Eco-City Newsletter – June 2026

Eco-City Alexandria at Sails on the Potomac

Eco-City Alexandria recently participated in Sails on the Potomac, a waterfront festival celebrating Alexandria's role in the founding of the United States as part of the nation's 250th anniversary commemoration.

With extreme heat affecting the event, Eco-City Alexandria provided a cooling tent with misting fans, giving attendees a place to cool down and learn about heat safety and climate resilience. Thank you to everyone who stopped by!

Young Alexandrians Dig Into Composting This Summer

This summer, children ages 6-10 explored the fascinating world of vermicomposting through Bookworms Compost, a seven-week program hosted by the Youth Services team at Beatley Central Library.

Held on Tuesdays beginning June 16 through July 28, the hands-on program introduced participants to the science of composting with worms and the natural processes that recycle nutrients back into the earth. Using the library's worm composting bin, young learners discovered how food scraps can be transformed into valuable compost while gaining a deeper understanding of sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Registration is encouraged, and children are welcome even if they cannot attend every session. Learn more and register here: Bookworms Compost at Alexandria Library.

Change Community Conditions for Your Neighborhood

If you live in the Landmark/Van Dorn or Arlandria neighborhoods, you have an opportunity to make it greener and healthier. The Alexandria Health Department and Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria are working with community coalitions - made up of residents, organizations, local businesses, and other city agencies - to develop Alexandria's Community Health Improvement Plan. This is a 5-year, community-driven process to improve health in our community. The Landmark/Van Dorn neighborhood coalition has selected their three focus areas: opportunities for youth outside of school, improved community safety, and more outdoor and green active spaces. The Arlandria coalition is finalizing their focus areas now.

Your voice directly shapes what happens in these neighborhoods. You can either join a workgroup ( here ) to help build the plan or join our newsletter for updates on the effort. The work groups meet monthly for 60-90 minutes over the next 4-6 months.

Learn more and find ways to get involved for all three of our coalitions at the CHIP Landscape page. Even if you can't join a meeting, you can still participate virtually. Contact [email protected] or call 703.244.5654 for any questions.

City of Alexandria Phases Out Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers for Electric Equipment

As of this week, the City of Alexandria has fully transitioned to electric leaf blowers for maintenance and operations work. The change comes ahead of the full, city-wide ban on gas-powered leaf blowers going into effect later this year. By switching to electric equipment first, City staff are ready to lead by example and demonstrate the positive environmental and noise control benefits compared to the gas-powered machines.

A 2025 City Council ordinance, which mandated the switch for City operations, will expand to cover residents, property managers, businesses and contractors in Alexandria by November 17, 2026. Because gas-powered leaf blowers create significant air and noise pollution, the transition to electric equipment will provide a healthier experience for operators and a quieter and less disruptive experience for the general public.

Residents, property managers, and businesses are encouraged to explore their options for replacing equipment ahead of the full gas-powered leaf blower ban going into effect. After the deadline, failure to comply with the ordinance may result in a citation and civil penalties, and inspections may be conducted to investigate actual or suspected violations.

Learn more about the upcoming gas-powered leaf blower ban on the City webpage.

Step2Savings Energy Challenge

Meeting the City's ambitious goals established in the Environmental Action Plan 2040 means we need 53,000 homes to be energy efficient by 2030. With nearly 60% of Alexandrians living in multifamily properties, 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 count their buildings among the 53,000 efficient homes. Step2Savings provides the framework to understand how energy is being used, works with owners to set ambitious energy use reduction targets, and provides technical expertise and resources to develop clear plans to achieve those targets.

To join the Step2Savings Energy Challenge today and start turning energy savings into long-term value, complete the Sign-Up Form here .

For questions, contact Valerie Amor, Energy Manager, [email protected] , 703.746.3705.