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Richmond Joins Better Communities Alliance

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Announced by the White House during Smart Cities Week, the U.S. Department of Energy is launching the Better Communities Alliance (BCA), a groundbreaking collaborative effort among local governments, philanthropies, nonprofit organizations, and leading private companies to accelerate local clean energy progress and leadership across the country.Richmond is one of 60 partners and affiliates joining and announcing their commitments.

With 87 percent of total U.S. energy to be consumed in cities by 2030, America’s local governments are stepping up to the challenge. Through the BCA, city and county leaders are making commitments to reduce the wasted energy in homes and buildings, expand renewable energy and sustainable transportation options for their residents and businesses, harness new energy-saving technologies, and invest in resilient power systems and community infrastructure.

As part of the Better Buildings Initiative, the BCA will support Richmond in achieving their clean energy goals and making their communities cleaner, healthier, smarter, and more economically competitive. In addition, the BCA will deliver new clean energy resources and technical assistance to local governments, and improve community access toDOE’s existing clean energy expertise and resources. It will also create actionable dialogues and peer exchange between public and private partners to identify opportunities for collaboration and progress.

There are 34 local governments serving 40 million Americans that are committed to the BCA and working to accelerate local clean energy progress and bolster leadership. Local government partners will receive streamlined access to Department of Energy clean energy resources, opportunities to apply for resources, access to forums for peer networking and expert dialogue, and federal recognition of clean energy achievements.

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Landscaping Assistance

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016

Do you live in the Yellow Breeches or James River watershed? Are you thinking about adding some new landscaping to your yard this fall? If so, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is offering assistance as part of its Reduce Your Stormwater program to help homeowners install conservation landscapes and rain gardens to reduce stormwater runoff and protect local water quality.

For more information and to apply, visit www.stormwater.allianceforthebay.org/yard-design

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Congratulations to the Storm Drain Art Winners!

TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016

RVAH20 and the Richmond Department of Public Utilities announced the winners of the 2016 Storm Drain Art Project contest. Out of 55 entries, a panel of judges that included members of the Richmond Public Art Commission and the DPU Stormwater team selected:

"You Drop It, I Drink It" by Abby Klein
"The James" by Nicole Gomez
"Clean through the Drain" by Melissa Geedy
"Endangered" by Alfonso Perez Acosta
"Only Rain the the Drain" by Richard Lucente

All five artists submitted designs that successfully combined artistic elements with the project's suggested themes of "It All Drains to the James," the James River ecosystem and environmental protection.

Voting is now open for the Fan Favorite. Check out the winning designs along Tredegar Street in downtown Richmond and vote for your favorite here by July 31.

To view the winning designs and all the entries, go here.

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Recycling Happiness

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016

Effective July 1, 2016, Central Virginia Waste Management is accepting many more items through their curbside and drop-off recycling programs. Those items include plastic containers 1 through 7, lids and caps to plastic containers, water bottles, soft drink bottles, juice and sports drink bottles, mouthwash bottles, ketchup bottles, mustard and salad dressing bottles, vegetable oil bottles, peanut butter jars, jelly, jams and pickle jars, plastic coffee containers, plastic drink mix containers, cake frosting rubs, plastic drinking cups, margarine and butter tubs, plastic flower pots, medicine and pill bottles, and waxy coated cartons for milk, juice, juice boxes, soup, wine, cream, egg substitutes, and cat food boxes.

Just be sure each item is thoroughly rinsed out or run through the dish washer to remove food residue.

Do not recycle pizza boxes! Because of the food residue, those boxes still go in the trash. Also, Styrofoam containers, packing peanuts, and all plastic bags are still not recyclable. Plastic bags should be collected and taken to the recycling bins in grocery and big box stores like Target and Wal-Mart. Stores like Best Buy accept old ink cartridges, and Home Depot can take fluorescent light bulbs.

Here's more tips on how to recycle all sorts of things.

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RVAgreen Sustainability and Energy Management Program Wins Award

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016

The City of Richmond received the First Place U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Award for large cities, it was announced June 24 in Indianapolis. Honorable mentions went to Bridgeport, Conn., Eugene, Ore., and New York City.

The winning entry was the RVAgreen Sustainability and Energy Management Program, developed to improve the quality of life for residents, create a healthy environment and enhance economic development, as well as promote job opportunities.

From the baseline years of 2008-2013, the program has reduced CO2 emissions within city government operations by almost 9 percent and community GHG emissions by nearly 6 percent.

Richmond is the first and is still the only local government in Central Virginia to create a formal sustainability program. RVAgreen's unique feature is its year-long community-based planning effort, involving more than 400 residents and 65 stakeholder organizations in its 55 initiatives.

The many ways RVAgreen has improved the city's quality of life include:

·Converted all 520 signalized intersections in the city limits from incandescent to LED lamps

·City construction and renovation projects over 10,000 square feet achieved a minimum LEED Silver Certification

·32 diesel refuse trucks were converted to 25 CNG trucks, and the city worked with Richmond International Airport to convert its 14 shuttle buses to CNG, and the Greater Richmond Transit Company to replace its diesel buses with CNG buses

·The stormwater utility was created to manage stormwater runoff and encourage green practices by offering credits to commercial and residental customers that implement stormwater practices on their property

·Expanded curbside recycling service to all city residents, with a pay-as-you-throw program in process

·Installed 44 Big Belly solar-powered trash cans and recycling units on city sidewalks

·Supported the Community Garden Program to offer vacant parcels to residents to grow fresh, organic foods in neighborhoods

·Created the James River Park Conservation Easement to conserve 280 acres along the James River from future development

·Planted and established close to 2,000 trees annually since 2010

·Expanded multi-modal transportation options via the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on a main artery through downtown

·Developed a Bicycle Master Plan to strategically plan greenways and connectors

·Received the Bronze level Bike Friendly Community status

·Built 25 miles of bike infrastructure since 2010

·Completed the Virginia Capital Trail, a 53 mile bicycle and pedestrian trails connecting Richmond to Williamsburg

In addition, the city hosted the 2015 UCI Road World Championships, the first U.S. city to do so in 30 years, attracting 1,000 professional cycling athletes from 75 countries to compete in 12 world championship races. The city accelerated its RVAgreen sustainability initiatives for the event, ensuring it was a sustainability success with a lasting positive impact on the community.

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