Tag: environment
HOAs and nonprofits can apply for energy conservation grants
Homeowner associations and nonprofit organizations interested in making their properties more energy efficient can apply for grants from Fairfax County’s Energy Conservation Assistance Program. Reimbursable grants of up to $15,000 can be used for energy audits, solar panels, cool roofs, weatherization, occupancy sensors, smart thermostats, LED lightbulbs, HVAC upgrades, window replacements, energy-efficient appliances, and related … Continued
County backs off plan to eliminate vacuum leaf service next year
Mason District residents concerned about Fairfax County’s plan to eliminate vacuum leaf service are getting a temporary reprieve. An Oct. 16 email from Mason Supervisor Penny Gross says the director of the Public Works and Environmental Services Department is “withdrawing the staff proposal to end county vacuum leaf service next winter.” “The withdrawal will provide … Continued
Students invited to join the Youth Conservation Leadership Institute
Students in grades 9-12 are invited to apply for the Youth Conservation Leadership Institute, a program of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The institute focuses on volunteer service, environmental stewardship, and leadership. It runs from October to June. Participating students will develop and implement a project of their choosing with assistance … Continued
Huge data center could threaten water supply
Why should Mason District residents be concerned about a massive data center proposed for Chantilly? Because it has the potential for damaging water and air quality throughout the county. Penzance, a D.C.-based developer, is proposing a 402,000-square-foot, 100-foot tall data center off Route 50 in a resource protection area adjacent to the Cub Run Stream … Continued
Fairfax County could end leaf vacuum service
The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) is recommending the Board of Supervisors end the vacuum leaf collection service. The county vacuums fall leaf piles on curbs for 25,000 customers, the vast majority of whom live in Mason District. Customers are encouraged to take a survey to inform policymakers about the … Continued
Student project tackles storm drain trash
When Dinmukhammed Adikhan, an incoming senior at Falls Church High School, noticed a lot of trash around the storm drains in his Westlawn neighborhood, he decided to do something about it. Adikhan, who goes by Dimash, signed up with a storm drain-labeling program run by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD). The … Continued
Lake Accotink closed due to possible sewage contamination
All activities at Lake Accotink have been shut down due to possible sewage contamination. The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services reported on June 30 that the Wastewater Management Program detected a sewage spill upstream of the lake. “Out of an abundance of caution, immediate closure of lake activities is recommended for … Continued
Fairfax County farmers markets collect food waste for composting
The Fairfax County’s composting program has been so successful, the Park Authority hopes to recycle four tons – 8,000 pounds – during the month of June. Residents can bring food waste to all 10 of the county’s farmers markets, including the ones at Mason District Park and Wakefield Park in Annandale. Anyone who drops off … Continued
Lincolnia church honored for its commitment to sustainability
The Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions presented a Sustainability Champion Award June 8 to Peace Lutheran Church in Lincolnia, along with three individuals, a local business, and an elected official. The awards honor people and organizations who make significant contributions toward the FACS mission of creating moral and equitable solutions to climate change in Virginia. … Continued
Task force would reconsider the recommendation to not dredge Lake Accotink
Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw, Franconia Supervisor Rodney Lusk, and Board Chair Jeffrey McKay will ask the board to form a task force on the future of Lake Accotink. The task force would “review the existing studies, analyses, and recommendations, participate in a detailed study of the managed wetland option, and explore the possibility of a … Continued
Viewpoint: The county climate action plan
By Marie Reinsdorf The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is trying to get our attention. The panel tells us we have increased the earth’s atmospheric temperature by 1.1 degrees Celsius since the pre-industrial age. We must cap that increase at 1.5 C to avert climate disasters that will “become so extreme that people … Continued
At Lake Accotink, mud is a hazard
If Lake Accotink is not dredged and begins to fill in with sediment, some people have speculated that it will become an unhealthy, bug-infested swamp. Vanessa Robertson warns of another danger – quicksand. When Robertson, a military veteran who has undergone survival training, learned about Fairfax County’s plan to not dredge Lake Accotink, “I immediately … Continued
Dredging Lake Accotink is not financially or environmentally feasible
At a virtual community meeting Feb. 15, Fairfax County officials explained why the dredging project that had been proposed to save Lake Accotink is no longer feasible. County public works staff are recommending that “Lake Accotink not be dredged due to significant community and environmental impacts and excessive costs.” A new analysis found the project … Continued
Homeowners can apply for grants for stormwater projects
Interested in reducing stormwater runoff on your property? You might be able to get public funds for that under Virginia and Fairfax County conservation assistance programs (VCAP/CAP). These programs help property owners implement environmentally friendly best practices to reduce polluted stormwater runoff into local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. Community associations and HOAs can apply, … Continued
Help clean up Americana Drive
Volunteers are invited to join the next Americana Drive Cleanup event on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Participants should meet at the corner of Americana Drive and Patriot Drive in Annandale. Signing up in advance will help the organizers make sure there are enough supplies. Friends of Accotink Creek adopted Americana Drive through … Continued