visit USAservice.org.

Wind chill-proof volunteers:



Four Mile Run passes under Columbia Pike:



Noticed a phone under the ice. That's one cleanup item that'll have to wait for spring:



Bags of trash collected by the volunteers and the prize for the day's oddest find - a car bumper:



Finally, The Green Miles and his collected trash:

Tonight: ACE's "Hallowgreen" 30th Anniversary Gala

The Green Miles will be heading to the Hilton Arlington in Ballston tonight for Hallowgreen! It's the 30th anniversary gala for Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Program highlighting ACE’s 30 years
• Live music by The Walkaways
• Costume contest with cash prizes for:
  • Best Environmental Costume
  • Best Costume from Reused Materials
  • Best Student Costume
• Eco-Horror displays
• Silent auction
• Stewardship awards
• Cash bar
• Refreshments (highlighting local and organic produce) catered by the Hilton Arlington

I'll be entering the "best environmental costume" contest but expect to be beaten soundly by someone much more creative than me. And if you're thinking about outbidding me for the autographed copy of An Inconvenient Truth, you'd better bring your checkbook.

Tickets will be available at the door:

- Single: $75
- Couple: $140
- Students (under 21): $10
- VIP: Single: $175 / Couple: $300

A major shout out to the sponsors of Hallowgreen: The Nature Conservancy, The Hilton Arlington, Ecoprint, Arbour Realty, The Cadmus Group, and Wild Birds Unlimited.

As much credit as the sponsors deserve, it's kind of surprising to see some big green businesses missing from that list. Where's EnviroCAB (EDIT: Envirocab was not a major sponsor but donated lots of gift certificates)? Where are those Fresh AIRE business champions?

Request for Green Costume Ideas

The Green Miles is going to the Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment Hallowgreen 30th anniversary gala on October 23rd. They're having an environmental costume contest. What should I go as? Only constraints - must cost less than $100 total, must not require buying lots of junk I'd never use again, must take one hour or less of work to put together. Any suggestions?

Tickets Now on Sale for Arlington's Biggest Environmental Event of 2008!

The Green Miles just reserved his VIP tickets for Hallowgreen on October 23rd! It's the big 30th Anniversary bash for Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment. ACE is one of the top environmental groups in Virginia, if not the entire country.

There's an early bird discount through September 12, so reserve your tickets now!

BYOBag

From Bill Maher's Earth Day entry at HuffingtonPost.com:

[S]upermarket clerks must stop putting the big bottle of detergent with a handle on it in a plastic bag. I don't mean to tell you how to do your job, but you see that handle you just lifted the detergent with? I can use that same handle to carry the detergent to my car. And stop putting my liquor in a smaller paper sack before you put it in the big paper sack with my other stuff. What, are you afraid my groceries will think less of me if they see I've been drinking? Trust me, the broccoli doesn't care, and the condoms already know.

And it's with that completely inappropriate introduction that I give you the brand new Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment reusable bag!

To celebrate, ACE is having a kickoff party:

BYOBag Kickoff Ceremony
Sunday, May 18, 1 to 4 p.m.
Market Commons, 2800 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington

• Join us we kickoff our campaign to promote the use of reusable bags and the many problems with plastics in our environment. This (rescheduled) event will be part of the Market Commons Spring Fling. The student winners of our BYOBag poster contest will also be recognized.
  
• We'll have free ACE Living Green BYOBags for the first 50 visitors. The spring fling will also include music and kids' activities.
• We need volunteers for our table. Contact us at volunteer@arlingtonenvironment.org or 703-228-6427.

To learn more about why reusable bags are so much better for the environment than either paper or plastic bags, check out this post from The Green Miles archive.

Thursday: 30th ACE Annual Meeting

Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment is turning 30! And just in time for Thursday's Annual Meeting, we're unveiling a new logo. A lot more modern and bright than the old one (bottom of the screen here), don't you think? Here are the details on the Annual Meeting:

Arlington Living Green: Local Changes - Global Impact
Thursday, March 6, 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. Hilton Arlington, 950 N. Stafford Street.

Join us for exciting green exhibits, the kickoff of the 2008 Green Living Challenge, ACE volunteer recognition and board election, and refreshments provided courtesy of Whole Foods Market. Everyone is welcome. Hosted by Arlington County Board Chair Walter Tejada and featuring keynote speaker Dr. Matthew Wasson, Conservation Director of Appalachian Voices: "Arlington to Appalachia: A virtual tour of the other side of your light switch." To volunteer to help with setup, registration, or cleanup at the Annual Meeting: 703-228-6406 or volunteer@arlingtonenvironment.org.

Hope to see you there!

Saturday: ACE Pickup & Drinkup

Saturday's Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment Four Mile Run event just got a little more fun. Unless you're a Florida State fan.

First, there's The Pickup. At 2pm. we'll meet at the pedestrian bridge at S. Arlington Mill Dr. and S. Randolph St. in Shirlington, then head down to Four Mile Run to pick up trash along the stream banks. The forecast is for the low 50s, so to paraphrase Mary Schmich, if I could offer you only one tip for Saturday, layers would be it.

And now we've added The Drinkup. At 4pm, we'll head over to Bungalow Billiards (2766 South Arlington Mill Drive) for some drinks and appetizers. They'll have The Love Shack reserved for us, a corner with chairs and a railing made up to look like a front porch, though with those chilly temperatures outside, I don't think we'll be ordering mint juleps. While we're chatting up Fresh AIRE, the Green Living Challenge, and the impact of Tuesday's elections on Virginia environmental policy, Virginia Tech fans can also watch the Hokies beat up on Florida State. Arlington Community Role Models has a volunteer event in Shirlington on Saturday as well, so we've invited them to join us at Bungalow. Should be a fun crowd!

You're welcome join us for both ends of the event, but if you can only make just the Pickup or just the Drinkup, that's fine too. Hope to see you on Saturday!

Green Living Challenge #8: Organic Lunch Leads to the Finish Line!

Today is your final day to complete the 2007 Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment Green Living Challenge! There's now an online entry form available.

I just realized I can grab my last 10 points for something I hadn't even been consciously doing:

Eat a locally grown, organic, and/or meatless ingredient meal twice a week.

I love cooking for family and friends, but I hate cooking for myself. Any lunch or dinner I make for just me usually involves no more than five minutes of prep time before going in the oven or going on my plate. Usually, that meant salads were out. Washing the lettuce, chopping the tomatoes ... way too much work.

Then this summer, I made a startling discovery: It takes just as much time to make one salad as it does three salads. OK, so it seems obvious, but I hadn't exactly spent sleepless nights crunching the numbers on salad prep. I've been making three salads on Sunday and bringing one to work each day for lunch.

And thanks to my local Harris Teeter, the salads are organic. They have a great selection of organic produce at prices that are comparable to their pesticidal (is that a word?) counterparts. I'd been thinking to fill this requirement I had to get free-range tofu from my local farmers market, but it was a lot easier than I'd thought.

There's more and more evidence that organic foods aren't just better for the environment. They may be healthier for humans as well, and not just because they don't contain pesticides. A new study (so new it hasn't been peer reviewed) says organic foods may contain more nutrients than conventionally-grown food.

If you're just starting the switch to organics, where can you get the most bang for your buck? The New York Times blog recently listed five of the foods that can make the biggest impact.

Points for this action: 10
Total points to date: 100
Points needed to complete Green Living Challenge: 100

Green Living Challenge #7: Making the Move to CFLs

The Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment Green Living Challenge deadline is coming up tomorrow, but I can grab another 5 points for something that's already been saving me money:

Change the most frequently used light bulbs in your residence to compact fluorescent (up to 5 bulbs with one point per bulb).

Switching to CFLs is one of several things I did this spring that helped cut my power bill by 10%. While CFLs won't stop global warming by themselves, they can help reduce our national power usage, hence our greenhouse gas emissions.

CFLs do contain a small amount of mercury, so they need to be recycled. But CFLs actually involve less total mercury use than incandescent bulbs. Why? Because the majority of our national power comes from coal. The coal burned to provide the extra juice incandescents require will actually put more mercury into the atmosphere than is contained in a CFL. This graph explains it best.

Even though they'll save you up to $30 on your power bill over a 10-year lifespan, CFLs can still be shockingly hard to find. The Harris Teeter near me on Glebe Road doesn't stock even one CFL. Even when the return on investment is so immediate and enormous, old habits can be hard to break.

Should American ban incandescents like Australia recently did? I think so. Consumers save money, we slightly ease demand on our national power grid, and we slightly cut our national greenhouse gas emissions. What would be the downside?

Points for this action: 5
Total points to date: 90
Points needed to complete Green Living Challenge: 100

Green Living Challenge #6: Greening My Power, Cutting My Carbon Footprint

With the Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment Green Living Challenge deadline coming up on October 31st, it's time to finish my push to 100 points. Fortunately, I can pick up another 10 points for something I did over the summer:

Buy renewable energy credits (e.g. wind power) equivalent to at least 50% of your electricity usage.

I've switched my power source from Dominion's standard mix of mostly coal-fired and nuclear power to green power, though it was more expensive and a long process. I'd much rather switch my power source directly to green power than to still use coal/nuclear with credits. With the latter, you're not directly reducing your carbon footprint, you're just trying to offset it, a questionable practice.

Wikipedia can give you a quick overview of green power. You can also track my progress in completing the Green Living Challenge.

Points for this action: 10
Total points to date: 85
Points needed to complete Green Living Challenge: 100

Wednesday: ACE Green Living Challenge Finish Line Party!

Here's a little last-minute help to complete the Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment Green Living Challenge:

Green Living Challenge Finish Line Party
Wednesday, October 24, 7-9pm
Busboys and Poets
4251 S. Campbell Ave, Shirlington

Bring your completed Green Living Challenge entry form (deadline October 31), or drop in for some inspiration to finish. We’ll have light refreshments and green living giveaways for everyone who comes by. For more information, call 703-228-6406 or email volunteer@arlingtonenvironment.org.

The Green Miles still has 25 points to go before completing the Challenge. I'll get working now to get the form completed in time to turn in tomorrow night. Hope to see you there!

This Sunday: A Community Conservation Conversation

The Green Miles will be on the road this weekend, but I wanted to pass this along:

“A Community Conservation Conversation”

Sunday, September 30, 2 p.m. at Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA; Near the Virginia Square Metro stop on the Orange Line)

Conservation has transcended the “freeze in the dark” connotations of the 1970s and is becoming a vibrant and foundational part of our everyday lives! To further this exciting trend, join the “Community Conservation Conversation” featuring discussion among panel members and the audience. The key to a better and less consumptive society and economy is opening up the floodgates of conversation on this very important topic. The “Green Living Challenge,” developed by Arlingtonians for A Clean Environment, Arlington County’s Fresh AIRE Program and other conservation initiatives will also be highlighted.

Panel members: Paul Ferguson, Chair, Arlington County Board; Monique Tilford, The Center for a New American Dream; Joan Kelsch, an Arlington County Environmental Planner; Drew Langsam, Turner Construction Company; Emily Curley, Alliance to Save Energy; and Martin Ogle, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Congressman Jim Moran is also an invited panelist. This event is co-sponsored by 21 organizations. For more information, please call 703-528-5406 or e-mail Potomac Overlook Regional Park.