Rethink Energy

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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]!

Think globally, act locally. That might as well be the motto for Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE). ACE and Arlington’s Rethink Energy Team have worked collaboratively for over 10 years. It’s been a partnership that has created a more energy efficient and sustainable Arlington. It has harnessed the passion and volunteerism in our community for our community.

Since 2011, ACE and the Rethink Energy team have worked together on the award-winning Energy Masters program. The Program trains volunteers to educate residents and do hands-on retrofits in energy efficiency and water conservation.

Working through a 25-point checklist, volunteers:

• Seal air leaks around windows, doors and ducts.
• Install energy efficiency devices like LED light bulbs and smart power strips.
• Install water-saving devices like low-flow shower heads, faucet aerators.
• Educate residents on how they can help reduce their energy use and save money.

The Impact

ACE trained more than 140 volunteers who have helped more than 550 families living in affordable housing around Arlington to decrease their energy and water use and improve the comfort of their homes.

Over the past five years, volunteers have installed:

• 2,927 compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• 5,615 outlet and light switch gaskets.
• 523 faucet aerators.
• 237 low-flow shower heads.
• 273 toilet tummies.
• 246 power strips and smart power strips.

Act Locally

Energy Masters is accepting applications for volunteers for the fall training program, which starts in September. There is also a student apprentice program that is open to college and high school students age 16 and up.

Six training sessions will be held on Thursdays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. between Sept. 29 and Nov. 17.

Learn more and apply online at: www.Arlingtonenvironment.org/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]!

Did you know Arlington now offers Home Energy Rebates? You can apply for up to $575 in rebates by replacing your water heater or heating/cooling system with an efficient model, or if you add insulation or air sealing.

Today we’ll focus on adding insulation and/or air sealing. Up to 50% of your expenses (excluding labor) are eligible for the rebate if you spend a minimum of $200.

Why suffer year after year with uncomfortable spaces in your home? In most cases, the fixes aren’t complex and the cost will likely be less than you expect. In one day you can have your home insulated and be comfortable year after year.

Doesn’t my home already have insulation?

It probably has some, but 9 out of 10 homes don’t have enough. Older homes are even more likely to be deficient. Signs of inadequate insulation or air leaks include drafts, rooms that are uncomfortably warm or cold, or high energy bills.

In most houses, the attic is the easiest and most effective place to air seal and insulate.

Why air seal?

Access hatches and doors into your attic are places where your cool air escapes and heat enters you home. Weather-stripping gaskets can reduce that energy loss. Other common places of air leaks are around can lights, electrical boxes, around air ducts, plumbing and electrical holes, and more. Expanding foam and caulk works wonders to seal those areas. Attic access hatch doors can make a huge difference for your home too.

How do I get started?

The easiest step is to find a contractor that specializes in this type of work. Here’s a searchable directory.

If you’re handy and ready to take matters into your own hands, an insulation or air sealing project is as simple as a trip to your local store and an afternoon in your attic. ENERGY STAR has great resources to help you identify inadequate insulation, install insulation and air seal your home.

It’s that easy. Just make a decision to be comfortable and reduce your utility bills. Install insulation and/or air sealing. Apply for a rebate!

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]!

Q: What do you call a massive solar energy spill?

A: A nice day.

Arlington loves solar.

In less than two months more than 150 people have joined Potomac Solar Co-op. The group is open to Arlington residents interested in purchasing solar panels for their homes at a ~20% discount.

Because so many people have been interested in going solar, a second solar co-op information session is scheduled for July 20th. RSVP here if you would like to attend. Details for the session are below:

Wednesday, July 20 at 7 p.m.

Aurora Hills Community Center
735 18th St. S.
Arlington, VA 22202

If you can’t attend the session, you can still go solar by filling in the form about halfway down on the co-op website to have your roof screened. A co-op representative will follow up with next steps, there’s no obligation to purchase until you sign a contract.

But wait, what’s a solar co-op? Check out the video below to learn more:

Arlingtonians have more options than ever to declare their independence from high energy use this summer, and to save money and reduce waste all year.  July 4th is a great time to relax, reflect, and rethink. 

Here are a few of our previous posts that will save you money:

• Arlington Home Energy Rebate Program
• Arlington Solar Co-Op
• Smart Cooling Rewards Program
• Refrigerator and Freezer Roundup
• Green Renovation and Home Building Resource
• Energy Lending Library
• 4 Things Every Arlingtonian Should Know About Energy Audits
• Unplug “Energy Vampires”

Enjoy the holiday!

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]!

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• Get paid for installing insulation or upgrading to more energy-efficient equipment.
• Spend less on future energy bills.
• Be more comfortable in your home.

Arlington’s Rethink Energy Program is launching a Home Energy Rebate program for County residents!

Is your water heater on its last leg? Is the upstairs of your home roasting hot in the summer and freezing in the winter? Has your heating or cooling system reached its shelf life? Plug in to these rebates to save money and be more comfortable at home.

You can apply for up to $575 in rebates if you replace your water heater or heating/cooling system with an energy efficient model, or if you add insulation or air sealing to your home.

The following items are eligible for the Arlington rebate:

• Air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps (including geothermal heat pumps) – $575 rebate. 

• Water heaters– $250 rebate.

• Air sealing and insulation– 50% of your expenses (excluding labor).  You must spend at least $200 to apply for a rebate, and you can receive up to $575.

All of these items are also eligible for a federal energy tax credit. Let’s repeat that – you can get money from the Feds and from Arlington’s Rethink Energy Program that will also save you money on your utility bills.

Check out our webpage or download the application for more program details.

Leave questions in the comments section below. We’ll answer questions about the rebate program and talk more about each rebate in subsequent posts.

POLL:

Which rebate do you expect to (or are you most likely to) use?

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]!

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In part one we talked about how 34 Arlingtonians installed solar with the 2015 Solar Co-op. Thanks for your questions in the comments section of the last post! We heard you. This FAQ-style post will answer those questions and detail the process to participate in the Potomac Solar Co-op.  

Why purchase solar through the co-op?

By going solar as a co-op group, members will save 20-30% off the cost of a solar system. They’ll also have the support of the co-op throughout the process instead of having to navigate the process alone.

What kind of payback can I expect?

Your payback will depend on many factors like the size of your system, your roof’s shading, and your energy use. You can check out VA SUN’s sample calculations to get a basic idea.

Another thing to think about is your home’s value. Items with lower operating costs often sell for a premium because they cost less to operate over time. Examples include fuel efficient cars, high efficiency heating and cooling systems, or even LED bulbs. The same is true for homes. A recent Department of Energy study found that homes with solar, on average, sold for higher prices. That’s food for thought.

Who is eligible for the co-op? Can condo owners participate?

The co-op is open for Arlington residents and folks who live reasonably close to Arlington.

No condo has participated to date, but the program is available to condo buildings. That said, the co-op model works best if you own your roof. This makes condo participation more difficult. Speak with your condo board about the rules and possible participation. If we can help your condo answer questions and join the co-op, don’t hesitate to ask. 

How do I join the solar co-op or learn more?

If you’re interested in joining, enter your information into the form about halfway down the co-op website. This allows VA SUN to screen your roof virtually, and they’ll keep you posted on next steps. There’s no obligation until you sign a contract. The above infographic shows the process in more detail.

To learn more, attend the first information session this Wednesday, June 8 at 7pm at the Navy League Building, 2300 Wilson Blvd, Arlington. Follow this link for more details and to RSVP.

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]!

Have you heard of the Smart Cooling Rewards Program? This Dominion Power program will pay you $40 a year to let them install an A/C cycling switch that occasionally cycles off your air-conditioning on the warmest days of summer.

Turn off my air conditioning – are you kidding? Nope, more than 2,100 homes in Arlington have already signed up!

On the few days when A/C cycling is used, the indoor temperature may increase slightly but the fan stays on to circulate already cooled air. The compressor will cycle off for no more than 4 hours per event on weekdays only between 2-6pm, when most people aren’t home. That might not seem like much, but when thousands of homes simultaneously reduce the demand for electricity, the strain on the entire electrical distribution system is reduced.

Why is this important? The highest electrical demand (called “peak load”) occurs on the hottest summer days when electricity is the most expensive and dirty to produce. The Smart Cooling Rewards program is designed to specifically manage peak load capacity. That’s a good thing.

The Smart Cooling Rewards program helps use the electrical system more efficiently. This technology is available now to Arlington residents in owner-occupied single-family homes, townhouses, and some condos.

Get all the details and sign up today: Smart Cooling Rewards

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 being energy-efficient just got a whole lot easier. Arlington residents can now plug into the first Energy Lending Library in the country to help identify energy waste in homes and provide energy efficiency solutions.

Now available with the swipe of your library card (and for free) are:

Thermal imaging cameras that indicate where insulation is missing and where air leaks occur in homes.

Energy meters to understand how much electricity appliances and electronics use. Understanding energy use in the home is the first step toward a “greener” home.

A curated booklist offering energy saving tips to complete “do-it-yourself” energy efficiency projects that save energy and money. Books are for adults and kids with a few in Spanish, too.

The Energy Lending Library was created by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy (AIRE) in partnership with Arlington Public Library.

Also, don’t miss out on the LED bulb swaps happening this Saturday and Sunday at Central Library. Bring in one old incandescent light bulb and exchange it for an energy efficient LED bulb, at no cost!

One LED per household, while supplies last!

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Arlington libraries aren’t “ssshhh-ing” students and they aren’t stocked with microfiche film anymore. Remember those film readers?

It’s 2016 and the Arlington Public Library is evolving into a 21st century community resource and research center complete with garden tool lending, computer labs, and even American Girl dolls. And now they are showcases of energy efficiency as well.

Arlington’s Central Library, in partnership with the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy, has reached a pretty big milestone. In 2015, Central Library used less than half as much purchased electricity as it did in 2000! The County is saving over $125,000 annually at Central Library alone, and the annual savings will grow as electricity prices go up.

To achieve those savings the County installed LED lights, improved building energy controls, and a new efficient cooling system. In addition, 250 solar panels were installed on the roof at Central Library (60 kW of solar purchased with a Federal grant in 2011), providing clean energy to the Library.

This Earth Day you can follow Central Library’s lead in your own home! You can get an energy efficient LED light bulb at Central Library by bringing an old incandescent bulb to Central Library on the dates and times below. We’ll swap it at no cost — one per household, while supplies last.

EARTH DAY AT CENTRAL LIBRARY – LED Bulb Swaps:

1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington

FRIDAY, APRIL 22 from 10 a.m. – noon

SATURDAY, APRIL 23 from noon – 2 p.m.

SUNDAY, APRIL 24 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

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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]!

If your old fridge or freezer is putting a freeze on efficiency, why not get rid of it — and receive a $50 rebate at the same time?

In most homes the refrigerator is the second-largest user of electricity (13.7%), just less than the air conditioner (14.1%). (See: Dept. of Energy,)

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. 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% reduction!

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

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.