EcoAction Arlington
Solutions for a Sustainable Lifestyle
Arlington County is currently soliciting feedback on its draft Forestry and Natural Resources Plan (FNRP), which will guide County efforts to protect and enhance its tree canopy and natural resources for at least the next decade.
Arlington County needs to do more to meet the challenges of the rapidly unfolding climate crisis.
Would you like Arlington County to do more to assist residents and businesses with reducing waste and the heavy carbon footprint that it represents? Do you have ideas on how to expand opportunities to reduce, reuse, and repair? Are you frustrated with trying to navigate existing recycling programs or finding ways to recycle hard-to-recycle metals, …
Transitioning from fossil fuels (e.g., goal and natural gas) to low-carbon sources of electricity is essential for reaching carbon neutrality. While much of the energy purchased from electric utilities is currently derived from fossil fuels, this will be reduced significantly during the lifespan of many of our investments in vehicles, appliances, and building heating and …
The PenPlace Project, Amazon’s HQ2 complex, demonstrates outstanding elements of sustainable design and has the potential to become the first commercial zero carbon building in Arlington, helping to normalize advanced practices in sustainable design and construction essential to achieve the County’s goal for carbon neutrality. Ask Amazon to commit to achieving Zero Carbon Certification and …
Citizen voices can sway our state legislators and now is the time to stand up for climate action, protection of our air, water, and open spaces, and environmental justice. EcoAction Arlington is joining forces with Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions Arlington Hub and the Potomac River Group of the Sierra Club to amplify Arlington voices …
Several development projects are currently under review through the Site Plan Review Process, giving residents an opportunity to advocate for building designs consistent with the County’s carbon neutrality goal. PenPlace, the next phase of Amazon’s HQ2, could be on track to be the first large commercial project to achieve Zero Carbon Building certification. Proposed plans …
The world is experiencing a climate crisis and EcoAction Arlington urges the County Board to declare a climate emergency, develop a robust Climate Action Plan, and use its guidance to the County Manager for the FY 2023 Budget to put the County on a clear path to addressing this crisis. Communities around the world are …
The Site Plan Review Committee (SPRC) community input window for Wendy’s Site – 2025 Clarendon Boulevard is closing on Thursday, September 16. The April 2021 LEED/Sustainability documents (combined) for this 16-story residential building indicate a commitment to LEED Gold, including 5 additional possible points for Annual Energy Use and Efficient Hot Water Distribution. These kinds …
Read the candidates responses to questions on key environmental challenges and attend the Environmental Candidates forum on October 20 — On November 2, Virginians will go to the polls to elect their Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and representatives to the House of Delegates. Arlington voters will also fill one seat each for the County …
A successful launch of this program will depend on residents enthusiastically embracing the effort. You can help by: Following the three simple steps for food scraps collection and adhering to the list of items that can go into your bin. If you’re already composting food scraps you can add to the bin those items not …
Curbside food scrap collection will reduce the residential waste stream going to the Waste-to-Energy facility by 20 percent (wet food scraps don’t burn well) and increase the countywide recycling rate to about 55 percent. These organic materials will be turned into compost and some will be returned to Arlington to be used to enrich soil …
The county’s new Food Scraps Collection program is simple. Put a biodegradable bag in the small pail provided by Arlington County. The county will provide a roll of compostable bags. Replacements can be purchased at local retailers or online. Do NOT use regular plastic bags — paper is okay. Add all food scraps, oils and …
On Friday, June 25, 2021 Gov. Ralph Northam signed several environmental and conservation bills into law that will serve to protect Virginia’s waterways now and into the future. The bills set a deadline to minimize pollutants with a goal of pollution mitigation by 2025. The causes of pollution are targeted with an aim of diminishing …
In recent years, Arlington has set lofty goals to tackle the climate crisis and create a truly sustainable community and the County’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is a key mechanism to align government operations with these goals. The CIP, updated annually, generally anticipates planned investments 10 years into the future for new facilities, schools, equipment …
By Michele Bianchi, EcoAction Arlington staff On June 10, 2021 EcoAction Arlington celebrated our living world with our Third Annual EcoExtravaganza. 95 people tuned into Zoom to participate virtually. This year’s focus was on biophilia and the ways we love our living world. The event culminated the 2020-2021 Love Our Living World series which consisted …
EcoAction Arlington thanked the County Board for their Earth Day gift to Arlington. In adopting the FY22 budget, the County Board directed the County Manager to develop recommendations to coordinate a “whole of government” approach to achieving Arlington’s Climate Change and Sustainability goals. EcoAction Arlington is gratified that the Board sent a list of inspiring …
With buildings accounting for about 60 percent of Arlington’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, electrification–elimination of onsite combustion of fossil fuels, primarily natural gas–in homes and commercial and residential buildings is essential to achieving the Community Energy Plan (CEP) goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. As progress toward the county’s goal for shifting to electricity from …
February 2021 Late last year, Arlington County launched a 12-18 month process to draft and adopt the Forestry and Natural Resources Master Plan,. EcoAction Arlington sees this effort as an opportunity to make the natural world an integral part of our community by creating healthy ecosystems for people and wildlife and ensuring equal access to …
a one-page discovery hike he developed for his own and other kids over a ten-year period. Chuck shared that what he likes most about it is that it enables young people to expand their awe for nature without collecting nature and physically bringing it home to end up in a corner or in the trash.
An amazing heartwarming story of how we can communicate with the wildlife around us.
