ARLINGTON, VA, November 27, 2007
The results have been tallied for the Green Living Challenge, a ten-month contest with actions for residents to take to protect the environment and make Arlington a healthier, more sustainable community. Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE) recognized two neighborhood winners at the Arlington Green Living Gala yesterday at Courthouse Plaza.

Phil Rizzi, ACE Board Chair (l), and Paul Ferguson, Arlington County Board Chair (r), congratulate Green Living Challenge neighborhood winners Liza Hodskins (2nd from left), Ashton Heights, and Tierney Farrell, Penrose. Photo by Leslie Kossoff of LK Photos.

Receiving top honors was Ashton Heights, with 1386 points based on participation by neighborhood residents in completing green lifestyle actions. Ashton Heights received the “greenest neighborhood in Arlington” designation and a gift certificate from Whole Foods for catering for light refreshments for 75 people.

In second place was Penrose, with 949 points. Penrose received a $150 gift certificate from My Organic Market. In addition to the neighborhood winners, 68 household participants received green living certificates for achieving 100 points or more. The Arlington Green Living Gala was a celebration of the Arlington Initiative to Reduce Emissions (Fresh AIRE) and to honor Arlingtonians committed to protecting our environment.

“The winning neighborhoods were successful in working together to complete simple activities to help the environment, and showing how little accomplishments can make a difference,” said Phil Rizzi, the board chair of ACE.

The Green Living Challenge was launched in January and provided a list of household actions that individuals could accomplish with relative ease but make a big difference in protecting our air, water, and natural resources. The project challenged residents to complete as many of the 16 actions as they could before October 31, 2007. Each action taken earned points for the resident and their neighborhood. Actions included using a reusable coffee or tea mug, buying renewable energy, planting a tree, and not driving one day a week.

ACE is a community-based non-profit organization working to improve the environment and achieve a clean and sustainable community in Arlington County, VA.

Contact: Elenor Hodges, Executive Director
Telephone: (703) 228-6427
E-mail: elenor@arlingtonenvironment.org