Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s (FCPA) Spring Hill Rec Center is turning over a new leaf during Earth month 2024 with the activation of a brand-new 307-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array installed on the natatorium and gymnasium roofs as part of a multi-faceted project to enhance the energy efficiency of the popular rec center. The new solar array, the largest to date in the Park Authority, generates enough energy to power 33 homes annually, and is expected to reduce the center’s electricity needs by 13 percent.

Now is the time to recognize the people and organizations within our community who take the time and initiative to care for our natural spaces and resources which benefits all who live, work and play in Fairfax County.

If you know a person, business or organization who deserves recognition for the work they do to protect our environment, nominate them today for the 2024 Environmental Excellence Awards.

Each year, the Environmental Excellence Awards recognize the best examples of leadership and service to protect and enhance the natural world in Fairfax County. The awards celebrate accomplishments by individual county residents, organizations, businesses, and county employees who do one or more of the following:

• Advance or support the county’s environmental goals and policies
• Dedicate personal time and expertise beyond normal fiscal or civic responsibilities
• Demonstrate leadership, acting as role models for others

The awards are administered by the Environmental Quality Advisory Council on behalf of the Board of Supervisors with support from the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination. Nominees’ achievements should have occurred between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024, or over a period of years that include a portion of this time frame.

Submit a nomination for the 2024 Environmental Excellence Awards to recognize these leaders, visionaries, and climate champions within the Fairfax County community who elevate our collective commitment to bettering the world around us each day.

To submit a nomination, complete the online form by June 9, 2024.

 

Fairfax County Government consumed less energy for operations and produced fewer greenhouse gas emissions in fiscal year 2023 than it has in any year since it started tracking data – a significant indicator in the county’s efforts to become carbon neutral by 2040.

Data Highlights:

• Overall greenhouse gas emissions from energy use – including from electricity, natural gas and vehicle fuel - is down more than 25% compared to the baseline in FY 2018.
• Total electricity use is down 7% from the prior fiscal year, driven in large part by the conversion of streetlights to LEDs, and energy-related equipment upgrades.
• The avoided costs from energy reductions at county facilities are estimated to be $5 million per year.

Starting May 1, community associations in Fairfax County interested in installing electric vehicle charging stations for their residents will be able to apply for technical assistance and partial reimbursement through the Charge Up Fairfax program.

Electric vehicles, or EVs, are better for the environment and less expensive to fuel and maintain than gas-powered vehicles. The convenience of at-home charging makes EV ownership more practical, but that can be a barrier for residents of community associations who may not have access to power near their parking space.

“Encouraging the use of EVs— which are better for the environment than conventional cars — is an important step toward achieving the county’s goal of community-wide carbon neutrality by 2050,” said John Morrill, director of the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, which manages the Charge Up Fairfax program. “Providing more people with convenient and accessible charging options at home makes EV ownership an easier choice.”

Charge Up Fairfax helps community associations —including HOAs, condominiums, clusters, and co-ops —overcome those barriers by providing both technical assistance and financial support. Communities that are accepted into the program will receive a site visit and assessment from an engineering firm, paid for by the county. If the community association decides to proceed with the purchase and installation of Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations, they’ll hire a contractor to perform the necessary permitting, electrical upgrades, installation of equipment and final inspection.

Following installation, communities participating in the program can receive a reimbursement grant to cover one-third of eligible expenses. A new grant-only option is available to community associations who are ready to install charging stations but need financial support. Communities in certain equity designated areas may be eligible for up to $12,000 in some cases. 

Beginning in 2023, OEEC worked with 10 pilot program communities to ensure the Charge Up Fairfax program was designed to meet their needs. Pilot communities are contacting contractors and coordinating with OEEC to prepare for the installation of EV charging stations. 

Up to 8 community associations will be accepted into the program during this application period, which runs from May 1 through June 30. Another application period will open in the fall. 

Communities can prepare to apply now by surveying residents, identifying charging locations, and reviewing governing documents and funding options.
 
OEEC will host a webinar on May 3 at 3 p.m. to address questions about the program and how to apply. Register now at https://bit.ly/ChargeUpWebinar2024.

The Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) is seeking a student member to join the council for the July 2024 through June 2025 term. Interested high school sophomores and juniors are encouraged to apply by May 6. 

EQAC’s primary function is to make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for improving environmental protection and enhancement, including preparing an annual report on the state of the physical environment in Fairfax County. Each year, the council also administers the Environmental Excellence Awards to recognize individuals and organizations, businesses, and employees for advancing or supporting the county’s environmental goals and policies.

EQAC is composed of one citizen representative from each of nine magisterial districts, four at large members, and one student representative. Each member is appointed to serve a three-year term, except the student member, who serves during their junior or senior year of high school. The council generally meets in-person at the Fairfax County Government Center on the second Wednesday of each month, starting at 7:15 p.m. 

The student member application is open to all interested high school sophomores and juniors living in Fairfax County (excluding cities of Fairfax and Falls Church) who are in good standing. Eligible public school, private school, parochial and homeschooled students are encouraged to apply. 

See testimonials from past student members on the EQAC webpage under the Student Membership tab. 

To apply, complete and submit the online student application form. All applications must be received by 11:59p.m. on Monday, May 6.

Three programs available to Fairfax County residents are making it easier to install a quality rooftop solar system at lower costs and to recycle older solar panels.

Solarize Virginia and Capital Area Solar Switch make switching to solar a snap by offering:

• A free assessment to find out whether your home is a good candidate for solar installation.
• Bulk discounts on solar systems, at least 10% lower than the regional average.
• Access to a qualified solar installer, ongoing support and no obligation to purchase.

Both programs are open this spring for a limited time, and you can sign up now.

Meanwhile, the Solar Panel Recycling Program has been launched by our Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES). It offers a responsible method for residents to dispose of solar panels, contributing to a greener planet.

Using renewable energy like solar power can reduce your monthly energy bills, increase your home’s value and benefit the environment. Local incentives and a federal solar tax credit of 30% can further reduce installation costs, making solar energy more accessible than ever before.

John Morrill has been appointed director of the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC), effective immediately. Morrill brings over 30 years of experience in energy and environmental issues and has served as acting director of the OEEC since March 2023.

The office was established in July 2019 to lead the county's interdepartmental activity on environmental and energy plans, policies and programs, including climate action and resiliency. OEEC works to connect county departments, authorities, businesses and residents to effectively advance the county’s environmental and energy goals.

A new rooftop solar array and other energy improvements at the Pender Office Building will save money and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The project, which was a partnership between the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) and the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, is another step in meeting the county’s goals for carbon neutrality in its facilities, fleet vehicles and operations, including 50% of county electricity from renewable sources by 2040, as outlined in the Operational Energy Strategy.

Our environment is worth protecting – so make your voice heard! Fairfax County residents are encouraged to share their view on the state of the environment with the Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) on or before January 10.

EQAC is appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to advise them on environmental matters. Each year the council invites the public to submit comments on environmental issues of concern. While the timing of the comment period coincides with the publication of EQAC’s Annual Report on the Environment, it is not specific to the report but to environmental issues more broadly.

There are 3 ways for residents to provide input:

• Submit written testimony by email to EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov by 5 p.m. on January 5. Please include your full name, address and phone number with your email submission.
• Record and upload a short video testimony to by January 5. Videos of 3 minutes or less can be uploaded to YouTube, Ustream or Vimeo and the URL sent to EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov by 5 p.m. on January 5. Videos will be screened prior to the meeting and any submission containing profanity or objectionable material will not be shown during the meeting.
• Sign up to speak at the public meeting on January 10, 2024. The meeting starts at 7:15 p.m. and will take place in Conference Room 4/5 of the Fairfax County Government Center. Residents can testify in person or by audio or video through Zoom. To be added to the speakers list, send an email to EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov by 5 p.m. on January 5.

Learn more about EQAC and the public comment meeting on the EQAC webpage.
 

The Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) has updated the public-facing Climate Action Dashboard to show the progress made toward the county’s climate action goals. 

The dashboard tracks progress in implementing the county’s three climate and energy plans – the Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP), the Operational Energy Strategy (OES), and Resilient Fairfax. 

These plans set ambitious goals that include: lowering greenhouse gas emissions to achieve community-wide carbon neutrality by 2050; achieving carbon neutrality for its own government operations by 2040; and improving community resilience to the effects of climate change that are already occurring. 

Updates to the dashboard include:

• Overall metrics for emissions reductions, which highlight the progress made as a result of improved energy efficiency and the increased use of clean energy supplies.
• Overall metrics for resilience to changing climate conditions like extreme heat, severe storms and intense flooding. 
• A new Climate Action Map viewer, an interactive tool that shows the locations of green buildings, solar installations, electric vehicle charging stations, recycling centers and the tree canopy in the county. 
• Additional metrics for outcomes in six key sectors: Buildings, Energy Supply, Transportation, Natural Resources, Waste, and Community Services.
• Links to topic pages that provide additional information and resources for individuals, businesses, and other organizations ready to take climate action. 

“We developed the dashboard to help our residents and stakeholders better understand how our collective effort is making a positive impact,” said OEEC Acting Director John Morrill. “With more than 70 strategies across our three climate plans, it’s also important that we make data-driven decisions to guide our actions.”

Data highlights:

• Total carbon emissions are down 30 percent since 2005 due in part to a cleaner electricity grid and improved energy efficiency in homes and buildings. In fact, total electricity use in the community has fallen 2% in that same time period, despite a 10% increase in population. 
• Nearly 40,000 households in Fairfax County were reached by energy efficiency and weatherization programs between 2016 and 2022.
• 44 county government buildings have achieved LEED certification, including the county government’s first LEED Platinum building — Woodlawn Fire Station. Four buildings were outfitted with rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays in 2023, and another 18 will get solar panels by 2025.
• Solar installations in the community continue to soar as well – as total installed capacity for solar PV systems reached 32 megawatts in 2022, twice as much as in 2020.
• Fairfax County has achieved 55.4% tree canopy coverage, which is close to its goal of 60%. So far, 72% of Census Tracts have at least 40% canopy – with a goal of 100% by 2030.

Information on the dashboard is gathered from a variety of sources, including the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Virginia Department of Energy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and many county agencies.

OEEC will routinely update the dashboard as progress is made and additional data becomes available. 

To learn more about the county’s climate action plans, policies and programs, visit the OEEC website.