Programs and Services

• Solar Raisers is a volunteer program that helps homeowners install solar hot water heaters with free labor and technical assistance. Installations are done like the Amish build barns—by bringing volunteers together for a day. By helping each other out, we can achieve energy independence, tackle the climate crisis, and have fun getting our hands dirty.


• Green Living Challenge - ACE's first Green Living Challenge in 2007 inspired hundreds of Arlingtonians to earn certificates for themselves and prizes for their civic associations in a contest to find the greenest individuals and neighborhoods. In 2008, the Challenge expanded the number of actions to 25 in five green categories. ACE encourages you to take the pledge and choose actions to help make a cleaner, greener Arlington.


• Volunteer Service Projects – ACE organizes regular outdoor service projects to improve Arlington, including stream and river cleanups, highway cleanups, invasive plant removals, and storm drain marking. We can help you with a project in your neighborhood or customize an event for your group or club. We also provide training and opportunities for volunteer leaders to gain experience running service projects. For more information, contact the ACE Program Manager at 703-228-6406 or volunteer@arlingtonenvironment.org.


• Green Learning Resources - ACE brings together the Arlington County school community to learn from and encourage each other in creating programs and activities to protect the environment. The Green Learning Challenge recognized schools that participated in green activities in 2009 as well as providing a forum for sharing innovative ideas for environmental education and stewardship.


• School Programs - ACE offers a number of relevant presentations on environmental topics. All presentations are hands-on and connected to SOLs. To schedule a program, contact the ACE office at 703-228-6427 or office@arlingtonenvironment.org and provide your name, school, grade level, number of students, presentation requested, and three date choices.



• Tree Canopy Fund -- This program which provides for planting trees to restore and increase Arlington County's tree cover was launched in 2009. The program is not currently accepting applications. Read the 2011-2012 Program Guidelines (PDF) for information on how the program works.

• Watershed-friendly Garden Tour - This annual tour held each June features local homes and public buildings with a variety of watershed-friendly elements, including cisterns, rain barrels, rain gardens, backyard wildlife habitats, and native plants. Contact ACE in early May for the tour booklet listing locations and addresses.


• Arlington Community Wildlife Habitat Project - ACE assists citizens, schools, businesses and community organizations in Arlington County in the creation of wildlife habitats that provide food, water, shelter and places to raise young.