Rethink Energy

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This regularly-scheduled sponsored column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment. This post focuses on the Greater Arlington Solar Co-op, currently open for Arlington and other Northern Virginia residents interested in purchasing solar at a discount.  Got a question? Email us at [email protected]!

Summer is just about here and all across Arlington, people have reemerged from winter hibernation.

Our neighborhoods and neighbors are the heart of what make Arlington such a great place to live. Every week, any given corner of Arlington will be abuzz with a block party.

A block party is an opportunity for neighbors to get together, play games, let kids run about, learn a bit about your community history and just connect.

As popular as block parties are, they provide more than a good time; personal recommendations from neighbors are coveted.  Who uses which home contractor? Painter? Auto body shop? Pest control? We would like to share some information with you as you connect this spring, summer and fall.

When you get a block party permit this year, ask for a free Block Party Go Pack. Each kit includes ~25 cozies (R-value for your beverage!), along with information about Arlington’s green home renovation program, solar co-op and home energy rebates.

If your upstairs is roasting hot in the summer, if your utility bills are very high, if someone on your block has solar panels, if you’ve seen a Green Home Choice sign in a neighbor’s yard – don’t hesitate to strike up a conversation. You too could be more comfortable and save money with a smart energy upgrade.

Kick your feet up, connect with neighbors and let us help you get the conversation started as you celebrate community, summer and great neighbors.

This regularly-scheduled sponsored column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment. This post focuses on the Greater Arlington Solar Co-op, currently open for Arlington and other Northern Virginia residents interested in purchasing solar at a discount.  Got a question? Email us at [email protected]!

The county’s commitment to address climate change is nothing short of a commitment to save money, do our part to leave a lighter footprint on the planet and care for Arlington’s future generations.

ARLnow previously reported on the county’s pledge to uphold the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. The Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy program helps our community make smart decisions about energy and supports individual actions that improve and sustain Arlington’s quality of life.

This year, the Rethink Energy team is celebrating 10 years of climate action. Over the past 10 years, this program has helped spur energy and money savings throughout the community, and the county government is now saving about $1 million a year from energy- and water-saving improvements in public facilities.

Big or small, every action makes a difference and we see Arlingtonians taking action every day. What can you do? Take advantage of these resources to reduce energy use and your carbon footprint, while saving a few bucks in the process:

• Home Energy Rebates – $575 to help install insulation, air seal and efficient water heaters, furnaces and air conditioners
• Arlington’s Solar Co-op – Install solar at a discount
• Green Home Choice – Free renovation or home building certification
• Energy Lending Library – Free tools to identify energy opportunities

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Have you been thinking about a home renovation, expansion, or new construction in 2017?  How about making it “green?”

More than 250 Arlingtonians have used Green Home Choice to help make their homes energy efficient, healthy, and comfortable. Green Home Choice is a county program that offers free consulting and certification for renovation projects and new home construction.

This year the county honored the homeowners, architects, and builders of 55 Green Home Choice certified homes. Green Home Choice projects go beyond just creating an energy efficient home, they include water efficiency, indoor air quality, waste reduction, stormwater management, tree and site preservation and more.

Congratulations to the homeowners, architects and builders that are helping to create more sustainable and healthy homes. Photos above note the projects that achieved certification this past year.

A full list of builders, architects, and other Green Home Choice service providers is available online.

For more information about the program, visit the Green Home Choice website  or contact the program manager at [email protected]

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This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment. This post focuses on the Greater Arlington Solar Co-op, currently open for Arlington and other Northern Virginia residents interested in purchasing solar at a discount.  Got a question? Email us at [email protected]!

Most of us have probably thought, or dreamed, about going solar. It’s a great way to slash your energy bill, your carbon footprint and your dependence on the electric grid. But like any major purchase it’s hard to know if you’re getting a good price or what questions to ask.

If that sounds like your experience, you’re in luck! For a limited time, you can go solar at a 20 percent discount through the Greater Arlington Solar Co-op. You’ll also have the support of the solar community to guide you through the process.

Solar has never been cheaper. Systems cost less than half of what they would have just five years ago and the federal tax credit offers an 30 percent discount in addition to the co-op discount.

Over 80 Arlingtonians have already gone solar using co-ops like this. To get started, visit the co-op website for a no-obligation roof screening (you’ll provide your information using a form near the bottom of the site), and/or attend an information session to learn more:

• First info session: Wednesday, May 10, 7 p.m., Navy League Building, 2300 Wilson Blvd, Arlington. RSVP here.
• Second info session: Thursday, May 11, 7 p.m., The Pavilion at Mark Center, 5708 Merton Court, Alexandria. RSVP here.

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment. Got a question? Email us at [email protected]!

It’s Earth Day and this marks our 40th post on ARLnow.  The Rethink Energy Program is Arlington County’s energy management program. Saving energy means saving money.

We offer a number of program and resources to help you save energy and money:

• Home Show & Garden Expo TODAY 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Arlington Home Energy Rebate Program
• New solar co-op launched
• Energy Lending Library
• Green Renovation & Home Building Resource
• Rethink Energy Podcast
• Energy Audit Information
• Smart Cooling Rewards Program
• Appliance Rebate
• Furnace Rebates
  

Arlingtonians continue to lead on actions that leave a lighter footprint on our plant and your wallet. Please stop by and see us at the Home Show & Garden Expo with your energy questions or email us at [email protected].

Happy Earth Day!

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Arlington’s Home Show and Garden Expo will return this month on April 22. It’s a convenient way to learn about remodeling, greening, and improving your home.

One of the most popular features of every Home Show are the free classes and workshops offered to visitors. This year the Home Show and Garden Expo falls on Earth Day.  The Main Stage will feature talks about:

The Future of Personal Energy Use           11:30 a.m.

Arlington’s Solar Co-op                                  3:00 p.m.

Green Home Choice Awards                        3:45 p.m.

Attend the Expo and free events at the Main Stage.  We’ll be giving away free LED bulbs to attendees of the sessions noted above.  While you are at the Expo, look for the Rethink Energy booth.  We’ll have info on LED lighting, home energy rebates and more.  Stop by with your energy questions.  We’d love to help you save energy and money.

The Expo is being held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 2nd Street S.).

A full list of classes and workshops is available online.

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This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment. Got a question? Email us at [email protected]!

There is no better place in Arlington to get started on your home project or move it forward faster than at Arlington’s Home Show and Garden Expo. For many Arlingtonians, a home renovation is almost a rite of passage.

Arlington’s largest Home Show & Garden Expo will return this month on April 22. The Home Show will feature dozens of home builders, contractors, vendors, architects, inspectors, real estate agents, gardeners, lenders and nonprofits, as well as housing, zoning and inspection representatives from Arlington County.

Classes and seminars at the Home Show cover many topics including:

• Move or remodel? Which is right for me?
• Kitchen and bath remodeling
• How to choose and work with contractors
• How to finance your remodeling project
• Green remodeling, solar co-op, green home certification
• Downsizing and aging in place
• Gardening and urban landscaping

Stop by and check it out.  Arlington’s Rethink Energy team will be there all day.  We’d love to see you and answer your energy questions!

The Expo is being held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 2nd Street S).

For more information, visit: www.arlingtonhomeshow.org

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment. Got a question? Email us at [email protected]!

If your old second fridge or freezer is putting a freeze on efficiency, why not get rid of it and receive a $50 rebate at the same time? Act now — applications for rebates must be submitted before May 31, 2017!

The way people save energy with air conditioning or heating, is by using it less, but that isn’t really an option with your refrigerator.

The best way to save money with your fridge or freezer is to get rid of an older model, particularly if you have a second appliance located in a basement or garage. This program targets second appliances to take them out of circulation. Commonly referred to as a ‘beer fridge’ these older units aren’t just a little less efficient, they are WAY LESS EFFICIENT. A 1986 vintage 18 cubic foot refrigerator uses 1400 kWh a year, while a new ENERGY STAR model uses only 350 kWh — a whopping 75% difference!

Dominion Virginia Power (DVP) is conducting a refrigerator and freezer roundup that will pay you to take away and recycle your old second appliance. You don’t have to lift a finger and they will pay you $50. Not a bad deal, right?

As with anything, terms and conditions apply. The appliances must be between 10-30 cubic feet in size, older than 10 years, and be in working order. Please visit the program website to review all information and to register.

Act now! The program will no longer accept applications after May 31, 2017. If you’ve been thinking of getting rid of your second fridge or freezer, there is no easier way to do it and get paid. They’ll even come and haul it out of your basement.

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This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment. Got a question? Email us at [email protected]!

We often hear residents describe drafty rooms, high utility bills, temperature fluctuations from room to room, or other home energy headaches. If these issues sound familiar, an energy audit will be the best way to pinpoint opportunities to cut your energy bill and improve your home’s comfort.

Who should I call? We recommend that residents use a BPI certified auditor. These highly trained energy specialists ensure that your energy auditor will be knowledgeable and well trained. Search here for an auditor in the area.

How much money can I expect to save? Every home is unique. The audit will provide you with a detailed report that explains how much air leakage you have along with a prioritized list of actions you can take. Each proposed action will include an estimated financial payback. Payback also comes in less tangible ways like a more comfortable and safer home.

Remember, the home energy audit is only the first step to cutting your energy bills. Making the recommended energy efficiency upgrades is what leads to real energy savings.

You can pair your audit with our Home Energy Rebates, which gives you up to $575 to use for air seal, insulation, or to install high efficiency water heaters and heating & cooling equipment.

If you clicked anything but Just right, consider an energy audit or using the Home Energy Rebate program to insulate and air seal this spring. You’ll be thankful you did when the summer heat arrives.

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This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment. Got a question? Email us at [email protected]!

Buying a light bulb used to be a no-brainer. Now it’s a brain teaser — the transition to more energy-efficient lighting means choosing from a dazzling array of products. There are many options, many symbols, and trade vernacular that can be hard to decipher (LED, CFL, halogen, lumens, Kelvin, CRI), not to mention all of the various brands.

The Rethink Energy Program in partnership with Arlington Public Library is making it easier for Arlingtonians to switch to LED bulbs. 

Now, with your Arlington County Library card you can borrow a case of various LED bulbs to test at home to find the ones that work best for you. The box includes 10 different lights. All of the bulbs in the box are dimmable.

Lights include:

• Standard bulbs of different brightness levels and colors
• Track lighting or recessed can fixture bulbs
• Chandelier bulbs (small and regular base)
• Outdoor flood light bulb
• Bathroom vanity bulb
• Three-Way bulb
• Night light

If you are looking for the “Cliffs Notes” for LED bulbs, check out our LED Lighting guide.  This guide will give you all the info you need to know about LED brightness, color, energy use, and more. 

Use this link to place a hold on the LED bulb sampler kit today.

Want a free LED? Mark you calendar for the Home Show and Garden Expo on April 22 at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center for a free LED bulb. Bulbs will be given out at the main stage at 3:45 p.m., during the Green Home Choice awards ceremony.

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment. Got a question? Email us at [email protected]!

Valentine’s day is almost upon us. To celebrate, we’re sharing a thermal camera video of fresh strawberries dipped into hot melty chocolate. 

A year ago the Energy Lending Library was created by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy (AIRE) in partnership with Arlington Public Library. The lending library included 4 thermal cameras. Was anyone interested? The answer was a resounding YES! There was an immediate 7-month backlog to use the cameras. 

The Rethink Energy Program added 7 more cameras to help ease demand but the backlog persisted. Residents expressed that the wait list was still too long to use the cameras. WE HEARD YOU!  Later this month we are again doubling (12 more) the number of thermal cameras in the library system (23 total).

Thermal imaging cameras are a great tool because they can see what your eyes can’t. You’ll see hot and cold spots where insulation is missing, identify where air is getting in or out of your house, and more.

Show your home some love and reserve a thermal camera today. Once the new cameras are put into the Library inventory you’ll be able to use them shortly.

If you spot energy opportunities in your home, don’t forget to take advantage of Arlington’s Home Energy Rebate Program!