‘Cozy window’
courtesy of ‘Aine D’
As the year is winding down, the green community is going strong. In the second half of the month, there are workshops to keep you warm this winter and cut your energy bills, to make your holiday both green and serene, to let you hear firsthand what happened at Copenhagen, and to share DC’s cleaner transportation options.
Want the full story? Here are the details — plus some bonus green holiday party reminders at the end.
Snug Up Your Home
Wednesday, Dec. 16
6:30 p.m.
Georgetown
2nd District Police Station, 3320 Idaho Ave., NW
At Weatherizing: Healthy, Wealthy And Wise, learn how to keep your home warm this winter — so you stay more comfortable and lower your energy bill. Experts will cover energy basics, health and safety, and hands-on repair, including how to do your own air sealing, caulking, weatherstripping, and more. (It’s easy!) Whether you live in an apartment or a house, you can block out drafts and make your home more energy efficient. CarbonfreeDC and Weatherize DC will show you how. Of course, you’ll also be burning less fossil fuel, for fewer greenhouse gases and a cleaner atmosphere. Good for you, and good for the planet.
Green Your Holiday
Thursday, Dec. 17
8 p.m.
DC
Greater Goods
1626 U St., NW
Concerned about your holiday footprint? This class will share ways to reduce your impact on the environment this season. The focus will be on simplifying your holidays, which is a big part of making them green. (It’s also a big part of making them less stressful.)
Instructor Cindy Olson is a garden mentor known for her plant rescue and avid composting. She feeds herself and friends from a small terrace garden in DC maintained with sustainable and organic practices. Perhaps she’ll suggest decorating mainly with mistletoe?
‘Electro + Hybrid’
courtesy of ‘smaedli’
Double Header: Learn What Happened at Copenhagen, and Clean Transportation in DC
Monday, Dec. 21
6:30 p.m.
DC
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW
Part 1 of this event will discuss Copenhagen, the most important environmental talks in more than a decade. Hear a firsthand account from Rhys Gerholdt, Executive Director of CarbonfreeDC. Freshly returned from two grueling weeks at the negotiations, Gerholdt will provide an overview of what issues were at stake, what was accomplished, and what it all means for the future. Did Obama fulfill his promise to protect our “planet in peril”? Will developing countries make meaningful emissions cuts? How does this relate to US climate legislation in the Senate?
Part 2 will be a practical workshop on clean personal transportation options you can choose now. It will cover how to choose between diesel/gas/hybrid/plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles, depending on your commute and living situation. Benoit Colin, an independent expert on clean transportation and a fervent advocate for car-sharing and bike-sharing, will give advice on how to reduce your environmental footprint and save money in a traditional vehicle with special “hypermileage” techniques. He’ll also reflect on the evolution of transportation in the DC Metro area specifically.
‘DC Xmas Tree 7’
courtesy of ‘thetisons’
More into celebrating than studying these days?
Check out this list of fun nature-related events from The Natural Capital, including the Garden of Lights in Wheaton and ZooLights, plus assorted hikes, bird-watching outings, and strolls to see holiday decorations.
Lest we forget, here’s a reminder of some activities on the lighter side featured previously in We Love DC:
- Fundraiser to save adorable cotton-top tamarins (Tonight, 5:30 – 9 p.m. at Studio Gallery)
- Three final Green Holiday Parties:
- A Girls Night Out at the DC EcoWomen Holiday Happy Hour & Networking Event (Tonight, 6-8 p.m., DC’s Farmers and Fishers)
- A Movie Night with the Film Affluenza (Tonight, 7 p.m., Shirlington Library)
- A Bikers’ Party with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (Thursday, 5-9 p.m., WABA’s offices in DC)
Happy green holidays!
