What's New
- Presentation on "A Holistic Approach to Achieving Sustainability: The Alexandria, Virginia Experience", presented at the American Public Works Association, 2010 International Public Works Congress And Exposition, August 18, 2010
- State of Recycling Report Released - The Department of Transportation & Environmental Services, Solid Waste Division releases the State of Recycling Report for Fiscal Year 2010
- Eco-Friendly Restaurant Expo
On September 28th, there will be an Eco-Friendly Restaurant Expo for restaurant Owners and Managers. As part of this event, we are asking residents to nominate their favorite restaurant that has gone the extra mile to introduce sustainable practices into their operations. Restaurants may also nominate themselves. You can print the nomination form and have it at your restaurant so your patrons can nominate you for the recognition.
- Take the Eco-City Challenge to learn ways to:
- Reduce your carbon footprint
- Reduce air, water, and solid waste pollution
- Reduce resource consumption
- Reduce water and energy costs
- Improve your indoor environment
- Improve your health and the health of the environment
- Montie Kust Receives 2nd Annual Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award
The City of Alexandria’s Department of Transportation & Environmental Services, Environmental Policy Commission, and the Alexandria Sanitation Authority are proud to announce Montie Kust as the recipient of the second annual Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award.
Virginia Energy Efficiency Rebate Program: Make your home or business more energy efficient! The State of Virginia Energy Efficiency Rebate Program provides approximately $6.5 million to upgrade heating and air conditioning equipment, add insulation, replace leaky windows, and install more efficient appliances to reduce energy costs. Funding is going fast; APPLY TODAY to reserve your rebate! Online application, rules, forms and additional information are available at www.dmme.virginia.gov.
Alexandria's Top Ten Environmental Accomplishments of 2009!
The year 2009 was very “green” for the City of Alexandria, and marked several significant milestones. Through a number of accomplishments, planning activities, and actions aimed at protecting and enhancing the environment and citizens’ health, the City took significant steps towards becoming an Eco-City, and providing a solid foundation for continuing its work toward achieving and maintaining a vibrant and sustainable City in 2010 and beyond.
Home Energy Audit Workshop - Watch the Video Now!
On December 5, 2009, the City of Alexandria's Department of Transportation & Environmental Services, Office of Environmental Quality partnered with the Virginia Sustainable Building Network (VSBN) to host a workshop entitled "A Consumer Guide to Home Energy Audits". If you were unable to attend the workshop, view a video of the workshop and learn about the essential elements of a home energy audit, do-it-yourself tips for saving energy, and federal/state energy efficiency tax credit programs!
Mayor Euille Testifies Before Senate Committee
On July 14, Mayor William D. Euille testified on the Eco-City Alexandria Initiative before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy. The testimony was part of a joint hearing on the economic benefits and opportunities for job growth from clean energy and climate-related policies.
Eco-City Alexandria Environmental Action Plan 2030
The Alexandria City Council unanimously approved the Eco-City Alexandria Environmental Action Plan 2030 at the legislative meeting held Tuesday, June 23. For more information about Eco-City Alexandria visit: www.alexandriava.gov/Eco-City or contact the Office of Environmental Quality at 703.746.4065.
City Council Approves Eco-City Action Plan (Phase I)
The City of Alexandria approved the first Eco-City Action Plan in the region Saturday, January 24. The Phase I Eco-City Action Plan consists of 41 goals and 133 action items, which focus on short-term environmental actions. This is the first step to fulfill the vision of the Eco-City Charter that was adopted in June 2008.
- Alexandria Receives Award from Virginia Municipal League
The City of Alexandria received third place in the Virginia League's Green Government Challenge for Cities and Counties throughout the state of Virginia with populations greater than 90,000. The VML "Green Government Challenge" initiative recognizes communities that take innovative steps to reduce energy usage and promote environmental sustainability.
What is an Eco-City?
Eco-Cities are places where people can live healthier and economically productive lives while reducing their impact on the environment. They work to harmonize existing policies, regional realities, and economic and business markets with their natural resources and environmental assets. Eco-Cities strive to engage all citizens in collaborative and transparent decision making, while being mindful of social equity concerns.
What is Eco-City Alexandria?
Beginning in spring 2007, the City of Alexandria partnered with Virginia Tech’s Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (UAP) to design and facilitate a new, strategic collaborative planning process, called Eco-City Alexandria, to create an Eco-City Charter and Environmental Action Plan to guide Alexandria toward sustainability.
Alexandria’s Environmental Policy Commission (EPC) is the project’s principal advisor along with representatives from the Alexandria City Council and City Staff. The Director of the Office of Environmental Quality serves as the City’s project manager.
In 2007, the Eco-City Alexandria team conducted an inventory of existing City programs and plans and examined best practices from across the country and around the world to create a Compendium of Model Programs and Practices.
Throughout 2008, the Eco-City Alexandria team will consult with Alexandria residents and business owners to determine what it will take to make Alexandria an Eco-City.
Eco-City Action Plan (Phase I) Open House
The Eco-City Environmental Action Plan Open House was held as a public forum to encourage residents to give comment and feedback regarding the Environmental Action Plan (Phase I). This document is currently being developed to establish short term (FY2009 - FY2011) policy objectives, identify programs and resources, set tentative timelines, and develop measures of success to fulfill the vision of the Eco-City Charter.
Eco-City Summit
The City held an Eco-City Summit at T.C. Williams High School on May 10. The Summit, which is part of the City’s Eco-City Alexandria Initiative, gave residents the opportunity to provide feedback, input, and discussion on the City's draft Eco-City Charter. Residents also assisted in the creation of a Environmental Action Plan. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/tes and ecocity.ncr.vt.edu.
Eco-City Café
The first-ever Eco-City Café hosted a series of roundtable discussions among various environmental issues facing Alexandria. More than 120 participants provided input and feedback that will be used to develop an Eco-City Charter and Environmental Action Plan.
"Green-Ventory"
The "Green-Ventory" Report is an inventory of existing City programs, plans, and examined best practices from across the country and around the world to create a Compendium of Model Programs and Practices.
Eco-City Charter
The Alexandria City Council approved the first Eco-City Charter in the region at a public hearing on Saturday, June 14. The Eco-City Charter outlines the City’s guiding principles, vision, and overall environmental future. Public comments and feedback were solicited and incorporated into the draft Eco-City Charter, developed and approved by the Environmental Policy Commission on May 19.
Environmental Action Plan 2030
The Environmental Action Plan 2030 is a "road map" of action items for City leaders, staff, and residents to fulfill the Eco-City Charter. The Eco-City Environmental Action plan establishes short term and long term policy objectives, identifies programs and resources, sets tentative timelines, and develops measures of success to fulfill the vision of the Eco-City Charter.
What is Sustainability?
Sustainability is progress that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The central goal of sustainability is to provide the best outcomes for the human and natural worlds.
A sustainable community is an environmentally, economically, and socially healthy place where people can live, work and play for decades to come:
- Ecological sustainability ensures that all parts of the natural and built environments work together as a single ecological system.
- Economic sustainability ensures a healthy economy that supports and sustains people and the environment in which they live over the long-term.
- Social sustainability ensures that a community meets residents’ basic health and social needs and has the resiliency to prevent and/or address problems in the future.
Additional Information:
For information about the City's recycling efforts please visit www.alexrecycles.org
Sign-up today for Environmental Quality E-News to receive updates on volunteer opportunities and environmental events.
Contact Us:
For more information, please contact William Skrabak, Office of Environmental Quality, 703.746.4065.
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