I was recently in Boston at a national summit on green business engagement programs.  It was a great opportunity to network with those doing similar work across the country.  While we all showcased our successful green business programs, it was clear each locality operates green business programs in a unique way.  The big takeaway?  “Gamification” really does work.  In the briefest of terms, this means creating fun games around serious topics to help motivate people or companies to take action.

In Arlington, we already have learned that lesson thanks to our successful first run of the Arlington Green Games for the office sector.  We really did prove that a fun, competitive program can yield tremendous and meaningful results (participants in the first year realized a collective savings of $2M and prevented the release of 10,000 tons of CO2, or the equivalent of taking 1,996 passenger vehicles off the road for one year).

But, what makes programs that use gamification, so successful?

One speaker pointed out the different personalities we all have when it comes to games.  In no particular order those are…

• Achievers – these gamers want to see activities, points, badges, awards.  To particularly motivate them you can consider leader boards or other ways to keep track of competitors.
• Explorers – these gamers are particulary interested in uncovering even more information on the subjects.  That might take the form of “learn more” links, or even in-person scavenger hunts where they can seek out answers.
• Socializers – these gamers like networking and learning from the experiences of others.  That may mean online social media networking, newsletters, and in-person events.
• Killers – these gamers take the competitive nature seriously. Often times, they may be “throwing down the gauntlet” so-to-speak in the way of mini challenges to fellow competitors and peers.

Through this lens, I came back to Arlington and took another look at our Green Games program.   I was pleased to realize our program is already reaching each gamer personality.

For achievers, we have scorecards with points, information on where your point total falls compared to others, awards and recognition events.  Each activity on the scorecard even has learn more links for the explorers out there and recently we have been having fun running actual scavenger hunts in the community.  Our Mingling Monday events were a big hit in the office sector for the socializers who wanted to network with fellow competitors.  And, I’ll never forget at the opening ceremony event that two different property management companies had some friendly ‘trash-talk’ to challenge each other in the competition.  I now know they were the killers type!

So, what kind of gamer do you think you are?  Not sure? Why not sign up for one of the Green Games and find out.  We currently have programs for apartments, condos, retailers, and restaurants. Later this year we’ll have a second office round too!

By: Kelly Zonderwyk

Since I’ve recently gotten back into an exercise regime of my own, I had to actually go out and purchase proper clothing for the season.  I was excited to discover a new line of exercise clothing made from Repreve.  Repreve is awesome because (1) it is made with 100% recycled content and (2) a portion of the sales go to environmental causes, which you get to cast a vote on.  I mean, I would have thought the line was great for just one of those reasons!  I’ve been online to cast my vote for the cause of my choice, and I plan to stay connected with Repreve to see where else the material will show up.  Famous labels are already using the material so I expect to see more.

“Sustainable” clothing can actually be found pretty easily online today…simply type the phrase in Google and you’ll get millions of online outlets ready to serve you.  But I have found that the options are far fewer in brick and mortar.  And as someone who is keenly aware of anything environment-related, I was surprised to find something to fit that description at my local mall. Now I’m really on the hunt!

What ways have you seen environmentalism hit the mainstream?

By:  Sarah O’Connell

Download a PDF of the Agenda here.

From an energy standpoint, the issue is a no-brainer for me. The water you use in Arlington is local. The infrastructure for your (seemingly) endless supply is already in place and at your fingertips. Bottled water, on the other hand, comes from a non local source, or even from across the globe. Its containers must be manufactured (using energy), the water bottled (using energy), packed (using energy), and shipped, (using energy). Then you have to make sure you have it on hand when you need it! Then after all is said and done, you are left with a bottle that you need to recycle. That’s a lot of energy.

My favorite place to take a water bottle is to the airport. You might think it’s funny that I have a favorite place to use a water bottle, but I suppose we all have some quirky favorites. Everything at the airport and on the plane is expensive. I bring an empty water bottle in my carry-on to the airport and make my way through security. Once through security, I find a water fountain and fill up my water bottle. It’s amazing how something as simple as having my own water bottle improves my traveling experience.

Tap IN Arlington: Say NO to bottled H2O, is a campaign launched at the beginning of 2013 by a group of community volunteers who are educating Arlington residents about the cost and environmental impact of single-use plastic water bottles, and about the alternatives to using these plastic water bottles. Their goal is to get 10,000 Arlingtonians (including those who work here!) to sign a petition to commit to choose to drink tap water instead of purchasing single-use plastic water bottles. Sign the pledge to join them!

Need a place to fill the water bottle you’re now using? TapIt is building a national network of stores and cafes that let the public fill up their water bottles with clean tap water. You can search locations on their website, or use their iPhone app to locate a place to refill when you’re on the go.

And P.S. – for the coffee drinkers out there, remember that you can use mugs or reusable coffee cups at home and at your local coffee shop. If you get your daily dose of caffeine in the form of soda (or even just like a few bubbles in your water), try a Soda Stream. The system’s bottles are reusable!

By: Jeannine Altavilla

With Spring in full swing, the AIRE team is making appearances all around town.  From youth groups to County festivals, we are out and about to share news and tips on how to add a little energy efficiency into your daily routine.  Here are some highlights of places we’ve been and where you can find us next!

• Buckingham Youth Brigade:  This…is…ENERGY Jeopardy!  Yes, you read that right, Energy Jeopardy!  Energy efficiency isn’t just for adults anymore.  Getting our entire community into the know on energy is a key part of our mission at AIRE.  Not to mention, we like to have fun!  AIRE played a round of Energy Jeopardy with the Buckingham Youth Brigade recently and the enthusiasm was outstanding!  Let us know if you are part of an organization or community group that would be interested in playing Energy Jeopardy and we will bring the game to you!

• Crystal City 5K:  Are you an avid runner or outdoor enthusiast?  AIRE is looking for you, too!  AIRE joined the excitement of a group of local runners last week at one of the Crystal City 5K Fridays! Were you there? Did it get you thinking about energy use as you ran the course?  Maybe you glanced down at your shoe-wallet giveaway and saw the “Be Smart, Think Less” message we are promoting.  Remember you too can be smart about energy use….by thinking about using less of it!

• E-CARE:  We were so heartened to see so many friendly early morning risers at last Saturday’s E-CARE event at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.  Were you one of the folks we got to talk about energy with while you waited in line to unload your car full of materials?  Approximately 37.7 tons of household hazardous materials (HHM) and an estimated 15 tons of electronics for recycling were collected from 1,538 residents. Great job, everyone!

• Green Living Expo:  Like to learn by doing?  AIRE showcased multiple displays, including interactive light bulb displays and our Energy Efficient Doll House, to share the energy efficiency message at this community-wide family event.

Coming up…don’t miss us at:

• Our Energy Scavenger Hunt in Crystal City THIS SATURDAY!

• Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 17

• Taste of Arlington on Sunday, May 19

We’ve even been out in the evenings at condo board meetings and civic associations.  So don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re interested in learning more about energy and having a little fun while you do!

By: Sarah O’Connell

According to ENERGY STAR, lighting in commercial buildings is the largest cost component of a commercial building’s electricity bill. With good design, lighting energy use in most buildings can be cut at least in half while maintaining or improving lighting quality. Such designs typically pay for themselves in energy savings alone within a few years.

A lighting retrofit is not a new idea, but it is one of the best ways for commercial properties to save money.  The opportunity to improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption, save on power bills, and cut replacement & maintenance costs are available to anyone that makes the initial investment.

Arlington County Government is offering rebates to commercial customers for specific lighting installations and retrofits.  This program is innovative because it coincides with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) phase out of many bulbs that commercial properties have installed. 

A basic choice for commercial properties, including apartments, condos, offices, and retail establishments will be whether to replace an existing lighting system all at once in a planned upgrade or to replace individual components as they fail.  The Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy (AIRE) program is incentivizing commercial properties to not just install the next cheapest alternative, but more efficient lighting systems. 

The program launched in late 2012 and has already received several applications.  All applications to date have reduced the wattage of their lights by more than 50%.  This program is only available to commercial properties in Arlington and it pays a rebate up to $5,000 per electric meter.

The AIRE Lighting Rebate Program has been very popular.  A few rebates still remain and they are being offered on a first come-first, served-basis.  If you are interested in retrofitting your lighting, and receiving a rebate, please   visit:  www.freshaireva.us/lightingrebate/

By: Adam Segel-Moss

I don’t know about you, but I’d start going to a new coffee shop. Maybe I would even buy my own coffee maker.

And yet, that’s the deal that almost every Arlingtonian- almost every American- makes when they turn on the lights or the A/C. That’s because almost 60% of the energy used to generate electricity is wasted. Some of it is heat lost at the power plant and dumped into the atmosphere. As my Dad used to say “shut the door, we’re not heating the neighborhood for free!” Even more energy is lost transmitting the electricity miles and miles from the distant power plant to your house- this is called “line loss.”

So how do we find a new coffee shop, or better yet brew our coffee ourselves? Well, Arlington’s energy team is currently looking into a technology that might be the answer: district energy.

District energy is a concept where energy is generated locally and transmitted to a network of buildings- meaning no more line losses. On top of that, if we make our own electricity locally and uses the leftover heat for heating (this is called “combined heat and power” or “CHP”) we’d use almost all of the energy we paid for- 80 or 90% of it, in fact. This would save Arlington residents and businesses money, eliminate waste, reduce our carbon footprint, and also make our energy more secure and reliable.

So stay tuned, the next cup of coffee you buy might be a full one! Well, 80 or 90% full, but that’s just enough room for cream and sugar.

By: Chris Somers

There are a handful of restaurants in Arlington that cater to vegetarians, including some pretty fantastic international selections.  The Galaxy Hut, Saran (Indian), Bus Boys and Poets, Dama (Ethiopian), and the Bakeshop all have vegan options.   I’ve also seen vegetarian cooking classes offered at Sur La Table in Pentagon Row.  The Java Shack in Courthouse also offers almond milk coffee drinks for those mostly-vegans like me who can’t do soy.

My favorite vegetarian cookbook is A Year in a Vegetarian Kitchen by Jack Bishop.  It also has a seasonal focus so the dishes are exceptionally tasty and fresh.  Not ready to invest in a cookbook?  Check out a few veggie cookbooks from the Arlington Public Library.

I’ve stayed committed to vegan cooking because of the environmental and health benefits. Of course, not all vegetarian food is created equal.  Are super processed soy patties and nuggets healthier and better for the environment than a chicken drumstick? I would not be surprised if they were not.  Nonetheless, there is a body of scientific evidence that shows that a vegetarian diet has a lower environmental impact than meat-eriffic diets (Marlow, 2009; Berners-Lee, 2013; Baroni, 2007).  An article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the non-vegetarian diet in their study required 2.9 times more water, 2.5 times more primary energy, 13 times more fertilizer, and 1.4 times more pesticides than the vegetarian diet. (Marlow, 2009)

Arlington Public Schools implemented Meatless Mondays, though I’ve heard the kids don’t like it.  What, broccoli?? Where’s my Salisbury Steak?? Epic Fail. I’m gonna go pop some tags at the thrift shop. YOLO!

By: Jessica Abralind

My walking commute lets me clear my head and stop thinking about the dishes I didn’t wash or the emails I have to write. I now recognize some people who are on a similar schedule. I used to see the same woman running with her dog every morning. She’s since changed her course but I know that she is still running, because I’ve seen her in new places when I’ve changed my route.

Walking is also the best chance I have all day to stretch my legs. I wear sneakers for my commute and change my shoes when I get to the office. My feet and my shoes thank me. I carry a backpack instead of a purse or shoulder bag to keep my hands free and keep me walking with better posture.

Join me next Wednesday, April 3 for national Walk to Work Day! If you don’t live close enough to work to walk the whole way, consider getting off of the metro early, or parking your car or bike further from the office than you normally do. Try to walk at least 15 minutes for your commute. Keep your fingers crossed that we’ll have a beautiful spring day!

To learn more about walking in Arlington, visit this Arlington Transportation Partners website.

By: Jeannine Altavilla

• What initiatives is Casual Adventure taking to make the store more sustainable through energy efficiency?

Casual Adventure has initiated a lighting upgrade in the store.  Track lighting has been upgraded with LEDs and other display lighting has been upgraded with T4s; additional upgrades are planned too.     

• How does Casual Adventure engage customers and staff in actions being taken to save energy and be greener

Product suppliers visit the store and provide staff with environmentally-friendly details on the products being sold, arming staff with the information they need to communicate this to customers.

For customers, nearly every display in Casual Adventure provides details about the products being shown, highlighting the environmental aspects of the company and/or product itself, i.e. clothing made from recycled plastic bottles.  Casual Adventure’s website highlights environmentally-minded products offered in-store, as well.

• Did you know that consumers are increasingly making purchasing decisions based on the sustainability of businesses? How is Casual Adventure marketing its achievements to attract customers? 

Casual Adventure is part of the Grassroots Outdoors Alliance, a unique group of independent outdoor retailers whose shared values include supporting local economies and enabling long-term environmental good for the great outdoors.

• What efforts is Casual Adventure making to “think globally, act locally?”

Casual Adventure connects with the local community:

Supports and donates to Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE), Arlington Outdoor Education Association, and Potomac Overlook Regional Park.
Collects ANY new or used clothing for donation to the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network (A-SPAN).
Serves as a vendor for a local scarf-maker!
Refers any customers interested in embroidery to an Arlington-based shop.

• How does Casual Adventure consider the environment when making purchasing decisions or selling products?

Casual Adventure carefully selects its suppliers based on their own company philosophies.  Companies with a commitment to humanitarianism are top picks, including Patagonia, Smartwool, and Chaco.

• Is Casual Adventure using innovative efforts that set the store apart from others and show its dedication to protecting the environment?

Casual Adventure’s building location is ideal for a solar installation as it is south-facing, maximizing sun exposure, so they plan to pursue the possibility further – after they maximize energy efficiency within the building!