Saturday, August 8, 2009

Where's the Solar In Arlington County?

Driven past the Pentagon heating plant just off I-395 lately? Appears the solar panel array has been removed. So where's the solar in Arlington (apart from a few small panels to light signs)?

Want to see a large solar panel array that will heat a lot of hot water for a school? (BTW, schools use a lot of hot water). Check out Minnie Howard School in Alexandria, 1/2 mile from Paulie Ferguson's, Libby Garvey's and Scottie McCaffrey's Fairlington homes.

19 comments:

Tracy said...

High schools and middle schools use a lot of hot water for kitchens, bathrooms, showers, swimming pools, etc. Happy to read that Alexandria, at least, is installing solar water heating.

22206 said...

There are something like 12 outdoor pools in Fairlington. None of them uses solar water heating.

Scott said...

You loopy lefties make me sick. All you want to do is depress the profits of honest upstanding corporations like Washington Gas and Dominion Resources with your leftist socialist "renewable energy".

Alex. Republican said...

Now that Republican oil executive Frank Fannon is on the Alexandria City Council you can bet you won't see another socialist solar panel on another public building.

L O L said...

"Socialist solar panel"?

Go Republicans ! said...

Never mind the Socialists. Elect Bob McDonnell Governor so we can drill off the Virginia coast for oil, mine more coal, and build more nuclear power plants. It's the American Way!

Don't Vote Republican said...

A vote for McDonnell is a vote for Gridlock + Global Warming.

Craig, 22204 said...

Arlington County is all about Limousine Liberals and Country Club Republicans doing their thing - paid for by everyone else. That's why nothing changes.

abc123 said...

Wash Post today - colleges are installing photovoltaic panels on-campus to generate significant amounts of power.

Cindy, 22207 said...

Hi Yupette,

I have a solar panel on the roof of my home for water heating. I think there is another home in the neighborhood with solar water heating. The in-fill McMansions in the neighborhood are not very energy efficient.

I would like to see a Woodstock commemorative thread. Thanks for your blog.

Joan said...

Why no solar in Arlington? The County Board caters to developers and REITs that build as cheaply as possible and to fossil fuel energy companies like Dominion Resources and Washington Gas.

It's been known for a long time that the County grants "green" certification and bonus density for LEED criteria that have nothing to do with energy efficiency and in fact are mandated by the federal government, low emitting adhesives, for example.

The County Board also appoints people to the planning commission who not only support the County Board's anti-solar agenda but start malicious rumors about citizens who want solar to be installed on new and older buildings.

Anonymous said...

Don't forget the Sun Gazette, aka the Sun-Fisette, whose Editor Scott McCaffrey (a realtor and Arlington Chamber of Commerce board member) not only ignores alternative energy but calls Green activists "Loopy Lefties."

Yuppies Suck said...

Hey, Yuppie. Yeah, you. Want to greatly increase the energy efficiency of your Yuppie McMansion? Do what the middle class has been doing for 50 years, replace the black roof shingles with white roof shingles.

Don said...

They can't do it, a white roof wouldn't look trendy.

Anonymous said...

The United States and Virginia are being run by and for Harvard Law School Alumni.

Anonymous said...

Arlington is also run by Martha Stewart, aka Martha Kostyra, who grew up in Nutley New Jersey 50 years ago when having a roof with white shingles was considered cool.

Susan said...

Did you notice what the Republicans and Democrats are feuding about? Balloons at the County Fair.

The County Fair will be held at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. How much hot water does Thomas Jefferson Middle School, and its recreation center consume? Tens of thousands of gallons. Any plans to install solar water heating on Thomas Jefferson Middle School? None that I'm aware of.

Joan said...

I f-ing cannot believe the Arlington Republicans and Democrats are fighting over helium balloons at the Arlington County Fair, held every year at TJ Middle School which is an energy pig.

What is preventing Arlington County from putting solar collectors on public buildings? Only reason I can discern is of the billion dollars that's spent by county government all that's left over after usual payrolls and expenses goes to special programs and for pet projects that benefit special interests.

Barbara said...

Don't forget the $100 million water park, $150 million aquatic center, 3 more live theaters at $10 million each, etc.

I don't know about you but I'm voting for John Reeder for County Board in November.