Save Energy This Month and Every Month

September 29, 2023September 29, 2023 Christy Nealey

October is National Energy Awareness Month, and with energy prices at all-time highs, there has never been a better time to think about saving energy. Remember, the easiest way to save energy is through conservation – turning off, unplugging, or setting back energy-using systems when they’re not needed. It’s estimated that energy bills can be reduced by up to 20% with simple behavior changes.

Here are a few everyday conservation tips to practice at home and work:

Program your computer to go into standby mode when idle;
Unplug chargers and small appliances when not in use;
Turn off lights that aren’t needed.

The Henrico Environmental Action Resource Team has a subcommittee focused on energy and resource conservation. On the H.E.A.R.T. website, you can find a dashboard displaying the actual energy use of County facilities and schools, information on County efficiency and renewable energy efforts, and resources for home and business owners in Henrico. Check it out at https://henrico.us/heart/energy-and-resource-conservation/.

We’ll be celebrating Energy Month at the Fall Energy Fair on Friday, October 13th, from 11:30-1:00 in the courtyard of the Administration Building. Learn about current Henrico energy and solar projects, home energy and solar resources, recycling, and more. L.E.D. light bulbs (for the first 150 visitors) and other fun giveaways will be available. Food trucks will also be set up nearby between the Administration Building and the parking deck. The fair is rain or shine, barring inclement weather.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Henrico’s Energy Manager, Carrie Webster at 804-501-5763 or [email protected].

Fall Energy Fair

October is energy awareness month! Join us for Henrico County’s annual Fall Energy Fair. The Fair brings energy and sustainability information to the residents, employees, and business owners of Henrico and the surrounding areas. Come learn about current Henrico energy and solar projects, LED lighting, solar power, electric vehicles, recycling, and more.

This event is free and open to the public and will be held rain or shine. The fair will be held in the fountain courtyard of the Western Government Center Administration Building. Food trucks will be on site. Participating vendors include:

Capital Electric
Capital Trees
Creative Conservation
CVWMA
Dominion Energy
Drive Electric RVA
Henrico Public Works
Henrico Environmental Action Resource Team (H.E.A.R.T)
Henrico Libraries
Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District
Honeywell
Keep Henrico Beautiful
Richmond Gas Works
Richmond Gas Safety
Richmond Window
Ride Finders
Sierra Club
Solar United Neighbors
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Viridiant

If you have any questions, contact Henrico County Energy Manager Carrie Webster at 804-501-5763 or [email protected]

Henrico has H.E.A.R.T. this Earth Day

March 31, 2023March 31, 2023 Christy Nealey

April 22nd is Earth Day, an annual event celebrated since 1970 to promote environmental protection. Henrico County has a long history of environmental stewardship and has recently strengthened that commitment by creating Henrico’s Environmental Action Resource Team (H.E.A.R.T.). H.E.A.R.T. is a robust committee of county employees representing many different departments. The committee is focused on identifying sustainability initiatives and goals to improve county operations in the areas of green space and recreation, energy resources and conservation, water, mobility and active transportation, and education and outreach. Cari Tretina and Steve Yob are leading the H.E.A.R.T. effort, which will soon expand to involve representatives of the Henrico community, including a youth council.

Henrico County will celebrate Earth Day this year with a public festival at Deep Run Park on Saturday, April 22nd, from 10 AM – 1 PM, hosted by Recreation & Parks and Keep Henrico Beautiful. The event will feature live music, food trucks, and activities such as face painting, seed planting, a sensory-friendly activity tent, and a vendor fair. County departments, local environmental groups, and business vendors will share information on energy efficiency, recycling, residential solar, air quality, native plants, and more. In addition, Tech For Troops will be collecting retired technology and refurbishing it to help veterans in need. A list of equipment they accept can be found at https://techfortroops.org/support/equipment-donations/. Go green by recycling your old technology to help a veteran.

Earth Day Festival

Henrico Recreation & Parks and Keep Henrico Beautiful will host a festival celebrating Earth Day on Saturday April 22nd from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Deep Run Park. There will be live music, activities for all ages, and food truck refreshments available for purchase. Activities include face painting, seed planting, inflatables, and a sensory-friendly activity tent. Learn about sustainability initiatives and resources available in Henrico County such as energy efficiency, residential solar, electric vehicles, recycling, preserving green space, air quality, and more.

Tech For Troops will be collecting retired technology and refurbishing it to help veterans in need. A list of equipment they accept can be found at https://techfortroops.org/support/equipment-donations/. Go green by recycling your old technology to help a veteran.

This event is family-friendly and is free and open to the public.

October is Energy Month

September 30, 2021September 30, 2021 Christy Nealey

October is National Energy Awareness Month as designated by the U.S. Department of Energy, and October 6^th is Energy Efficiency Day.

Join Henrico Energy Management to celebrate on Wednesday October 6^th from 11:30-1:30 in conjunction with the food trucks in the plaza between the Administration Building and the parking deck. Henrico Public Works, Henrico Libraries, Henricopolis Soil & Water Conservation, and Keep Henrico Beautiful will also be there to share information on their environmental programs. Insulated lunch bags (for first 100 visitors) and other fun gifts will be available. Please wear a mask when interacting with the representatives at the tables. If weather or health conditions cancel the food truck event, then the energy event will also be cancelled.

Energy Awareness Month is an opportunity to focus on the ways we use energy in our lives, and to be reminded of ways to save energy that we can practice all year round. Reducing energy use not only saves money, it also has environmental benefits such as improving air quality and conserving natural resources. There are three main energy awareness strategies: conservation, efficiency, and renewables. Here are some ideas to consider:

Conservation – reducing energy use through simple behavior changes such as:
1. Turning off lights that aren’t needed
2. Setting back the thermostat
3. Unplugging chargers and electronic devices when not in use
4. Using power-saving settings on computers and printers
Efficiency – making upgrades to perform the same tasks with less energy such as:
1. Changing out older light bulbs to LEDs,
2. Adding insulation or weatherstripping to keep conditioned air in
3. Installing smart devices that adjust/turn off automatically
4. Replacing inefficient HVAC equipment with new efficient models
Renewables – changing from traditional utility energy to more sustainable renewable sources:
1. Evaluate homes, businesses, and institutional buildings to see if they’re good candidates for solar systems

For more information about saving energy at your home or business, there are two local non-profit organizations that offer energy education, energy audits, efficiency measures, and support to go solar. Find resources at Viridiant at https://www.viridiant.org/ and Local Energy Alliance Program at https://leap-va.org/.

To learn more about what Henrico County is doing for energy, sustainability, and the environment, go to https://henrico.us/go-green/. If you have any questions, please contact Henrico’s Energy Manager Carrie Webster at 804-501-5763 or [email protected].

Energy Efficiency Day

Join Henrico Energy Management to celebrate on Wednesday, October 6^th from 11:30-1:30 in conjunction with the food trucks in the plaza between the Administration Building and the parking deck. Henrico Public Works, Henrico Libraries, Henricopolis Soil & Water Conservation, and Keep Henrico Beautiful will also be there to share information on their environmental programs. Insulated lunch bags (for the first 100 visitors) and other fun gifts will be available. Please wear a mask when interacting with the representatives at the tables. If weather or health conditions cancel the food truck event, then the energy event will also be canceled.

Earth Day and Energy Fair

April 1, 2021April 1, 2021 Christy Nealey

Henrico County’s Spring Earth Day and Energy Fair will be held Saturday April 24 at Deep Run Park, Armour House at Meadowview Park, and Virginia Randolph Academy. Visit any or all three locations between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM for fun, safe, outdoor activities and environmental education. This event is co-hosted by Henrico Energy Management, Henrico Recreation & Parks, Keep Henrico Beautiful, and Henrico County Public Libraries.

All three locations will feature environmental information and resources, fun outdoor activities, and goodie bags. Each attendee can take home a reusable insulated lunch bag full of information and gifts including care kits, activity sheets, a reusable water bottle, “Don’t Trash Virginia” sticker and magnet, and wildflower seed bracelets (while supplies last).

At Deep Run Park, contribute to a community art project and see a variety of electric vehicles on display courtesy of Drive Electric RVA. Learn about tools and resources Henrico Libraries offers for checkout that can help you save energy at home, such as portable watt meters and thermal imaging cameras.

Virginia Randolph Academy and Museum marks the site of the first Arbor Day celebration in Virginia. The Academy at Virginia Randolph will be showcasing their Career and Technical Education programs including the Horticulture program. Visit the museum to learn all about Miss Randolph’s legacy and the historic trees located on the campus.

See spring in bloom at the gardens of the historic Armour House and visit with the Virginia Naturalists to learn about native vs. invasive plant species. An expert in home energy and solar from non-profit Viridiant will be on hand to answer your questions about whether solar is right for you.

Soles4Souls will be collecting new or used shoes for donation to those in need. Tech for Troops will be collecting used electronics, such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops and flat screen monitors in any condition, for refurbishment and donation to veterans. You can bring donations to the Deep Run Park location, or to Deep Run or Eastern Henrico Recreation Centers the week prior to the fair starting Monday April 19.

The Earth Day and Energy Fair is free and open to the public and will be held rain or shine. If you have any questions, contact the Henrico County Energy Manager Carrie Webster at 501-5763 or [email protected].