Some Local Green News and Events for July in DC Area

Well, I've slipped a lot in posting a calendar of events at the beginning of the month--although I am writing a weekly local green news and events roundup over at the Bethesda Green Blog. Here's today's installment at BG: Local green news and events for July 12.

A few things to note:

• July 13 -- Green Night Out With Van Jones: This is a big fundraiser event for Green DMV. Good info about it from the GoingGreenDC blog.

• July 16 -- Last Day to Submit Nominations for Bethesda Magazine's Green Awards! Generate some recognition for the green champion in your school, neighborhood or business. You can nominate organizations and people in 5 categories. Businesses, non-profits, communities, and people of all ages are eligible. Winners will be profiled in the November/December issue of Bethesda Magazine and recognized at the Bethesda Green Gala on Oct. 7, 2010. Get more info from the Bethesda Magazine site.

If You're Thinking Sun, Come to Solar Bethesda June 12!

Memorial Day weekend is here, so even though it's cloudy my thoughts are turning to the beach and the swimming pool. It's the unofficial start of summer and many folks will be fleeing the city to hit the beach; others will celebrate the opening of the local pool.

If you're thinking sun, it's a short synaptic leap to solar energy--one of the renewables that's gotten more affordable with federal, state and local incentives. So if you're curious about solar or ready to put solar panels on your roof, come to the Solar Bethesda! expo, Saturday, June 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bethesda Green. It's free and you'll be able to:

• Hear from neighbors who are living with solar
• Get info on costs, benefits, rebates, tax credits
• Check your home's solar readiness with satellite mapping
• Meet local solar companies (so far there are 10 on the list)
  

Plus, there will be activities for kids.

Visit the Solar Bethesda! website to learn more or click here to RSVP.

The expo takes place at Bethesda Green, 4825 Cordell Ave., Suite 200, Bethesda, Md. (Basically it's at the corner of Cordell and Woodmont on the 2nd floor of the Chevy Chase Bank building.)

Solar hot water systems and solar electric systems can be really affordable. For example, in Maryland the state, local and federal rebates can cut your cost in half! So come check it out and learn more.

(Full disclosure: I'm the volunteer website manager for Bethesda Green and I also am a writer for the DASolar Blog.)

March green events calendar for the DC area

Here's some of what's going on this month. Have an event that's not listed? Add it in the comments section!

March 4 - First Thursday Happy Hour With Bethesda Green
Grab a pre-St. Paddy's Day pint and do some in-person social networking with other green folks.

When: 5-8 p.m.
Where: Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle, 4844 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Md. 20814

March 7 - Creating Sustainable Landscapes
Holly Shimizu, Executive Director of the U.S. Botanic Garden, speaks about how gardeners can enhance the health of their landscapes through decisions relating to water, plants, soil and materials, as well as human health and well being. Free. RSVP to the Montgomery Sierra Club.

When: 2-3:30 p.m.
Where: Rockville Libary, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md. 20850

March 9 - 'Greening Your Small Business' Author Speaks
Join Bethesda Green for this lunchtime event with Jennifer Kaplan, author of 'Greening Your Small Business: How to Improve Your Bottom Line, Grow Your Brand, Satisfy Your Customers--and Save the Planet.'
Nick Keller from Pepco's Commercial Energy Efficiency Incentive programs will also be there to explain how small businesses can qualify for energy incentives.

When: 12-1:30 p.m.
Where: Bethesda Green, 2nd Floor, 4825 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Md. 20814

March 10 - Great Energy Efficiency Day
An in-depth discussion on funding, technology and policy measures required to realize energy efficiency's full potential. Sponsored by the Alliance to Save Energy.

When: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Capitol Hill

March 13 - Goodwill's Travelin' Trunk Show at Greater Goods
This event is part of "Spring Cleaning Month" at the store. Stop by to check out their awesome collection of vintage fashions and donated fabrics and buttons. If you want to do a bit of spring cleaning yourself, Goodwill will be accepting donations of items that have outgrown your home or closet.

When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Greater Goods, 1626 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

March 16-28 - Environmental Film Festival
It's the 18th annual festival; this year, it explores the vital connections between food and the environment. See the Web site for the list of 155 films that celebrate the wonder of the natural world and illuminate the growing challenges to life on Earth.

March 16 - Stormwater Solutions Panel Discussion
Learn about stormwater issues and what you can do to improve conditions in your watershed by taking action on your property. Panelists will include: Steve Dryden, co-chair of Stormwaterpartners.org; Ann English of Montgomery County's Rainscapes program; Donna Evans, a Landscape Designer with American Plant and a LEED Green Associate; Peter Ensign, LEED AP, Executive Director with DC Greenworks; and yours truly, Dan Kulpinski, author of the article "To Revive Urban Streams, Think Small," which was the cover story of the Audubon Naturalist News' Winter issue.

When: 7-9 p.m.
Where: Bethesda Green, 2nd Floor, 4825 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Md. 20814

March 16 - Green Drinks NoVa
Join folks for some green networking.

When: 6-8 p.m.
Where: Vienna Inn, 120 Maple Ave. East, Vienna, Va.

You can find more March events at the following sites:
BethesdaGreen.org, LiveGreen.net, Green Building Institute,

February green events calendar for the DC area

Here's what I've noticed is happening. If you have additional events, post them in a comment here or e-mail them to me at mail at greenlistdc.org.


Feb. 4 - Bethesda Green First Thursday Happy Hour
Join staff and volunteers from Bethesda Green for casual green conversation and social networking.

When: 5-8 p.m.
Where: Blacks Bar & Kitchen, 7750 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814


Feb. 9 - Coal-Free Future theatre performance
Join us for a rockin' evening with award-winning journalist/author Jeff Biggers, filmmaker Ben Evans, and orrganizer/actress Stephanie Pistello as we unveil the Coal Free Future Project in Washington D.C.
When: 6-9 p.m.
Where: Busboys & Poets


Feb. 11 - Home Ecology class
Create a healthy home for your children & family. Understand the dangers of residential pollution and learn how recycling and reducing the use of toxic chemicals makes your home a safe haven.

When: 8 p.m.
Where: Greater Goods, 1626 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009


* Feb. 16 - Greening Your Small Business - POSTPONED *
This is a lunchtime Discussion with Jennifer Kaplan, author of "Greening Your Small Business," which was just published in November '09. Jennifer is an adjunct faculty of marketing at Marymount University in Arlington, Va.; she also founded Greenhance LLC, a business consultancy dedicated to providing marketing and communication strategies to small businesses going green.

Nick Keller from Pepco's Commercial Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs will also be there to explain how small businesses can qualify for energy incentives.

When: 12-1:30 p.m. -- POSTPONED, DATE TBD
Where: Bethesda Green, 2nd floor, 4825 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Md. 20814


Feb. 16 - NOVA Green Drinks
Green Drinks meets every 3rd Tuesday. For more information: pam at vsbn.org.

When: 6-8 PM
Where: Vienna Inn, 120 Maple Avenue E., Vienna, VA.


Feb. 18 - Sustainable Investments panel discussion
Learn about sustainable investments and the "green economy." Join Bethesda Green for a rousing discussion as four local investment experts answer questions and offer their take on the important economic issues -- and opportunities -- that impact our wallets and our communities.

When: 7-9 p.m.
Where: Bethesda Green, 2nd floor, 4825 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Md. 20814


Feb. 18 - Solar Panels: How, why and how much?
Everything you ever wanted to know about installing solar panels in your home!

When: 8 p.m.
Where: Greater Goods, 1626 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009


Feb. 25 - Discussion: A Green Building Is a Healthier One
Can working in a green building make you healthier? And if you can prove this, would reduce a company’s health care insurance? Find out if this is a game changer when considering how and when to build sustainably. (Note: This event costs money!)

When: 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Where: National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW Washington, DC 20001


Feb. 27 - Energy Efficiency!
Want to conserve energy but don’t know where to start? There are simple steps that you can take to make your home more energy efficient and save money, whether you own or rent your place. In this workshop, we will walk you through the basics, to help you get started right away.

When: 11 a.m.
where: Greater Goods, 1626 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Bethesda Green's Grand Opening Happens Oct. 1-3

A local non-profit that is helping launch new green businesses will open its newly renovated Education Center and Green Business Incubator this Thursday.

The organization is Bethesda Green and it's hosting an Open House from October 1-3 at its offices on the second floor of the Chevy Chase Bank on the corner of Cordell Ave. and Woodmont Ave. in downtown Bethesda, Md.

Come meet the innovative companies getting their start, see what Bethesda Green is all about, and listen to presentations about green business, sustainable living and community sustainability. View the program of Grand Opening events.

I have done volunteer work for Bethesda Green, mostly helping to shape and publish their new Web site at bethesdagreen.org. Check it out!

This is a great organization that is out there making things happen. They've procured 15 recycling bins for downtown Bethesda, sponsored two extremely successful E-Cycling Days, and launched a biodiesel fuel research project with the county. Bethesda Green acts as a catalyst to help businesses and people become more sustainable.

So, if you're in or near Bethesda later this week, stop by for the Open House. If you can't make it, check out the line-up of upcoming events, workshops and talks.

Shout out for OrganicMania, another local blog

Recently I discovered OrganicMania, a green blog for moms written by DC-area local Lynn Anne Miller. Her company, 4GreenPs/OrganicMania.com, was chosen this year as one of the first six to participate in the Bethesda Green Incubator, which supports the development of young growing businesses that have the potential to create jobs and bring new, innovative green products to market.

OrganicMania's tag line is "Your Guide To Making Sense of Healthy Green Living." The blog contains lots of posts about how to make schools greener, pack healthier, greener lunches for your kids, organic food, Community Supported Agriculture, and the BlogHer site and conference.

It looks like a great resource for moms who want to be greener -- or who just want to cut through all the green marketing out there and find out what's really best and why.

E-Cycle your electronic waste June 7 in Bethesda

Bethesda Green is promoting an E-Cycling Day in partnership with the Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services, Sunday, June 7 from 12-4 p.m. at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School parking lot, 4301 East-West Highway in Bethesda, Md.

They'll accept many items, from cell phones to small appliances to TVs and computers. Check out this PDF for a complete list of items(download the PDF to print and share with your friends, church, office, etc.).

Bethesda Green volunteers will hand out free Honest Tea. Plus they say you don't even have to get out of your car!

Green restaurants and zero-energy homes in Bethesda

The May/June issue of Bethesda Magazine contains three excellent articles for green-minded folks. One explores the difference between organic, local, sustainable and "green" food and restaurants -- and then provides short reviews of Bethesda restaurants and caterers that feature organic, sustainable and/or local food.

Another article looks at two zero-energy homes and the third story describes a bunch of local farmer's markets (this article is not online).

Interesting Fact: The cafeteria at the National Naval Medical Center is the first -- and only -- green certified eating establishment in the military.

Hard to Swallow: John Murphey, co-designer of the Bethesda Zero house, talking about how the home combines sustainability and affordability -- for a cool $1.7 million. Not affordable for most of us, at least not writers like me.