Category Archives: We Green DC

News, The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Commuter Connections Expands Services

Photo courtesy of
‘the crossing’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Ever been pressed between to sweaty guys on a Green Line train after a Nats game because you didn’t want to pony up $20 for parking? Well, Commuter Connections may have a solution. The carpooling agency has extending its services beyond the work week.  Now, instead of just coordinating rides to and from work, Commuter Connections offers ride matching to major events like concerts, games, and parades.  Ideally, this will reduce congestion and improve the overall air quality of our city.  With 30,000 commuters already participating in the 9-5 program, events are a welcome addition to Commuter Connections’ services.

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Happy Meals: The Movie

Photo courtesy of
‘Salad’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’

A new film serves up hope for the future of food on our planet. FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system and offering healthier, sustainable alternatives.

A special screening will happen at Georgetown’s Letelier Theater on July 29, at 6:30 p.m., thanks to the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital. Tickets are $20 per person, with limited seating; RSVP to chris@envirofilmfest.org.

This might be a nice pairing with a film about the food industry, Food, Inc., now playing at E Street and Bethesda Row. I’ve not yet seen it, but Going Green DC says before you go, eat something organic.

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Pepco Goes Green?

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Pepco announced a green honor today  — its corporate headquarters has received the city’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance certification, at the Gold level. (See more about LEED and DC’s first LEED Silver office building.)

To earn the recognition, Pepco dropped the building’s energy consumption by nearly 17 percent and water use by 1.12 million gallons through retrofits and energy conservation measures. An audit and education programs increased recycling.

I applaud any efforts toward sustainability, including this one — yet feel I must point out that only about 4 percent of the energy coming over Pepco’s lines today to DC and Maryland is renewable. (Did you know you were burning that much fossil fuel?) To put your utility dollars toward green power, check out Clean Currents.

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Be a Star! And Help DC Win a Big Green Prize

Photo courtesy of
‘20080620-5428’
courtesy of ‘sskennel’

CarbonfreeDC wants to launch an Extreme Green Neighborhood Makeover — and has beat out 2,500 others to become one of 10 finalists in the Green Effect competition sponsored by National Geographic and SunChips.

The plan? To sponsor 20 homes on a city block in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Washington, DC, helping the families green their homes and lower their energy bills. The five best ideas will win $20,000.

Can you volunteer to star in the video? On Sunday at 4:30, CarbonfreeDC needs volunteers to star in the video it will post to the contest site. Come to National Geographic Museum on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. for the filming, and stay for drinks and snacks at Beacon Bar & Grill.

We Green DC
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We Love DC Green: Events Guide

Photo courtesy of
‘Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Pond’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

As the first day of summer rapidly approaches and even more rain drops from the sky, our world is turning green. Green with leaves, and with green-related events! Here’s a quick roundup of ways you can enjoy and help the planet in the next two weeks:

Thursday, June 18

Celebrate the Solstice.
7 to 9 p.m., Arlington, Bluemont Park, Wilson Blvd. and N. Manchester St.

Celebrate the year’s longest day with an active evening in the park. Choose from multiple service projects, including invasive plant removal, stream cleanup, neighborhood cleanup, and storm drain marking. Gather afterwards for snacks. Register.

Get Happy.
6 p.m., Arlington, Guarapo (near Courthouse Metro).

Come to what’s billed as HUGE happy hour, with specials on appetizers and drinks. Meet other greenies from CarbonfreeDC and other community groups including the 20’s & 30’s Going Out Group, the Kick A$$ Professionals, the DMV Ladies, NoVa Singles and DC Simplicity.
Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Vote for the Greenest School

Photo courtesy of
‘Recycling Kid’

The Arlington Traditional School has been named one of 20 finalists in Walmart’s “Earth Day, Every Day School Challenge.” They’ve received a $500 gift card to continue their efforts and are now up for the grand prize. The school with the most votes wins $20,000 to further environmental projects.

To be fair, I’ve not read all the entries. But hey, these boys and girls are local. They recycle, they plant gardens, and best of all they’ve got a plan to reduce pollution in Lubber Run. Maybe they can take on the Alexandria waterfront next.

They have my vote!

We Green DC
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It’s a Girl! The Crane Cometh

Photo courtesy of
‘Rare White-Naped Crane Hatches National Zoo Conservation and Research Center’
courtesy of ‘Smithsonian’s National Zoo’
Okay, boys and girls — it’s time for a little talk about the birds and the bees. Well, the birds anyway.

The good news is that there’s a new baby girl at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Va. — a rare white-naped crane that’s an endangered species because of destruction of its native habitat, wetlands in northeast China. Female hatchlings have been few and far between in recent years, which puts the population at further risk.

Therefore, like children of royalty, this girl came peeping into the world with lots of responsibility on her shoulders, that of “the most genetically important hatchling in the North American White-Naped Crane Species Survival Program.” She can help boost the captive population of the endangered species. No pressure, and I hope she wants a gazillion kids.

The bad news is she’s got some whacked family relations, great fodder for a reality TV show or at least Dr. Phil.
Continue reading →

We Green DC
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We Love DC Green: Lafayette Tower a DC First in Green Buildings

LEED Platinum
The first thing I noticed when I saw Lafayette Tower at 801 17th St., N.W., near the White House, were the windows — lots of glass running from floor to floor, reflecting some fluffy clouds and blue sky. But this is not just any glass. It is triple-paned glass, made to be energy efficient. Its thickness blocks sound, makes it nearly as hard to break as a car windshield, and gives an extra layer on which to put a special coating that keeps heat from seeping through the pane — so the office stays warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

The windows are just one of the many features of this, the first commercial office building in DC to be recognized for its energy efficiency with LEED Platinum certification.

Okay, I hear you. What does that mean?
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The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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National Trails Day: Get Out

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_0132’
courtesy of ‘chrismeller’
Tomorrow’s supposed to be beautiful — and it’s National Trails Day, with a variety of hikes and trail maintenance events in and around town.

Among the other fun (and useful) choices is a journey to Ice Mountain, where you can find ice even in the summer; locals once used it to make ice cream and lemonade. You need a guide to visit this Nature Conservancy land in West Virginia that’s about 2 hours away, and a day trip leaves Arlington tomorrow morning (it’s course # 643741A).

In all my years hiking this area, I’ve never heard of Ice Mountain before, but it sounds cool (yeah, ha, ha). Happy trails!

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Do Try This at Home: Driving with Biodiesel

Photo courtesy of
‘Cooking oil to biodiesel’
courtesy of ‘Marufish’
Wanna save on gas and save the planet? Learn to power your car with biodiesel. On June 9, at a 6 p.m. Carbonfree DC meetup at Martin Luther King Library downtown, they’ll say where in the DC area where you can buy biodiesel, plus talk about local laws and incentives.

You’ll also learn how to make your own biodiesel home brew with vegetable oil, perhaps gathered from area restaurants — the very epitome of reduce, reuse, recycle.

Of course, this might make you drive hungry, the scent of fast food wafting through your car. French fry, anyone?

The Great Outdoors, We Green DC
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Playing in Traffic: Learn How to Bike

Photo courtesy of
‘Sharing the Road’
Last Friday, more people participated in DC’s Bike to Work Day than ever before — about 8,000. Even U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu took part, riding in on his $5,000 bike and speaking to the crowd. Now, my bike cost just a wee bit less than that and works just fine, but kudos to him for bucking the Secret Service and commuting carbon-free.

Perhaps by now you’re jazzed to commute by bike, or you’ve pulled out your spiffy fuschia spandex and are ready to zip along the city streets for kicks and giggles.

What do you know about playing in traffic? Anything?

Luckily for you, folks are willing to teach you the rules of the road — and you might be surprised by what you learn.
Continue reading →

Talkin' Transit, The Features, The Mall, We Green DC, WMATA
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Talkin’ Transit: Loose Ends

Photo courtesy of
‘Three-Wheeled Taxi’ courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’

A couple of updates to tie up on the transit scene – and then I need your help!

Pedicabs on the Mall: You all remember our report on the harassment of the pedicabs by the Park Police? Well, I’m happy to report that since then, there’s been no further incidents, according to Ben Morris of National Pedicabs. So go and enjoy the ride around the Mall! I’ve also gotten word that a new pedicab company is starting business this weekend as well, so please support this great eco-friendly way to enjoy the Mall. (The grass could use the break, frankly…)

DC, Metro and money: WTOP reported this morning that the District has racked up a tab of a whopping $1.2 million in unpaid expenses to Metro, all centered around the Southeastern bus garage located a block from Nationals stadium. The District had said it would cover the cost to move all the Metrobuses out of that garage and operate them from other facilities. (This is known as “deadheading costs.”) The city’s cost is $400,000 a month, and the deal stretches back to the fall of 2007. Continue reading →

News, Talkin' Transit, The Features, The Mall, We Green DC, WTF?!
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Talkin’ Transit: The Great Pedicab Predicament

Photo courtesy of
‘Pedicab’ courtesy of ‘afagen’

Yesterday, we received a late-day heads-up from a reader that there was an issue brewing with the pedicabs that offer rides to tourists and residents along the National Mall.

The entire issue seemed odd, as pedicabs have been operating on the Mall for a couple years now and haven’t had any issues up until yesterday, when they were told they would be arrested and their bikes impounded for soliciting and servicing customers on Madison and Jefferson streets, the two main boundary avenues of the Mall.

If the Park Police was correct, the Mall was going to lose a 100% eco-friendly form of transportation that serves hundreds of riders each week. The cabs provide jobs for the area and a friendly ‘green’ option for people to utilize. Taking away the Mall from them would kill a sizeable portion of the pedicab business.

So I set out to contact Ben Morris, the owner of National Pedicabs (and the company affected by this), and his DC operations manager, Danny Cochrane, as well as Sgt. David Schlosser, the National Park Service’s Public Information Officer, to find out just what the heck was going on.

Continue reading →

Technology, The Features, We Green DC
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We Love DC Green: Getting 70 MPG on GW Parkway

Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Wayne explains more, courtesy of Ford Motor Company

I have to admit–when I think of driving on the George Washington Parkway, fuel efficiency isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. I think more of the feel of the car rolling along the gentle hills and curves, of sneaking glances out at the river and up at the thick green web of leaves, and of blasting the music.

But last Saturday, I got to experience the parkway from a whole new perspective. The crew from the 1,000 Mile Challenge was in town, attempting to eke 1,000 miles from a single tank of gas in a Ford Fusion Hybrid, and world record hypermiler Wayne Gerdes was giving driving lessons.

The idea behind hypermiling is that the way you drive can greatly affect your gas mileage, and that by using special driving techniques you can coax more mileage out of each gallon of gas. Wayne and the Challenge team proved this point nicely. The Challenge began on Saturday morning at Mt. Vernon, with team members driving the Challenge car round the clock. That one tank finally ran out at 1,446 miles.

Meanwhile, I hopped in a replica with Wayne, PR maven Nicole, and a guest from Earth911.com to find out how hypermiling works. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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No More Pollution-Related Free Bus Rides for NoVa

Photo courtesy of
‘Metro on the Move’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission has voted to end its participation and funding of the program that provides free bus rides on code red days due to cost.  So no more free rides into the city on poor air quality days for Virginia residents, which sucks, because it actually did get people out of their cars. The participating Maryland counties have indicated that they will continue with the program.

We Green DC
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Celebrating Earth Day

Photo courtesy of
‘Hains Point Trees’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
Fast on the heels of the cherry blossoms, here come Earth Day! Starting this evening, there will be green events all around town. You can find volunteer activities and fun events through the Earth Day Network, and you can sign up to join a Town Hall in your area through Focus the Nation.

Here’s a smattering of the Earth Day celebrations around town.

Thursday, April 16

Attend Doggie Happy Hour:
5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m., Alexandria, Hotel Monaco.

Join Aveda and Potomac Conservancy for a special cocktail hour, raffle, and specialty drinks, such as the Pink Poodle and a Dirty Water Martini. Benefit for the Potomac Conservancy.

Saturday, April 18

Clean Up the Anacostia River:
8:30 a.m. – noon, at more than 30 sites in the District and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

Help clean the second river in the United States to be so clogged with litter that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classified it as “impaired by trash.” You’ll get a free 2009 Earth Day reusable tote bag and can join a party until 2 p.m. at Bladensburg Waterfront Park in Bladensburg, MD.
Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Get Green on Tax Day

Photo courtesy of
‘european keyboard 1’
courtesy of ‘Listener42’
On April 15, while you’re giving all those pesky extra greenbacks to the government, you can green the planet as well. Just drop off your unwanted electronics and batteries for recycling at Power Purge from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 2001 Jefferson Davis Hwy. in Crystal City. They’ll take everything from batteries, desktop computers, and laptops to TVs, monitors, and microwaves, at no charge.

It’s part of Crystal City’s new Green Scene, which runs the 5K Fridays race series. It also has extended free Wi-Fi to many outdoor spaces and courtyards so that you can sit outside and Tweet with your feathered friends.

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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The Bluebell Walk

Bluebells Near the Potomac

It seems spring has sprung in the woods around DC; the Virginia bluebells are nodding their dainty little heads. Bull Run Regional Park near Centreville has a huge crop of these soft, floppy flowers, and the blooms are predicted to peak next week.

On Sunday at 2 p.m., as they’ve done for the past 30-odd years, park naturalists and rangers will hold a special Bluebell Walk.

This sounds wonderful. I’m imagining a Disney movie, with folks wearing Easter bonnets and their Sunday best, strolling among the wildflowers and singing little melodies along with the birds. Ah, spring!

DC Victory Gardens, The Features, We Green DC
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DC Victory Gardens: Planting

Seeds!

When last we left our intrepid gardeners, we were all on the path toward clearing up the land and getting ready for garden season. We’ve had some positive developments out at the farm, getting all the soil tilled and turned for planting, and some setbacks at the quarter acre, related to a section of land that turned out to be horrifically root-bound, and so we’ve had to move the garden. But before we go any further, this is a follow-up on the last post about using seeds. It’s time to get planting (truth be told, it was probably time to plant a week or two, but we’ve all been so busy, it’s been hard to write!) and we can worry about land-use later. This work could not be done without  The ArborLift™ by Environmental Design Inc. has revolutionized large tree transplanting.

Continue reading →