One of the great things about working for the City in summer is seeing the many opportunities we have for young people to get to know more about the City and experience what a job in local government is like. The Eco-City teams have been participating in a variety of these opportunities. You may have seen two of the Environmental Quality team’s interns, Abigail and Kendall, around town doing outreach on the upcoming gas-powered leaf blower ban and promoting the Eco-City Business program. If you were in Old Town, you may have seen a group of High School students joining us for a new Fellowship program. And throughout the summer, my colleagues and I have had numerous coffees, lunches, and conversations with recent graduates looking to find out more about the work we do. I'm always grateful for the opportunity to talk to people about why local government is such an important place to be, but I must admit - I get so much energy from their interest and their passion to make a difference. I've been in the climate space my entire career; seeing someone who is just starting their career with the passion and excitement for this work is just as reinvigorating as a good summer vacation. Good luck to all of the interns, fellows, and aspiring environmentalists looking to start their careers, and thank you for keeping our energy up!

Ryan Freed, Climate Action Officer 

Keep the Cool Air In

If cool air is escaping through gaps around doors and windows in your home, your air conditioner is working harder than it needs to. Adding weatherstripping or sealing small air leaks is an inexpensive DIY project that can lower your electricity bill and keep your home more comfortable during hot summer days.

Join the Eco-City Homes program to discover more ways to make your home more energy efficient and save money year-round.

A new round of Plug In Alexandria is here! Apply today and see how EV chargers can work for your organization. 

New for 2026 – non-profit organizations and places of worship are eligible to apply!

Thinking about electric vehicle (EV) chargers at your property? Plug In Alexandria makes it easier and more affordable for multi-unit residential communities, non-profit organizations, and places of worship to install EV chargers. 

Participating organizations get a FREE custom technical assessment from industry experts outlining the requirements, feasibility, and costs to install EV chargers at your site. Organizations that install chargers within one year are eligible for a $10,000 reimbursement grant ($15,000 if you’re located in a low-income community census tract). 

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as funding allows. Submit your application by September 21, 2026 to be considered in the first evaluation. 

Visit the Plug In Alexandria website for full program details and the application. 

Climate Action Starts with You: Apply for the 2026 Eco-City Academy 

Ready to make a difference in Alexandria? Apply for the Eco-City Academy, a FREE two-day program that helps residents learn about the City's sustainability initiatives and develop the skills to become environmental leaders in their community.

The program will be held Saturday, September 19 and Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Participants must be Alexandria residents aged 17 or older.

Space is limited! Apply by August 12, 2026. 

Visit the Eco-City Academy website to learn more.

Stay Hydrated

When it is hot outside, drinking plenty of water is critical to staying healthy. Look for the Stay Hydrated signs at local businesses, libraries, and recreation centers throughout the City where you can fill up your water bottle for free.   

Thank you to the businesses already participating!

• Bagel Uprising – 2307A Mt. Vernon Avenue 
• BeeLiner Diner – 3648 King St. 
• Dairy Godmother – 2310 Mt. Vernon Avenue 
• Port City Brewing Company – 3950 Wheeler Avenue 
• Shorty’s Deluxe – 2016 Mt. Vernon Avenue 
• Silver Diner – 4630 King St., Unit A3 
• St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub Del Ray – 2300 Mt. Vernon Avenue 
• St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub Old Town North – 529 Montgomery St. 
• St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub Fairlington – 1536 Kenwood Avenue

Want to see your business on this list? Sign up on the Stay Hydrated website. 

Learn more about Stay Hydrated and other programs to stay cool this summer on the City’s Heat Safety website. 

Become a Climate Leader in your Community in the EcoAmbassadors Program

EcoAmbassadors is a climate and energy-centered volunteer training and community engagement program. 

The EcoAmbassadors training is centered on the climate action strategies of the City of Alexandria and Arlington County. Specific focus areas include reducing energy use and electrifying the home, shifting to eco-friendly transportation choices, and minimizing waste. The program requires a one-year commitment, and training will take place from September through November and include formal hybrid training sessions, practicum learning, and self-paced online modules. EcoAmbassadors is managed by EcoAction Arlington and the Virginia Cooperative Extension with support from the City of Alexandria and Arlington County.

Volunteers aged 16 and up are encouraged to apply. The fee for the program is $110 (free for students), and the deadline for applications is August 31, 2026. An early bird discount is available for applications submitted by August 17, 2026. Fee waivers are available, no questions asked.

For more information and to apply, visit the EcoAmbassadors website or email volunteer@ecoactionarlington.org. 

Join the Step2Savings Energy Challenge

Electricity costs keep climbing, but you don't have to just plan to absorb those costs. The Utility bills keep going up, and we want to help to bring them back down. The Office of Climate Action has developed the Step2Savings Energy Challenge, a program to help building owners and property managers take the steps necessary to make their properties more energy efficient and save money on utility bills. Step2Savings participants will receive technical assistance and resources to establish a framework to understand how energy is being used at a property, set ambitious energy use reduction targets, and develop clear plans to achieve those targets. 

The challenge starts August 12, so sign-up on the Step2Savings website today! 

Multi-unit residential properties and places of worship are eligible to participate.  Join the challenge and turn energy savings into long-term value.

For questions, contact Valerie Amor, Energy Manager, valerie.amor@alexandriava.gov, 703.746.3705.

Gas Leaf Blower Ban Informational Meeting 

The use of gas-powered leaf blowers will be prohibited in the City on November 17, 2026. On July 21, 2026, the City of Alexandria hosted an informational meeting on the upcoming gas-powered leaf blower ban virtually and in person at the Charles Houston Recreation Center. This meeting discussed the outreach the City has been conducting, along with enforcement procedures, disposal of gas-powered leaf blowers, and benefits of switching to electric.  

To learn more about the upcoming gas-powered leaf blower ban, visit the Leaf Blower Ban webpage.

Environmental Quality Awareness Pop-Ups 

Over the next couple of weeks, the City will be hosting pop-ups throughout the city to discuss the gas-powered leaf blower ban, Stay Cool ALX, and Air Quality Action Days.  

On July 22, 2026, staff were tabling outside of Braddock Road Metro Station to promote these initiatives. There were cooling towels, fans, magnets and flyers. If you see a pop-up, please stop by!  We will be at:

Ben Brenman Park, July 29 - 2:30-5:30 p.m.

Four Mile Run Park, August 4 - 2:30-5:30 p.m.  

Braddock Rd Metro, August 5 - 2:30-5:30 p.m. 

Click the links to learn more about Environmental Quality and Heat Safety.

Office of Emergency Management and Community Emergency Response Team Support Summer Events

Climate change is having a profound impact on our weather, and with many City-sponsored events throughout the summer, keeping Alexandrians safe and aware is a challenge. The Office of Emergency Management (OEM), in partnership with dedicated volunteers from the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), played an essential role in supporting several major community events this summer. Their efforts helped ensure that residents and visitors could safely enjoy gatherings across the city.

The Office of Emergency Management also monitored weather conditions throughout each event and coordinated closely with City departments and public safety partners. When severe weather affected outdoor activities, OEM led efforts to communicate timely updates and safely direct attendees to shelter until conditions improved and events could safely resume. When the temperatures started to rise, the team coordinated with DASH to make park cooling buses around the city. 

We are grateful for the coordination of all City departments, and particularly the CERT volunteers and all of you that come and enjoy our events in our Eco-City.

Abigail Harwell, Acting Principal Planner, Development Division, Planning & Zoning Department

How would you describe your role? Specially working with public facility projects, I help to make sure that new buildings and structures include and address sustainability and green building policies as part of a comprehensive development review process.  As a result, City and public projects have successfully installed and integrated geothermal wells, solar panels, green roofs, high efficiency windows, and sustainable building materials into their projects.  I also work with architects and designers on building designs that utilize shade, landscaping and trees, and water management for long term site improvements.

What are you most excited about?  When a project is completed, I’m always excited to see how a project on paper plans are built into usable, improved physical spaces.  Seeing people walking around and admiring something that I collaborated on, and their appreciation of all the hard work that went into making a new public facility a reality is very gratifying.

Mind sharing a fun fact about yourself? I’m a huge fan of watching and attending sporting event, especially baseball (Go LA Dodgers!).  I am also an opera and theatre enthusiast. Recently I was lucky enough to attend a production at La Scala in Milan, Italy, which was a dream come true. 

Muhammad Irfan, Transportation & Environmental Services Inspector III

How would you describe your role? As a Transportation and Environmental Services Inspector III, I help ensure that infrastructure and environmental projects are completed safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with applicable regulations and standards. I manage projects from planning through completion by developing scopes of work, coordinating with contractors, conducting quality control inspections, reviewing invoices, and resolving construction issues related to stormwater management. I ensure that all work complies with Virginia Department of Environmental Quality regulations, City of Alexandria ordinances, and Stormwater Best Management Practices.Clearinghouse guidelines. Through these efforts, I help protect local waterways, improve water quality, reduce environmental impacts, and support the City of Alexandria's vision of becoming a cleaner, greener, and more resilient Eco-City.

What are you most excited about? What I enjoy most about my work is seeing a project transform from an initial concept into a completed improvement that benefits the community for years to come. Every project presents an opportunity to enhance our infrastructure while protecting the environment. I enjoy collaborating with contractors, engineers, consultants, and City staff to solve complex challenges and deliver high-quality projects that make a meaningful impact. It is especially rewarding to know that our work helps protect local waterways, improve water quality, create greener neighborhoods, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future for the City of Alexandria. Knowing that these projects provide long-term environmental and community benefits makes my work both meaningful and fulfilling.

Mind sharing a fun fact about yourself? Environmental stewardship doesn't stop when I leave work, it continues in my daily life. I enjoy gardening and practicing sustainable landscaping, including collecting and using rainwater for irrigation through rainwater harvesting. This hobby reflects my commitment to conserving natural resources, reducing stormwater runoff, and protecting the environment. I also enjoy spending time outdoors, traveling, sightseeing, and exploring nature. Whether at home or on the road, I look for practical ways to live more sustainably and appreciate the natural beauty around me. These personal interests complement my professional passion for environmental protection and reinforce my commitment to building healthier, greener, and more resilient communities.

Friendship Firehouse Festival - Saturday, August 1, 2026 • 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Duke Street Land Use Plan Community Meeting #8 - Wednesday, August 5, 2026 • 6:30-8 p.m.

Planning Commission Public Hearing - Tuesday, September 1, 2026 • 7-11:59 p.m.