A Year of Climate Matters: Highlights from 2024

Department Resources

January 15, 2025

As 2024 draws to a close, we find ourselves looking back on our very first year of the Climate Matters blog. We are incredibly thankful for our readers who have read our blogs, engaged with our content and shared their own thoughts and experiences. Your support has inspired us to deliver insightful, informative, and engaging posts that resonate with you!

In this retrospective, we highlight some of our most impactful blogs from the past year. From deep dives into environmental topics, like the difference between weather and climate, to hearing from real Fairfax County residents about their journey with solar panels and home electrification — these posts represent why our climate matters.

Here are some posts that we want to re-share for our audience. Take a look!

How Greenhouse Gases Are Changing our Climate and What We Can Do to Stop It

Post written by Maiya Justice, Intern, George Mason University, Class of 2024

Greenhouse gases have consistently been a “hot” topic – if you pardon the pun - in discussions about climate change, but what does that mean? What are these gases, and why do they impact the globe the way that they do?

While greenhouse gases (GHGs) have different chemical compositions, they do have one thing in common: the abili...

Repair, Repurpose or Recycle: What to Do About Your Old Appliances

Post written by Emily Bohr, Outreach Specialist, OEEC

The average household has more than a dozen appliances. These include big-ticket items like refrigerators, ovens, washers, and dryers, and smaller pieces like microwaves, toasters, and blenders. We tend to take these items for granted as long as they’re working and meeting our needs.

Broken household appliances fall under the category of “e-waste” or “e-scrap”. Accor

Sunny Side Up: The Basics of Solar Power

Post written by Kevin Smith, Division Manager for Energy Programs for the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination

In the past decade or so, the climate change conversation has been shining a brighter light on solar energy. You may have a neighbor with solar panels on their roof, or maybe you own a rooftop solar system yourself. We understand that these panels convert sunlight into energy we can make use of, but how do they actually work?...

5 Ways to Make Your Commute More Productive: Ideas from a Transit Professional

Post written by Sam Chanesman, Transportation Demand Management Proffer Coordinator, Fairfax County Department of Transportation

About a year ago, my trusted old car broke down for good. She had a good life, filled with road trips, spontaneous errands, and got me where I needed to go. I’ll forever miss and cherish those memories; What I don’t miss about her? Our commute to work.

It’s no secret that traffic in the DMV area can at times be… frustrating, and the trek that my car and I used to make during rush hour was no exception. By the time I arrived at the

It’s a Cruel Summer Indeed: Record-Breaking Heat Explained

Post written by Melanie Malsch, Community Specialist, OEEC

Summer 2024 has delivered sweltering temperatures, a stagnant heat dome, and a series of heat advisories, and we’re not even halfway through. In the 43 days since the official start of summer, there have been 15 days with temperatures at or above 95ºF in Fairfax County, according to data from the National Weather Service.

We also saw temperatures so hot on July 16 – a high of 101ºF – that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WM

Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination

Alert: