10-02-2025
Editor's Note: We are re-sending the newsletter to correct an error in the Energy Conservation Assistance Program update.
This month’s issue includes a Sustain Fairfax Challenge tip of the month; water-saving tips during drought conditions; ditching the gas-powered lawn equipment; Energy Efficiency Week; an Energy Conservation Assistance success story; a Green Business Partners Social save the date; the Environmental Achievement Awards ceremony; a Plan Forward policy update; NVRC’s new Executive Director; OEEC outreach in October; the NASEO National Buildings Summit; building a Net Zero Home; Exceptional Design Award winners; Community Conversations on electric vehicles; Step into Wellness for Walktober; a bike donation program; a Fix-It Clinic at Fairfax County libraries; a worm composting workshop; volunteering for Invasive Plant Management; staying ready and resilient; and much more!
TAKE ACTION
Sustain Fairfax Challenge Tip of the Month: Switch to LEDs
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What Is It? A guide to understanding and choosing energy-efficient LED light bulbs to save energy, reduce costs, and improve lighting in your home.
What Can You Do? You can switch to LED bulbs, choose the right brightness and color for your needs, and dispose of old CFLs properly to save energy, reduce costs, and improve lighting in your home.
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Did you know replacing just 5 incandescent light bulbs with LEDs can save enough energy to pay for a nice dinner out every year!
LED bulbs shine just as bright as incandescent bulbs, but they use 75% less energy and last 10 to 25 times longer. LEDs are also cheaper and longer lasting than incandescent and compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs).
Visit the Sustain Fairfax Challenge for more tips to save energy and money while staying cozy and comfortable.
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Practice Water-Saving Tips and Fire Safety During Drought Conditions
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What Is It? A set of drought-related safety and conservation guidelines to help residents save water and prevent fires during dry conditions
What Can You Do? You can conserve water by following water-saving tips and reduce fire risks by safely disposing of smoking materials, ashes, and grilling coals during drought conditions.
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Drought conditions were declared earlier this summer, prompting Fairfax County to issue water saving tips to help reduce the demand on the region's water supply systems. During drought conditions, it’s also important to use extra caution when smoking outside, using outdoor grills or engaging in other activities that involve flammable materials.
Ditch the Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers and Choose a Cleaner Alternative
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What Is It? Information about the environmental and health impacts of gas-powered lawn equipment, along with alternatives like electric tools and natural lawn care practices.
What Can You Do? You can switch to electric lawn equipment, compost or leave your lawn debris to decompose naturally, and adopt sustainable landscaping practices to protect your health and the environment.
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Gas-powered lawn equipment — such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers and weed trimmers — impact our air, our health, and our environment. These machines use two-stroke engines which emit harmful greenhouse gases and are dirtier than the engines in most cars and trucks.
The good news is, there are alternatives to gas-powered equipment that are better for you and the environment. Electric versions of lawn equipment such as leaf blowers are generally more cost-effective and available in both battery-powered and plug-in versions. You can also choose natural lawn landscaping by “leaving the leaves” to decompose or gathering and composting your leaves to create rich topsoil.
As an added incentive to embrace electric equipment, attendees of the Braddock District’s third annual Climate Action Conference on Oct. 18 will have the chance to win electric leaf blowers, which will be raffled off as part of the event!
Ditch gas-powered equipment and join us in protecting the environment and improving community health. Learn more and take action at Braddock District’s Climate Action Conference. Together, we can create a more sustainable future!
CLIMATE PLANS AND PROGRAM UPDATES
 Fairfax County is celebrating Energy Efficiency Week from October 1-7, 2025, in conjunction with National and Virginia Energy Efficiency days, to highlight the significant benefits of conserving energy.
Since 2016, Energy Efficiency Day has grown into a nationwide effort, showcasing how energy-saving measures reduce costs, cut pollution, and boost economic growth by supporting over two million U.S. jobs in industries like manufacturing and construction. Fairfax County has made energy efficiency a cornerstone of its Operational Energy Strategy, achieving a 15% reduction in electricity consumption since FY2018 through initiatives like constructing 45 LEED-certified buildings, installing rooftop solar panels on 13 facilities, and upgrading to high-efficiency HVAC systems.
Residents are encouraged to engage in energy-saving practices through programs like Fairfax Energy Compass, offering personalized advice, and the Sustain Fairfax Challenge, a platform to track sustainability actions.
Energy Efficiency Week aims to promote these efforts, enhancing the county’s economic, environmental, and public well-being while advancing a more sustainable future.
McLean Church Cuts Energy Costs with Grant for LED Lighting Upgrades
With financial support from the Energy Conservation Assistance Program, Immanuel Presbyterian Church in McLean was able to retrofit 121 lighting fixtures with energy-efficient LEDs, reducing energy use while enhancing the lighting and comfort of their childcare, restroom, church, and common areas. It’s the latest example of how the Energy Conservation Assistance Program is helping power up energy projects across the county.
The church can expect to save over 14,000 kilowatt hours per year – an estimated 64% reduction or more!
Since 2016, the program has approved $211,932 in grants in support of 34 energy projects either completed or in progress, as of September 2025. In total, these projects will result in $1.1 million in energy efficiency upgrades.
ECAP and Charge Up Fairfax Focus of Virtual Green Breakfast in November
Join the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District on November 8 for a virtual Green Breakfast focused on the Energy Conservation Assistance Program and the Charge Up Fairfax programs. Stay tuned for more details
Green Business Partners Program Plans Social Event on December 4
Are you a business committed to sustainability? Join Fairfax County’s the Green Business Partners program, which recognizes and supports businesses that actively engage in sustainable practices to advance climate action and environmental stewardship.
Save the date for our upcoming Green Business Partners Social event on December 4, where you can connect with like-minded business leaders, share your successes, and learn about innovative ways to make a positive impact. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate sustainability and grow your network!
More details will be posted soon on the Green Business Partners webpage. We hope to see you there!
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Save the Date: Environmental Achievement Awards Ceremony Set for Oct. 30
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Design & Environmental Achievement Awards Planning Committee invite you to join us as we honor the recipients of the Friends of Tree Awards, the Environmental Excellence Awards, and the James M. Scott Exceptional Design Awards.
The awards ceremony will take place in the Board of Supervisors Auditorium and reception will immediately follow in the Fairfax County Government Center Forum.
BOSEC Meeting Highlights Federal Policy Impacts on County’s Climate Goals
At the most recent Board of Supervisors Environmental Committee (BOSEC) meeting, OEEC Director John Morrill provided an insightful update on the impacts of federal energy and climate policies on Fairfax County’s climate goals. This discussion outlined important considerations for the county’s strategies in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and highlighted opportunities to advance sustainability initiatives amidst shifting federal priorities. A recording of the meeting is now available for on-demand viewing.
Following Supervisor James Walkinshaw’s election to the U.S. House of Representatives for the 11th Congressional District, the chair of BOSEC will remain vacant until the Braddock District seat is filled through a special election planned for December. Supervisor Andres Jimenez will continue to serve as Vice Chair.
Building Strong Partnerships: How Fairfax County and Inova Work Together for Community Health
 In the latest episode of “Connect with County Leaders,” host Bryan Hill, Fairfax County Executive, welcomes back Dr. J. Stephen Jones, president and CEO of Inova Health System, for a wide-ranging discussion about their successful partnership since 2018.
The episode also features an employee spotlight with OEEC’s Allison Homer, program manager with the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, who shares how the county’s AC Rescue program is helping vulnerable residents stay safe during extreme heat.
Fairfax Couty Urges EPA to Keep Endangerment Finding and GHG Standards
At the request of the Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County recently submitted a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency strongly opposing the proposed rescission of the Endangerment Finding and the elimination of federal greenhouse gas standards for motor vehicles. The letter, signed by Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay, highlighted the measurable and worsening climate impacts on the Fairfax community, including more extreme heat days, intensified storms, flooding, and poor air quality.
The county emphasized the critical role of federal greenhouse gas emissions standards on vehicles in reducing emissions, protecting public health, and mitigating climate-related risks, which have been documented in the county’s Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment. Noting that transportation contributes 43% of the county’s greenhouse gas emissions, the letter urged the EPA to maintain these standards and uphold science-based policies that address the health, safety, and welfare of its residents. Rescinding these protections would undermine local climate action efforts and exacerbate the significant human and financial costs of climate change.
Community Feedback Wanted on Plan Forward Policy Update
 Fairfax County’s Department of Planning and Development published the Staff Report for Plan Forward, the county's update to the Policy Plan. The community is welcome to review it before the scheduled public hearings. Phase 1 of this update focuses on changes to the Policy Plan's Preface, Land Use, Transportation, Environment, and more. You can find the report, along with a summary of the highlighted changes, on the project website under "Outreach Materials, Outreach Phase IV."
The Planning Commission public hearing will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. You can sign up to speak in person, by phone, or by submitting a pre-recorded video. You can also send comments to plancom@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Review the recommendations in the Staff Report on the Plan Forward website.
NVRC Announces Appointment of Craig Fifer as Executive Director
The Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) recently appointed Craig T. Fifer as its next Executive Director, at a special meeting on Aug. 12. Fifer will succeed Robert W. Lazaro Jr., who retired in August.
Fifer’s previous service includes Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Governor of Virginia, Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services, and Director of Communications and Public Information for the City of Alexandria, Va., where he worked for 18 years. Fifer holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in public administration from George Mason University, where he is a longtime adjunct professor of ethics in public administration.
NVRC is a consortium of thirteen local governments representing more than 2.6 million residents.
Take Climate Action this Fall with OEEC at Community Events!
OEEC is looking forward to connecting with residents of all ages to inspire climate action at community events this fall, including:
Interested in having an expert from OEEC speak at your next event? Visit our Request a Speaker page to learn more and to submit your request. For more ways to stay connected, follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and read our Climate Matters Blog.
BUILDINGS AND ENERGY
Fairfax County’s Leadership Spotlighted at NASEO National Buildings Summit
 OEEC Director John Morrill was a featured speaker at the inaugural National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) National Buildings Summit. The in-person event took place on Sept 8-9 in Arlington with the theme was “State Innovations in Advancing Building Energy Efficiency, Affordability and Resilience.”
Morrill’s presentation was part of a session on “Leading by Example: Unlocking Energy Improvements in Local Government and Beyond” and highlighted Fairfax County’s experience with implementing its Operational Energy Strategy.
Formed by the states in 1986, NASEO is a national nonprofit that facilitates peer learning among state energy officials, serves as a resource for and about State Energy Offices, and advocates the interests of the State Energy Offices to Congress and federal agencies.
Living the Future: The Surprising Benefits of Building a Net-Zero Home
Mona Kamel, founder of M.O.L.Y. Homes and a resident of Vienna, recently shared her transformative journey of building a net-zero energy home for her family in a recent post on the Climate Matters Blog.
Designed with airtight construction, a high-efficiency heat pump system, a heat pump water heater, and all powered by solar panels, Mona’s home achieves complete energy independence with no gas or electric bills. Beyond the dramatic energy savings, the home provides unmatched comfort with no drafts, cold spots, or humidity issues, and dispels misconceptions that sustainability requires sacrificing aesthetics or convenience.
Celebrating the 2025 Exceptional Design Award Recipients
 Five 2025 James M. Scott Exceptional Design Awards recipients are being recognized for their commitment to design excellence that enhances the experience for people visiting each site.
The honor award was given to the Springfield Community Business Center (CBC) Commuter Parking Garage, a community project that shows great attention to detail and provides multiple uses for the community, and Volkswagen Group of America Headquarters, which included innovative and aesthetically pleasing interior design elements that are also highly functional to the changing commercial work environment. The merit award went to Three Collective, an excellent example of a transition from commercial to residential space, and Vienna Zero Energy 2024, which features a design that shows a superior commitment to sustainability. A private residence, Twin Modern House, received an honorable mention for its refreshing presentation of modern homes at a modest scale.
To see more details about each award recipient, visit the 2025 Design Awards Recipients Gallery.
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION
Join a Community Conversation on EV Charging on Oct. 7
 Join officials from Fairfax County and the city of Fairfax, the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments for the first of two community conversations on electric vehicles and EV charging stations.
The first event is Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Stacy Sherwood Community Center, 3740 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax. A second session will take place on Tuesday, November 11 at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. More details will be announced soon.
Your voice will help shape the future of clean transportation in Fairfax County.
Step Into Wellness for Walktober: Explore Fairfax County’s 600+ Miles of Trails
 This October, take a step back from the daily grind and a step forward into wellness. Whether you're walking solo or syncing strides with your team, Walktober is your invitation to recharge, reconnect, and recommit to your health—one step at a time.
The month-long fitness event encourages people to increase their daily steps and physical activity through individual and team challenges. People who are physically active tend to live longer and have a lower risk for chronic disease, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers.
Need inspiration? Fairfax County has over 600 miles of walking, hiking and biking trails and paths, including popular regional trails for long distance hiking or biking, and natural surface loop trails for hiking or equestrian use. Visit the county’s Active Transportation program for maps and other info on where to walk, hike and ride in Fairfax County.
WASTE REDUCTION
Bike Donation Program Diverts Thousands from Landfills to Communities in Need
The Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program (SWMP) currently partners with Bikes for the World to collect bicycles that are then repaired and shipped out to different communities around the US and the world. These efforts divert thousands of bicycles from the waste stream and instead benefit many people. Last year, residents donated 2,695 bikes!
Learn more about what is accepted and where the drop-off locations are in Fairfax County.
Let’s Talk Trash about Plastic
In the latest episode of Trash Talk, Solid Waste staff visit a local Materials Recovery Facility (recycling plant) to find out if all common plastic items we might want to put into our curbside recycling bins can actually be processed. Operations Manager Arturo Campos explains what generally can and cannot be processed by the MRF and why.
Get Your Broken Items Repaired at Fairfax County Libraries
Have a broken or damaged item you've been looking to get repaired but it's too costly or inconvenient? Bring it by a Fairfax County Public Library Fix-It-Clinic on Saturday, October 4, generally from 1-5 p.m. but hours vary by location. Participating branches include Burke Center, Chantilly Regional, Pohick Regional and Sherwood Regional libraries.
There will be fixers skilled in various types of repairs available to help you bring your items back to life for FREE.
Learn Worm Composting at October 4 Workshop in Fairfax
Submitted by Clean Fairfax
Have fun, reduce waste, and build your composting skills! Sign up for your spot in the upcoming Worm Composting Bin Workshop on Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 2-4 p.m. at Green Acres Center in Fairfax.
At this workshop, you will learn what composting with worms is all about and build your own DIY worm composting bin. The bins are made from storage totes that are approximately 15 inches tall, 20 inches long, and 15 inches wide, so they do not take up much space. This form of composting is easy, quiet, tidy, and odor-free! And yes, you get to touch the worms/no, you don’t have to touch the worms if you don’t want to. Worm composting breaks down kitchen scraps into rich and valuable material that feeds houseplants and garden beds, while reducing the amount of trash going into the waste stream.
The workshop costs $10. Spaces are extremely limited. Sign up at the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) website. If you are unable to secure a space, stay tuned for another workshop scheduled for early February, or contact us for DIY instructions at home. The workshop is co-sponsored by NVSWCD, the City of Fairfax, Clean Fairfax, and Pollinative Sustainable Land Management.
Clean Fairfax encourages environmental stewardship and urban sustainability in Fairfax County, Virginia through education, programming and community involvement. Learn more on our website at www.cleanfairfax.org and follow us on social media: IG/X: @CleanFairfax and FB: @CleanFairfaxCouncil.
NATURAL RESOURCES
All About Trees: Fall Foliage Viewing, Planting and More
 Fall is a beautiful time to appreciate and care for the approximately 40+ million trees in Fairfax County, which provide crucial benefits like shade, stormwater management, and habitat for wildlife.
Residents can help protect trees by properly caring for them, removing invasive plants, volunteering as tree rescuers, and contacting the county's urban forester for guidance.
Fall is also the ideal season to plant trees, with recommended planting dates extended through winter due to changing climate conditions. Native trees are especially beneficial—they’re well-suited to our climate, provide habitat, and improve water quality.
Become an Eco-Superhero and Volunteer to Help Restore Parkland
Looking for a way to make a difference in your neighborhood? Protect your local parks and make friends while you’re at it —visit the Invasive Management Area Program website and become a volunteer!
Over the past few decades, non-native invasive plants have been rapidly altering our landscapes. They outcompete native plants, disrupting the ecosystem food chain and threatening birds and pollinators. Our parks need YOU to help protect native species and preserve our beloved natural areas.
The IMA volunteer program is a community project that aims to reduce invasive plants in our parks. Every week, IMA volunteers gather in parks across the county to remove invasives and replant native species. To get started as an IMA volunteer, find an upcoming workday near you on the IMA calendar.
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RESILIENCY
Tips for Staying Ready and Resilient Year-Round
September was National Preparedness Month, but it’s always a good time to make an emergency plan, pack an emergency kit, and help build a more resilient community.
Courtney Arroyo with the Department of Emergency Management and Security recently shared tips on the Climate Matters Blog for how to prepare for a range of hazards, including stocking weather-appropriate gear and supplies and knowing where to access community shelters and cooling/warming centers.
Stay in the Loop! More Environmental, Climate, and Energy News Online
The Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination's monthly "Environmental, Climate, and Energy" e-newsletter is dedicated to providing you with the latest news and updates on climate action plans, programs and policies. To see past issues of this newsletter, visit our website!
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