EcoAction Arlington
Solutions for a Sustainable Lifestyle
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 …
As the new year begins, many of us are searching for resolutions that will help us make a bigger impact on the world. At EcoAction Arlington, this means finding new ways to combat climate change. Perhaps you’ve already switched to reusable bags, shop local, and have cut down on energy usage — so what’s next? …
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.
By Stephen D’Alessio, EcoAction Arlington Volunteer The COVID-19 crisis has thrown environmentalist concerns completely off. The pandemic has drastically altered how governments at national and local levels are ordering their priorities as they rush to deal with the economic and health impacts of the disease. As a result, environmentalists are tackling older issues in a …
By Alex Bobeczko, EcoAction Arlington Summer Intern In April of 2020, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed Senate Bill 11, a piece of legislation which authorizes cities and counties to impose a five cent tax on disposable plastic bags across the state. In doing so, Northam has signaled his commitment to environmental conservation, and to alleviating …
As in a natural ecosystem, when one member of the community is harmed, the impact ripples through the environment and damages all living organisms in the community. The murder of George Floyd is another terrible example of the deep injustices experienced by Black members of the American community, including environmental injustices that disproportionately impact Black Americans. Martin Luther King said, “[i]n the end, we will remember not the …
Thanks to all of those who took part in our May 13 program, “Nature In Our Community – Why Biophilia Matters.” We were so pleased to have more than 90 participants take part in the event featuring presentations by Stella Tarnay and Jennifer Fioretti. As a follow up to this program, we are publishing a …
By Jill Barker, EcoAction Arlington Board Chair The coronavirus thrust unpredictable challenges into my daily routine, but through it, I increased my action and awareness about our environment because of EcoAction Arlington. Here are a few of the small but enlightening moments helping me find meaning in this chaotic time. More time for reading and …
By Angelo Ioffreda, EcoAction Arlington Board Member During the time of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 and Earth Month, the word interconnectedness – the state of being interconnected – has been top of mind. It’s a word that I have been thinking about a great deal and on many levels. There is the level of the …
By Joan McIntyre, EcoAction Arlington Board Chair Working in my garden provides comfort in these trying times, with normal life turned upside down. Spring in the garden is always an uplifting time as I can observe the garden awakening and never more so than this year. As I work down on my knees on cleaning …
By David Howell One of the most important initiatives for urban areas in this century is the emerging Biophilic Cities movement. Biophilia is the recent, science-based understanding of the importance of nature for our health, our happiness, and our economic and environmental sustainability. And it is the basis for a paradigm shift in urban planning. …
Are you looking for a locally made, handcrafted, environmentally friendly gift for someone special? Check out these markets in December! Gifts That Give Hope: Help Make the World a Better Place Saturday, December 7, 2019 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Arlington Science Focus School 1501 N. Lincoln Street, Arlington, Virginia A new spin on gift …
Congratulations to Arlington County on the upcoming vote on the updated Community Energy Plan at the September 21 Arlington County Board meeting. The updated plan includes a commitment to 100% clean, renewable electricity community-wide by 2035! This is a huge step forward for clean energy for our Arlington community and our planet. Please join EcoAction Arlington, the Sierra Club, and other …
EcoAction Arlington Executive Director, Elenor Hodges, joined Arlington County Board member Erik Gutshall, Sam Gomber from the Union of Concerned Scientists, Larry Zaragoza from the Environmental Quality Advisory Council in Fairfax County, and Greg Farley of Washington College for “In Conversation” at AIM Studio on April 22, 2019, to discuss the implementation of environmental action …
Idling is one of the most widespread yet ignored environmental challenges facing our communities today. The consequences can be immense on the environment, our families, and our wallets. Parents sit in cars idling while they wait to pick up their children from school, and many trucks and buses idle for hours on end. Obviously, no …
We’re honored to announce that Andy Shallal, founder and CEO of Busboys and Poets, will be providing welcoming remarks at our 40th anniversary EcoExtravaganza celebration on Friday, October 19 at the Arlington Arts Center. Andy’s vision in building the Busboys and Poets restaurants in DC, Virginia and Maryland has resulted in gathering spaces that are critical institutions …
Enjoy a night out at the ballpark and support EcoAction Arlington at the Washington Nationals ‘GreenSlam’ fundraiser night. The Nationals are taking on the Philadelphia Phillies, and your support of ‘GreenSlam’ can help EcoAction Arlington continue fighting climate change and protecting our environment. By purchasing your ticket for the Nationals vs. Phillies game on ‘GreenSlam’ …
Home and garden tours are popular in cities and towns across America, but few are specifically designed to highlight the environmental benefits of the homes and gardens on display. Arlington County’s home and garden tour, now in its sixteenth year, offers a unique point-of-view that features aesthetic and environmental benefits associated with the enhancements to …
INSIDE NOVA, May 10, 2018 From students to seniors, an enthusiastic contingent gathered on a toasty early-May morning recently to clean up the Four Mile Run stream that runs adjacent to Shirlington, part of ongoing efforts promoted by Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment, or ACE. Continue reading
ARLnow May 2, 2018 The conservationists with Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment are celebrating the group’s 40th anniversary by adopting a new name: EcoAction Arlington. The group made the change official on Earth Day, April 22, but executive director Elenor Hodges says the rebranding has been in the works for the last year-and-a-half or so. Continue …
More and more we’re reading about the importance of individuals getting involved in creating a more sustainable planet. We don’t all agree with that perspective; some people think it’s the government’s job and would prefer to leave the work to elected officials. During an interview with National Geographic, the former mayor of New York and …
