Sharing the latest Eco-City Alexandria announcements, events, and tips.

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2025 Issue #2

This newsletter from the City of Alexandria brings you news and stories about what the Eco-City team is up to, along with announcements, events, and useful information on how to be involved.

Here’s what’s in store for this issue:

The Green Read:

• Climate Action Officer’s Message
• Plug In Alexandria
• Spotlight on the Eco-City Business Program
• Share Your Thoughts: Flood Resilience Plan
• Looking Back on Earth Month
• Eco-City Festival Turns Climate Action into a Community Celebration

Employee Spotlight: Meet Melissa Atwood, Senior Environmental Specialist, and Yulia Fernandez-Marcos, Community Engagement and Climate Justice Manager.

Take Action by joining the Eco-City Homes program, available for renters, condo owners, and homeowners!

Upcoming Events include volunteer opportunities, educational workshops, and eco-friendly activities.

News and Announcements:

• Solarize Alexandria: Sign Up by July 15
• Leaf Blower Ban
• Get Ready for a Foam Free Alexandria
• Sign Up for Curbside Composting
• Be Part of Plastic Free July
• Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award
• City Receives DOE Better Practice Award

Climate Action Officer's Message

The summer brings vacations, navigating camp and activity calendars, the City’s birthday, and trying to see how many Alexandria ice cream shops you can visit. It also means dangerously high heat, higher utility bills, and poor air quality. There are steps you can take this summer to be safe, healthy, comfortable, and have extra cash for more toppings on your ice cream!

If you own your home, now is the time to upgrade to a heat pump. You’ll get better cooling and a much lower utility bill, plus you can get up to $2,000 in federal tax credits if you act this year. Check out our resources on how to electrify your home here and get more tips by joining our Eco-City Homes Program.

If you rent or you’re not ready to make major investments, start with a programmable thermostat. You can save up to 30% on your utility bill by setting the temperature higher when you’re not home. Make your air conditioner work less by adding solar window film to reflect the heat out of your home. If you want to find more improvements to make, consider borrowing a thermal camera from the Alexandria library and see where the hot spots are in your home!

As you take steps to reduce your energy use, the City is also working to increase investments in energy efficiency. We recently participated in Dominion Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan proceeding at the State Corporation Commission (SCC). The City pointed out that Dominion has failed to achieve its energy efficiency target of 5% by 2025 and asked the SCC to direct Dominion to work more closely with the City in developing energy efficiency programs. With more than $500 million to invest in energy efficiency programs across its territory, Dominion could make significant progress toward its energy efficiency targets while helping Alexandrians stay cool, comfortable and healthy. These investments also reduce the need for new fossil fuel power plants, which will increase utility costs, pollute the environment, and further the impacts of climate change.

Stay safe and cool this summer!

Plug In Alexandria

Calling all condo boards, apartment managers, and multi-family communities: the City’s new Plug In Alexandria program is here to make it easier and more affordable to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers! 

Plug In Alexandria offers expert technical support to understand the feasibility and costs to install chargers, plus a grant that covers 30% of eligible EV charger installation costs, up to $10,000—or up to $15,000 for communities in a low-income census tract.

Why does this matter? For residents, it means no more hunting for a public charging station—they can charge right where they live, which makes it easier to switch to an EV. For property owners, EV chargers are an amenity that can attract and retain residents while demonstrating your leadership in sustainability. 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, as funding is available. Visit the Plug In Alexandria website to learn more and apply.

Spotlight on the Eco-City Business Program

The Office of Climate Action has relaunched the Eco-City Business program, making it easier for businesses to participate! This free program brings together a network of local businesses dedicated to taking steps to make their businesses more sustainable by saving energy and water and reducing waste, all while improving their bottom line. 

Businesses can participate by making a commitment to reduce energy, water, and waste by 10%, and participating in workshops and trainings throughout the year to help them take action to make their business more sustainable. Businesses that have taken additional steps to make sustainability a priority are eligible to be recognized at the Silver and Gold levels. Businesses that have earned this recognition include Port City Brewing Company, Magpie Reclamations, and Alexandria & Company.

The program relaunched in April and there are now over twenty Eco-City Businesses in the network, with more joining each week. “I’m really excited to grow this network,” says Samantha Heitsch, Sustainability Coordinator for the City. “We’re already seeing the benefits of creating these connections and sharing information with local businesses, and we have even more resources in store for participating Eco-City businesses.” 

If you are or know of a local business that is interested, all it takes is 2 minutes to sign up on the Eco-City Business Program’s website!

Share Your Thoughts: Flood Resilience Plan

When it rains, it pours—and in some places around Alexandria, it floods. To make the city more resilient to flooding issues under the Flood Action Alexandria Program, the City is developing a comprehensive Flood Resilience Plan, and we want your input to develop the plan!

Take the survey and help the City better understand how people who live and work in Alexandria have been impacted by flooding. Your input will help shape the future for Alexandria in our efforts to reduce flooding! The survey will close September 2025.

The City will be holding pop-up events this summer and a community meeting this fall. Stay informed by subscribing to the Flood Action Alexandria newsletter and by following Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Looking Back on Earth Month

In April, we celebrated the 55th anniversary of Earth Day with a month full of environmentally focused events and initiatives, all around the theme of “Steps to a Greener Alexandria,” including:

• Choosing cleaner and greener transportation, from biking and walking to taking the bus or Metro. The City and Washington Area Bicyclist Association hosted a Learn to Ride class for adults, and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee led a group bike ride around town to highlight recent or planned infrastructure that’s bike-, pedestrian-, or transit-friendly.
• Learning about and caring for water resources in Alexandria. Volunteers cleaned up trash at Four Mile Run Park, around Burke Branch library, and along the Old Town waterfront. Volunteers at the Four Mile Run cleanup on April 12 alone filled over two dozen trash bags!
• Finding ways to save energy and fight climate change. The City hosted webinars for residents to “Ask an EV Charger Installer Anything” and to learn more about the Eco-City Homes program, which provides a central hub for renters, condo owners, and homeowners to find information and resources for being sustainable at home and recognizes them for taking action. We also partnered with Port City Brewing Company, a Gold-tier Eco-City Business, to host our second annual Paint n’ Sip night!
• Contributing to clean, healthy air and land. The City hosted an Air and Land Pop-Up at William Ramsay with hands-on activities about how our use of air and land impacts wildlife and our own well-being, and the libraries hosted a seminar on ways to enhance our local ecosystem through planting native plants.
• Reducing waste, including recycling and composting! Residents learned about the causes and impacts of food waste and how to participate in initiatives such as composting and food donation, plus how to recycle right and avoid contaminating the recycling stream.

We also celebrated Earth Month with a Council Proclamation recognizing Earth Month and Arbor Day, a tree planting, and a student art showcase in City Hall.

Kids played a big role in the Earth Month festivities, with 168 students from 12 schools representing pre-k through 8th grade participating in an Earth Day art showcase. During spring break, the City brought over 60 children on a “Journey Through Eco-City” at Patrick Henry, Mount Vernon, and John Adams Recreation Centers with environmentally themed games and activities hosted by ten departments and organizations.

The festivities continued after April, culminating in the second annual Eco-City Festival on May 10 (read more about that below).

Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, and took steps towards a greener Alexandria!

Eco-City Festival Turns Climate Action into a Community Celebration

Sunshine, sustainability, and a whole lot of fun—this year’s Eco-City Festival had it all! Thanks to everyone who made it to the Festival on May 10 at Ben Brenman Park. Hosted by the City of Alexandria, the free, family-friendly event welcomed hundreds of residents to explore what climate action looks like in real life—and in their own backyard.

Kids scrambled up the rock wall, raced through an inflatable obstacle course (powered by one of the City’s electric vehicles!), and made upcycled crafts and bike-powered art, while adults chatted with local electric vehicle owners, took electric vehicles and e-bikes for a spin, and learned how to reduce waste, conserve water, and green their homes at the over 60 booths from City departments, non-profits, and community groups.

The Local Business Village highlighted Alexandria’s green-minded entrepreneurs, while food trucks served up local eats and adoptable animals from the Animal Welfare League melted hearts.

According to The Alexandria Times, the event “brought the community together for a shared goal”—and you could feel it. From the Alexandria Beautification Commission’s tree seedling giveaway, to the bike valet, everything was designed to make sustainable living simple, fun, and accessible. As Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley said in her remarks, “The truth is, there’s a lot that individuals can do when you’re at home, in your transportation choices, in your food choices that can really make a difference, and as a Council and a city, we are trying to support you in those choices.” 

Alexandria is all in on a cleaner, greener future. See you at next year’s Eco-City Festival!

In this issue of the Eco-City Newsletter, we sat down with Yulia Fernandez-Marcos and Melissa Atwood to hear how they help make Alexandria an Eco-City.

Yulia Fernandez-Marcos, Community Engagement and Climate Justice Manager

How would you describe your role? I build relationships and work with community members, City staff, and organizations to integrate environmental justice into programs and decisions. I also run the Eco-City Alexandria social media, and coordinated the relaunch of the Eco-City Academy.

What are you most excited about? Whenever our work has a direct, positive impact on frontline communities, especially when we get to collaborate with others to make an even bigger impact!

Mind sharing a fun fact about yourself? I am a night person, but if I need to wake up at 4 am to catch a colorful sunrise with my camera, I will absolutely do it! Landscape photography is a big passion of mine.

Melissa Atwood, Senior Environmental Specialist

How would you describe your role? I work on the City’s environmental programs, noise control and enforcement, contaminated land remediation, and air quality. Plus, public outreach and education, including coordinating the City’s Earth Month activities!

What are you most excited about? Coordinating the Meaningful Watershed Education Experience (MWEE) for all Alexandria City Public School 7th graders. MWEE is “a learner-centered framework that focuses on investigations into local environmental issues and leads to informed action.” I enjoy creating environmental education opportunities for students to learn what the City is doing through fun, hands-on activities, like highlighting the City’s retrofit of the Ben Brenman Stormwater Pond, and using their critical thinking skills to consider how each of them can help protect our environment.

Mind sharing a fun fact about yourself? I love soccer and still play (in any position that’s needed… as long as that’s not goalie!) I also coach kids' soccer. For me, the best way to end a day is playing outside with my kids and walking our puppy.

Action: Join the Eco-City Homes program to find ways to save money and be sustainable at home – whether you’re a renter, condo owner, or homeowner. You can also apply for recognition and receive a yard sign and window cling to proudly display your sustainability efforts! 

Bike for Good this summer! Looking for a great volunteer opportunity? Help rescue fresh produce from the Old Town Farmers’ Market and deliver it to Alexandria residents in need. For more information on how to volunteer, contact SNAPEBT@alexandriava.gov or visit the sign-up page at VolunteerAlexandria.org. Dates include July 26, August 30, September 27, and October 25.

Period Products 101 at Ms. Moxie’s Moon Shop, 102 N. Fayette St. (an Eco-City Business!): Tuesday August 5, 3-4:30 p.m. Calling young minds 9 to 15 years old! Uncover the ins and outs of both disposable and reusable period products. Dads are encouraged to attend!

The Alexandria Libraries are always hosting hands-on learning, volunteering, and monthly discussions. Check out their calendar of events for more details on sustainability-focused events.

• PINGO – Plastic Free BINGO: Beginning July 1, pick up a PINGO card from the Barrett Branch Library to play throughout Plastic Free July. How plastic-free can you be?
• Where does the water go? With AlexRenew: Wednesday July 2, 5-6 p.m. at the Beatley Branch. Ages 6-12.
• Trash Trekkers – Walking and Litter Pickup Club: Saturday July 12 and Saturday August 9. 10-11 a.m. at the Burke Branch.
• Eco:mmunion – Conversations to Sustain People and Planet: Tuesday July 22 and Tuesday August 26, 6:45-7:45 p.m. at the Barrett Branch.
• House Plant Swap: Saturday July 26, 2-3:30 p.m. at the Beatley Branch. Bring your extra houseplants or cuttings and take something new home!
• Does this Animal Need Help? Tuesday August 12, 6-7 p.m. at the Barrett Branch. The Wildlife Rescue League based in Northern Virginia will share when and how to help (or not) wild animals in our neighborhoods.

Solarize Alexandria: Sign Up By July 15!

Lower your utility bills with solar! The annual Solarize campaign is a no-cost, no-obligation program administered by the nonprofit organization Local Energy Alliance Program that reduces the cost and complexity of going solar. Sign up by July 15 to participate!

Leaf Blower Ban

It's about to get quieter and cleaner in Alexandria thanks to the City Council’s decision to ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers, starting November 17, 2026. The City became the first jurisdiction in Virginia to ban gas-powered leaf blowers.

Get Ready for a Foam Free Alexandria!

Starting July 1, 2025, food vendors with 20 or more locations will be required to phase out the use of expanded polystyrene (EPS) products – commonly known by the brand name Styrofoam™. Under a law passed by the Virginia General Assembly, restaurants, grocery stores, food trucks, caterers, and other food vendors will be required to make the switch, with a full ban for all vendors going into effect in 2026. As waste, EPS can take over 500 years to break down in landfills, and have been shown to be hazardous to humans in large amounts.

Sign Up for Curbside Composting

The City of Alexandria is continuing curbside food waste composting collection for residents receiving City trash and recycling services after the successful completion of the pilot program. Registration for the program is now OPEN, and collections are already underway. Residents can place items such as fruit and vegetable scraps, meat, and bones in a dedicated bin for food waste collection instead of putting these materials in the trash. Sign up for as low as $5 per month or $55 per year on the City’s website. 

Be a Part of Plastic Free July

Single use plastics fill landfills and pollute the oceans—that’s why hundreds of millions of people worldwide are choosing to be part of Plastic Free July. Join the City’s efforts to reduce waste and promote a more sustainable Alexandria by cutting out single-use plastics during July. Visit plasticfreejuly.org to get involved.

Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award

The Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award recognizes members of the Alexandria community who demonstrate a commitment to protecting the environment and preserving local natural resources. This year, the award went to Bill Hendrickson, who has been a champion advocate of sustainable environmental policy in the city for 30 years.

City Receives DOE Better Practice Award

We’re proud to receive a 2025 Better Practice Award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Initiative for the Building Performance Program for City facilities. This effort is in service to the Environmental Action Plan goal to reduce energy use in City facilities 25% by 2027. It does this by establishing clear targets for energy performance, developing specific plans to improve efficiency and move away from fossil fuels, and streamlining City policies to enable more climate-focused purchasing, all while saving money from reduced utility costs.

For more information about Alexandria’s climate, energy, and environmental programs and initiatives and sustainability resources, check out the Eco-City Alexandria website.

Love this newsletter? Check out the Flood Action Alexandria newsletter for detailed updates on the City’s initiatives to address flooding issues and build community resilience.

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