|
This month’s issue includes news of Energy Efficiency Day; solar installations at county fire stations; Fairfax County’s first electric transit buses; an upcoming Electrify Your Ride webinar; the 2023 Environmental Excellence Award winners; a Green Business Partners Leader spotlight; and much more.
Oct. 4 will mark the eighth annual Energy Efficiency Day, a national day of awareness and action around conserving energy to lower costs and improve the health of communities.
Smarter energy use reduces the amount of electricity and natural gas needed to power our homes. Improved efficiency helps curb greenhouse gas emissions that pollute our air and disrupt our climate. Energy efficiency is also an economic engine, supporting millions of jobs nationwide.
During Energy Efficiency Day, and every day, residents of Fairfax County are encouraged to take one or more actions in their homes, workplaces, or schools to reduce energy use, cut costs and promote a healthier environment.
For more information and ideas that can save you money and lower emissions, check out our home energy checklist.
And if you’re visiting the Government Center this week, stop by the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) table in the second-floor atrium to get more tips and info on home energy.
In a milestone for Fairfax County, the first solar installations using an energy performance contract have been completed at Reston and Woodlawn fire stations.
The project includes rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays for onsite power generation at both stations, totaling 100 kW. Combined, the projects will provide about 17% of the electricity needed for the buildings and save the county approximately $13K in energy costs in the first year. Even more, annual savings are expected to rise as the price of electricity increases over time.
A media event on Sept. 27 at Woodlawn Fire Station brought together county leaders and representatives from Fire and Rescue, OEEC, Department of Public Works and Environmental Services/Capital Facilities and energy service company CMTA for a ceremonial “flipping of the switch” to turn on the solar array.
“This is another major step toward pursuing greater energy efficiency and becoming more environmentally friendly,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay. “Not only does it save us money on electricity costs over time, but it demonstrates our commitment to meeting our goal of carbon neutrality in our operations by 2040.”
On Sept. 28, Fairfax Connector unveiled their first battery-electric buses – another important step in the county’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable public transportation.
Eight battery-powered buses are now part of the Connector fleet, with another eight on the way by 2025.
A ribbon cutting ceremony took place at the West Ox Operations and Maintenance Center to celebrate the cutting-edge vehicles, which not only reduce emissions but also promise greater efficiency and reliability.
Track Your Progress in Saving Money and Reducing Emissions Using Climate Action Checklist
Taking climate action doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Introducing the Fairfax County Climate Action Checklist: a spreadsheet designed to help you track your progress in adopting sustainable habits and making environmentally conscious choices that can also save you money.
The checklist includes more than 70 individual climate actions you can take to help reduce your carbon emissions and build resilience so you can better withstand the impacts of climate change. For each action, there is information on the cost up front and yearly savings in both money and carbon emissions.
Not ready to tackle all 70-plus actions? No problem. To make taking climate action even easier, there are shorter checklists, all focused on a different theme: Home Energy, Resiliency, Transportation, and Waste.
Interested in owning an electric vehicle but concerned about the cost? OEEC, in partnership with the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition and the Electric Vehicle Association of Greater Washington, DC, is presenting “Electrify Your Ride with Tax Incentives: A Carbon-Free Fairfax Webinar” on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m.
During the webinar, you will learn about:
- Tax credits and rebates available through the Inflation Reduction Act and local utilities to help lower the costs.
- Tips for first-time EV buyers to help with a purchase or lease decision.
- Answers to common questions about EV ownership.
The webinar will be livestreamed on Fairfax County’s YouTube channel as well as OEEC’s Facebook page. No registration required. It will also be immediately available on YouTube to watch the replay after the livestream.
Be sure to tune in at 6 p.m. on Oct. 5!
With more and more electric vehicles on the road and interest in EVs continuing to grow, OEEC launched the Charge Up Fairfax pilot program to make installing shared charging stations easier and more affordable in multi-family condo, clusters and townhome communities. Homeowners and condo owners associations (HOA and COA) are encouraged to apply by Nov. 12 for technical and financial incentives — including up to $10,000 in reimbursement grants.
Recently, there were two opportunities for interested parties to learn more about the program and how to apply.
On Sept. 14, OEEC held a Charge Up Fairfax Webinar which is now available to watch on demand. On Sept. 21, Charge Up Fairfax Program Manager Gina Weil was a guest on the county’s Consumer Connection program.
Join OEEC at Centreville Day on Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Historic Centreville Park, 5714 Mt. Gilead Road.
The event will include a parade, children’s rides and activities, food and unique crafts, and OEEC will be there to share climate action information and materials for a greener and more resilient Fairfax County!
Recently, OEEC announced the recipients of the 2023 Environmental Excellence Awards. For the past 23 years, Fairfax County has issued the Environmental Excellence Awards to recognize county residents, county employees, businesses and organizations who demonstrate extraordinary leadership within the community and exceptional dedication to the preservation and enhancement of the county’s natural resources. The awards are administered by the Environmental Quality Advisory Council with support from OEEC.
This year’s winners include a high school senior combatting climate change through environmental stewardship, a small business working to reduce plastic waste, a condo association safeguarding green spaces for its residents, and three county employees advancing sustainability practices.
An 18-member delegation of elected officials and senior governmental staff from the Stuttgart region of Germany recently visited Fairfax County and other parts of Northern Virginia as part of a four-day study tour of the region.
On Sept. 19-20, the delegation observed the County’s work to develop and implement plans for climate resiliency and mitigation (especially in the transportation sector), to promote applied science and technology research with counterparts at George Mason University, and to promote affordable housing and local economic development. For over 24 years, the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) and its governmental counterparts from the Verband Region Stuttgart, have worked together to promote the continuous exchange and application of innovative policies and technologies between the regions.
The partnership is exceptional for the practical, problem-focused, outcome-oriented results emanating from the decades-long exchanges. The benefits to Northern Virginia have included informing the evolution and development of renewable energy, watershed restoration, transportation safety, and economic development.
OEEC was happy to participate in the visit and this exchange of knowledge and ideas in support of the county’s climate action goals.
As a Leader in the Green Business Partners Program, Tysons-based Freddie Mac has developed and integrated environmental sustainability strategies and initiatives at its campus that are in alignment with the overarching corporate mission – including waste reduction and recycling efforts, electric vehicle charging for employees, and LEED Gold certification for its buildings.
Watch our latest Leader Spotlight video to see how Freddie Mac is doing its part to support a climate-friendly, sustainable Fairfax County!
Ready to join them? Fairfax County’s Green Business Partners program recognizes and supports businesses actively engaging in or interested in sustainable business practices that advance climate action and help create a carbon neutral economy. The program has two different levels of participation: Leaders and Members.
The program is free to join and includes a variety of networking, educational and promotional benefits. Visit the Green Business Partners Program page to learn more and join.
Recently, the program welcomed a new Leader: General Dynamics Information Technology, Falls Church.
Solar panels were installed on roofs of two neighbors in the Fairfax County Rose Hill neighborhood this summer —the first that were completely funded through a program sponsored by electric utility provider Dominion Energy.
The solar arrays are each expected to cover 50% to 70% of household electricity consumption, with a combined generation of just over 9kWh between the two homes.
Launched in Fall 2022, Dominion Energy's Income and Age Qualifying Program (IAQ) Solar program. provides no-cost solar to qualifying customers in Virginia. The solar program acts as a companion to Dominion Energy's energy efficiency programs, both reducing customers' energy use AND providing clean energy generation on site.
Qualifying households first receive energy efficiency measures that reduce their energy waste. Following the completion of energy efficiency measures, households are then eligible to apply for the IAQ Program.
To learn more about the Dominion Energy Income and Age Qualifying Solar Program, and other related programs, call CHP Energy Solutions (program administrator) at 888 229 3714. Or visit the Income and Age Qualifying Program page.
Fairfax County’s Parking Reimagined proposal was approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a Sept. 26 public hearing.
The joint effort between the Department of Planning and Development and Land Development Services focused on reviewing and modernizing the off-street parking and loading requirements in neighborhoods and commercial areas of the county. The new parking guidelines, crafted through extensive community engagement, aim to foster walkable and bike-friendly mixed-use districts with improved transit accessibility, reduced stormwater runoff, and more green spaces. The new regulations align parking standards with both current and future needs.
Recognizing that data centers are an evolving industry that merits continued attention, on May 9, 2023, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to research data centers and related environmental issues and mitigations. The findings and recommendations for locational guidelines and how data centers should be approved are due by the end of the 2023 year.
There will be a community input virtual session on Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. Visit the Guidelines for Data Centers page for information on this session and other upcoming community engagement opportunities.
Autumn is officially here and the county’s estimated 44 million trees will be putting on a spectacular show of colors lasting a few weeks in October.
Trees are an important part of our community that provide a lot of benefit to us beyond shade on a hot summer day. We each have a role in protecting trees – residents, government, business and the whole community – in preserving and expanding our tree canopy.
There’s a lot you should know about trees (and why more native trees are needed). Learn more about planting and protecting trees on the county’s News Center site.
|
