Rethink Energy

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]!

Working for Arlington County on energy saving programs is an inherently optimistic, can-do experience. Arlingtonians take actions every day that create a positive future and more sustainable community. Together with residents, the Rethink Energy team works to develop programs that save both energy and money.

So, what does the new administration mean for Arlington’s energy future?

One week ago, a new administration took office in Washington, D.C. The White House outlines a fossil-fuel-focused energy platform, has questioned climate change, and has threatened to cancel US participation in the Paris Climate Agreement. As of yet, there are few specifics on a long-term energy policy or clean energy tax credit changes.

What we do know about energy in Arlington is that the County Board approved Arlington’s Community Energy Plan in 2013. This plan, created with residents, established a long-term vision to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Arlington by 75% by the year 2050. That goal transcends election and budget cycles. It sets the course for ongoing programs to help meet the goal. Planning for the future and then following through on our commitments is one of the things Arlington does best.

Over the past year, Arlingtonians led with the following energy-focused actions:

• 50+ homeowners installed solar panels on their roofs
• 200 homeowners received Home Energy Rebates for installing insulation, energy efficient heating/cooling systems, and water heaters
• 50+ Homes earned Green Home Choice certification (bringing the total up to 250+ Green Home Choice certified projects in Arlington)
• Thousands of residents took countless actions — big and small – to reduce energy use and save money

At the New Year’s Board meeting, the County Board emphasized many of the ideals that make Arlington great. Jay Fisette, Arlington County Board Chair, outlined his commitment to encourage net-zero energy in new public buildings, large solar arrays on public buildings, and to be the first locality in Virginia to establish a PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program to assist commercial property owners in financing energy and water retrofits.

At this time of great change, Arlingtonians have never had so many opportunities to act and make a difference.

Here are some things that you can do right now:

1. Connect on Facebook and via our eNewsletter to get updates on programs, events, and tips
2. Apply for a Home Energy Rebate of up to $575 per household
3. Renovate or build your home with our Green Home Choice Program
4. Install Solar with our upcoming 2017 solar co-op
5. Use the Energy Lending Library’s tools (thermal cameras and box of bulbs)
6. Listen to our Rethink Energy Podcast

There’s so much to do and Arlingtonians continue to lead the way. The Rethink Energy team is here to assist and we’ll keep working to help you to create a positive climate of change in Arlington. 

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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]!

The Rethink Energy Program is rolling out new programs this year, hosting exciting events, and serving you up with tips and info to save energy, save money, and be more comfortable in your home.

If you take only two action today, we ask that you:

• Like our Facebook page
• Sign up for our email newsletter*

Be the first to know! In February, we’ll launch via our newsletter and Facebook page, new events and tools that residents can use to save

This New Year we resolve to help you save money, be more comfortable in your home, and leave a lighter footprint on the environment. We hope you will resolve to let us help you make it cheaper and easier than ever to save energy by taking two simple actions today, like and sign up.

*We dislike spam too. We promise to send no more than one email per month.

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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]!

Snow cometh! What can you know with snow? Try this!

As snow falls, keep an eye on your roof and the roofs of surrounding homes. A light snow can tell a lot about the efficiency of a home. About an inch of snow is best to identify issues. Fast-melting roof snow can be a symptom of inadequate insulation.

Not all areas of missing snow are indications of energy issues. Hone your eye by taking note of tree limbs over a home, high winds and areas where direct sun may create funky patterns on a roof. Nevertheless, this is a quick way to take inventory of what might be happening in your home.

Take advantage of Arlington’s Home Energy Rebates to help make your home more comfortable and save money. Arlington homeowners can receive a rebate up to $575 to add insulation, air seal, or install an efficient furnace or water heater.

Stay warm, stay safe, and keep an eye on your roof. It might be trying to tell you something.

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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]!

Building experts are on the leading edge of energy innovation. The Rethink Energy podcast gets up close and personal with some of our local trendsetters to learn what makes them tick.

In episode one, guest Chris Conway confesses his challenge breaking into the construction market at the height of the Great Recession, “Boy, that was a bad time to do that!” forcing his switch to energy.

Episode three guest Patty Shields shares her experience building ultra-efficient homes, and when asked what it’s like be a woman in the primarily male construction biz she reveals, “People are surprised at my level of knowledge… and you just have to not let that phase you and just plow on through.”

In episode four, Guest Aaron Sutch from VASUN, a nonprofit that organizes solar co-ops around the state, talks about why he thinks people are so in love with solar, “I think the garden analogy is great. I remember the first time that I ate the tomatoes that I had sprouted from seed right in my own backyard. There’s just something special about that.” He expressed that electricity produced at home with solar panels has the same feeling.

Host Jessica Abralind, Green Building Planner for Arlington, breaks down technical subjects to keep the quick 10 minute episodes engaging and accessible, “These really smart and charming people that I meet through my work have some hilarious stories and fascinating insights into the world we all live in. I’m excited to share that with the community.”

Take a few minutes and (binge) listen to all episodes from our entire first season:

Season One Trailer

Episode 1 – Warrior

Episode 2 – Hoodwinked

Episode 3 – Construction, Moms (…and Machine Guns)

Episode 4 – Power to the People

Episode 5 – This is What the Future Looks Like

Episode 6 – Care and Feeding

Episode 7 – Feedback Episode

Episode 8 – The Unexpected Benefits of Energy Efficiency

Episode 9 – The Gadget Guy

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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]!

December is just around the corner, and so is the expiration for some of the federal tax credits for energy efficiency. In fact, December 31, 2016 will be the last day you can use federal tax credits to make your home more energy efficient — and save yourself some hard-earned cash by reducing your monthly energy costs this winter.

Products must be installed in an existing home or your principal residence on or before December 31, 2016 — so don’t delay.

If you upgrade your heating/cooling system, install insulation, seal air leaks and/or replace your water heater, you can double your savings by combining the Federal Tax Credits with Arlington’s Home Energy Rebates.

Federal Tax Credits + Arlington’s Home Energy Rebates + Lower Utility Bills + Better Home Comfort = No Brainer

So, what are you waiting for? Contact an insulation specialist, HVAC installer or contractor to take action today and ring in the New Year with comfort and savings.

• Arlington Home Energy Rebates
• Federal Energy Tax Credits
• Washington Gas Rebates
• Dominion Virginia Power Rebates

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 no secret that fall is starting to surrender itself to winter. Not only have temperatures dropped, but thanks to Daylight Saving Time the sun is setting earlier and earlier. (Reminder – set your clocks back on 11/6!)  If you ride your bike, walk or run after 5 p.m., you will be doing it in the dark.

Don’t worry, BikeArlington, WalkArlington, and the Rethink Energy Program have your back! Two pop-up events are coming up to give you free LED bike lights, LED light bulbs, and reflective vests. Help us help you to be seen by other road and trail users and to light your home. LED lighting info will also be provided to help you make a switch to more efficient lighting at home.

Lighten Up Arlington will take place from 4:30-7 p.m.:

November 7 — Rosslyn Bike-o-Meter (Intersection of the Custis Trail & Lynn Street)

November 9 — Columbia Pike (Intersection of the W&OD Trail & Columbia Pike)

Stop by, get lit, don some snazzy gear to see and be seen, and make a switch to LED lighting at home.

Did you know?

• Daylight saving time was an idea to conserve energy by using the sun’s light instead of candles or oil.
• Benjamin Franklin takes the honor (blame?) for the idea.
• In 1918 the United States adopted daylight saving time.
• Hawaii, Arizona and parts of Indiana don’t observe daylight saving time.
• Parents dread time changes because the shift messes with their children’s sleep cycle.

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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]!

1. Energy vampires are in all of our homes.
2. They suck (energy), not just on Oct. 31, but year round.
3. Easily identify and stop them (no garlic or wooden stake necessary).

Halloween is just around the corner. Do you have vampires lurking in your home?

YES! Energy vampires exist in all of our homes! Believe it or not, many electronics use energy while they are switched off or are in standby mode. They’re called “energy vampires” because they suck energy, the lifeblood of your home, year round.

The typical American home has 40 devices that are continuously sucking power. It’s only a small amount of power per house but it adds up. Some of the main energy-sucking culprits in the home are your computer printer, DVD player, laptop, coffee maker, TV, stereo system, game console, microwave oven, or cell phone charger. Many culprits have lights that continue to operate after the appliance is turned off.

Arlington County Library can help! They have Kill-A-Watt devices available for checkout. These devices show what is sucking energy at your house, how much, and what it is costing you. This is fun for kids and adults (school science experiment — hint hint).

How to stop energy vampires:

• Unplug devices when not in use.
• Plug your devices into a power strip and turn the strip off when not in use.
• Buy ENERGYSTAR appliances.
• Activate sleep mode instead of a screen saver on your computer.

Saving energy and money is a treat you can enjoy all year long. If you’re interested in achieving deeper energy savings, check out our Home Energy Rebates. You can receive up to $575 to reduce your energy use.

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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]!

Sustainability through storytelling. That is what you can expect from Rethink Energy’s new podcast. Energy is invisible. But then again, it can be seen almost everywhere. Rethink Energy makes the invisible visible with stories from the people who take on some of our greatest energy challenges, right here in Arlington. 

These podcasts are packaged in 8-10 minute bits. Listen while riding the metro, bus, or while walking home from work.

Some highlights:

• In episode 5, we learn why Arlington Public Schools went through the trouble of building a net-zero energy school. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Discovery Elementary School. “Our electric bills are basically zero,” says APS construction manager, Steve Stricker.
• In episode three, Patty Shields explains what a novelty she is being a woman in the home builder arena, “It is fairly unique. There are not a lot of women home builders. I can count them on one hand not using a lot of those fingers. I really only know two.” When asked if she was one of those two she replies, “I am. I want to beef up the numbers so that other women will get into it!” She opens up about her experiences building the first LEED Platinum house in Arlington, and the first Passive House.
• Other episodes look into Arlington’s solar co-op, home insulation and air sealing, heating and cooling, and more!

Each podcast episode opens a door to new ideas, new jokes, and new ways of seeing Arlington. Take a few minutes to (binge) listen and check out the episodes from our first season:

Podcast Teaser – LINK

All episodes – LINK

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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]!

With a record number of 90-degree days in August and a toasty September, this has been one of the warmest summers on record for Arlington.

No need to get hot and bothered — plant a (free) tree. Trees cast shade on buildings and pavement, lowering the temperatures and thus reducing demand for power to cool these buildings during hot times of the year. Planting the right trees in the right places can keep your house and community cooler in the summer and reduce your energy bills.

As the weather begins to turn cool and crisp, now is the time to think about planting trees. Arlington County is giving away one free tree per residential property with the Annual Fall Free Tree Distribution program, while supplies last.

TreeSteward members and Arlington County landscape staff will be on hand to help participants. Educational materials, such as tree care and maintenance and planting guidelines, will be available.

These trees get snapped up quickly! What are you waiting for? Click here for more info, reserve your tree, and help keep Arlington a cool place to live, work and play.

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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]!

What has LED lighting, blast resistant windows, and the biggest green roof in Arlington? If you didn’t guess the buildings on the Pentagon reservation, then guess again.

It’s 9/11 and we are spotlighting the Pentagon. Over the past two decades, the Pentagon was renovated, partly through a planned renovation as well as through the Phoenix Project to repair damage that occurred on September 11, 2001. The construction took advantage of an aging building to create a new Pentagon that balances sustainability and security. It was no small task.

The Pentagon reservation now boasts the largest green roof in Arlington (180,000+ sq. ft.) and 9 separate LEED certified projects. The Pentagon contains efficient lighting, low flow water fixtures, nontoxic paints, sustainably harvested wood, a green cleaning program, and more!   The Pentagon is the world’s largest low-rise office building. It houses 26,000 personnel within 6.5 million square feet.

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is one of the largest single consumers of energy in the world. The DoD uses about 30,000 gigawatt hours (GWH) of electricity annually, at a cost of almost $2.2 billion. If the DoD were a country, it’s electricity use would rank 58th in the world just behind Denmark. The DoD understands the importance of energy efficiency and has been actively managing buildings and resources to reduce expenses. Energy efficiency and national security are integrally linked.

When Teddy Roosevelt stated that “conservation means development as much as it means protection,” he probably did not mean for high-efficiency LED lights to be inset next to blast resistant windows. Nevertheless the Pentagon is a shining example of conservation and protection, effectively balancing occupant safety, historic preservation and environmental stewardship.

Your home is smaller than the Pentagon, but you can still make your home more energy efficient and comfortable — check out these resources for Arlington homeowners:

Home Energy Rebate Program — Insulation, HVAC, and Water Heater Rebates

Arlington Solar Co-Op — Solar for homeowners at a discount through bulk purchasing

Green Home Choice — FREE renovation or new construction green certification

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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]!

It is back-to-school time for Arlington teachers and students. Arlington Public Schools works hard to create sustainable schools. We want to celebrate the new school year with some energy fun facts. How many of these did you know?

1. Wakefield water is heated by the sun. Solar thermal panels on the roof heat water for school use. Feel the sun’s warmth the next time you wash your hands at Wakefield.
2. Arlington built a Net Zero Energy school! That means that the building creates as much energy as it uses in a year. No joke! Discovery Elementary is very energy efficient and has rooftop solar to generate electricity.
3. The Earth heats and cools Discovery, Wakefield, and Taylor. Geothermal wells drilled hundreds of feet into the ground use the Earth’s constant temperature to reduce heating and cooling costs.
4. New LED lights shine brightly in the Thomas Jefferson Gym. Next time you are at the TJ gymnasium, look UP! The new LED lights save about $45,000 annually and will have a payback of less than 4 years.
5. Arlington currently has 5 LEED certified schools (Langston-Brown, Reed-Westover, Wakefield, Washington-Lee and Yorktown). LEED Schools are more energy and water efficient, and create healthy environments for learning. Every high school in Arlington is LEED certified.
6. Daylight is thoughtfully integrated into new schools. Daylight in classrooms saves energy. Daylight in classrooms has also been shown to improve test scores and reduce off-task behavior.
7. White roofs and vegetated roofs create cooler school environments. Many schools feature environmentally responsible “cool” roofs. Think about the temperature difference of an asphalt parking lot and grassy field.
8. An abundance of bike racks available at schools. Bike racks aren’t new, but the number of covered bike racks has increased significantly. Biking to school reduces transportation energy use and is great exercise.
9. Stormwater is captured for irrigation and toilet flushing. Have you noticed the large planted area at Wakefield’s front door? This area captures roof rainwater which is filtered and stored for use in toilet flushing and field irrigation. This saves water and reduces that amount of energy used to treat and pump water for school use.
10. BYOWB — Bring Your Own Water Bottle. New water bottle filling stations minimize the need for single-use water bottles and reduce the energy needed to produce and transport bottled water.

Are you looking to make your home more energy efficient? Take advantage of Arlington’s Home Energy Rebate program. You can apply for up to $575 in rebates when you replace your water heater, furnace, or air conditioner with an energy efficient model, or if you add insulation to your home. Start saving today at http://bit.ly/energyRebate!