Latest News

• Government Eco-Action Mon.: The Office Goes Green

  22 Feb 2010 | Cynthia Bosnian

  OK, so it’s not actually The Office (that beloved TV show) but your office that soon may be getting a bit greener–especially if you work in Arlington, Virginia.

  The county has been selected as one of four local U.S. governments (including Charleston, SC; Nashville, TN; and San Diego, CA) to receive assistance in creating a Green Office Challenge program.

  The innovative initiative, to launch locally in fall 2010, will engage property managers and office tenants in a friendly competition to save money, reduce energy, water usage and waste; and reach other environmental goals. Offices with the biggest savings over the course of one year will be recognized for their achievements.

  The Challenge started last year in Chicago and is sponsored by the ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, a membership association of more than 600 local governments in the U.S. and 1,100 worldwide committed to advancing climate protection and sustainability.

  With nearly 44 …

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• All About Goodwill: Miss DC’s Recycling Platform (and How We Can All Take a Stand)

  11 Jan 2010 | Cynthia Bosnian

  Most of us are no doubt familiar with Goodwill and may even be big fans of its thrift shop stores (as is yours truly). But did you know that our local chapter, Goodwill of Greater Washington, is also receiving acclaim for its fashion— that’s right, fashion—sense?

  Bridging the gap between the passé and the present, the organization has partnered with Miss District of Columbia 2009 in a fashion-forward campaign designed to bring awareness to recycling.

  The month-long campaign, is intended to showcase the recycling platform of Miss DC, Jen Corey, as she prepares for the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas on January 30. It’s also designed to generate greater awareness for Goodwill’s mission during its slowest donation season of the year.

  The campaign includes a series of video vignettes on the nationally-recognized Goodwill DC Fashion Blog. The vignettes, which debuted January 8 and run through the 22nd, follow Corey as …

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• Government Eco-Action Mon.: Fairfax Meeting to Address “ABC’s” of Bay TMDL

  14 Dec 2009 | Cynthia Bosnian

  TMDL. No, it’s not some newfangled programming code, but an acronym you’re likely to be hearing quite often nonetheless in the days–and years–to come. Tonight, you’ll have a chance to learn what one local jurisdiction, Fairfax County, is doing to help establish its part of the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Chesapeake Bay. 

  The County will hold a public meeting to address its role in development of the complex EPA initiative, which would set restrictions on nutrient and sediment pollution throughout a 64,000-square-mile watershed that includes six states and the District. A regulatory tool of the federal Clean Water Act, the Chesapeake Bay TMDL will be backed by a series of accountability measures to ensure compliance.

  In a letter to the Water Protection Division, EPA Region III, the chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Sharon Bulova, offers the board’s input for development of the TMDL. Stating …

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  Christmas Lights Shed Lead

  10 Dec 2009 | Brandon Fuller

  Ah Christmas, a time to gather the family together, drink hot chocolate and decorate your beautiful tree. Many of my fondest holiday memories include helping dad staple-gun Christmas lights to the outside of our home.

  Unfortunately, you might want to shy away from including children and the elderly in these activities in the future. CNN has uncovered a disappointing fact about Christmas lights, they contain a potentially lethal level of lead.

  Like in fake Christmas trees, manufacturers use lead to stabilize the PVC chemical they use to build Christmas lights. The scientific analysis done by CNN was completed at Quantex Laboratories and uncovered lead levels on the lights that even surprised Dr. Leo Trasande of New York’s Sinai School of Medicine.

  “There is no level at which lead exposure is safe,” Dr. Trasande said. “Even at one microgram/deciliter — the lowest level in a …

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  Leaving DC for the Holidays?

  09 Dec 2009 | Brandon Fuller

  Its tough to go over the river and through the woods when the river is polluted or the woods have been mowed down. Its important to make wise decisions about traveling so the images of snowy winters, thick forests, and clear frozen lakes will still be reality for our children.

  If you’re taking your brood for a holiday trip to visit family this season, take a couple seconds to make sure it will be a greener visit. Just follow the advice below…

  1. Before you leave home, turn down the temperature on your hot water heater and turn down the thermostat at your house. Don’t forget to stop delivery of your newspaper and make sure to unplug everything so you don’t get charged for

  …

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