This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment. Got a question? Email us at [email protected]!
Building experts are on the leading edge of energy innovation. The Rethink Energy podcast gets up close and personal with some of our local trendsetters to learn what makes them tick.
In episode one, guest Chris Conway confesses his challenge breaking into the construction market at the height of the Great Recession, “Boy, that was a bad time to do that!” forcing his switch to energy.
Episode three guest Patty Shields shares her experience building ultra-efficient homes, and when asked what it’s like be a woman in the primarily male construction biz she reveals, “People are surprised at my level of knowledge… and you just have to not let that phase you and just plow on through.”
In episode four, Guest Aaron Sutch from VASUN, a nonprofit that organizes solar co-ops around the state, talks about why he thinks people are so in love with solar, “I think the garden analogy is great. I remember the first time that I ate the tomatoes that I had sprouted from seed right in my own backyard. There’s just something special about that.” He expressed that electricity produced at home with solar panels has the same feeling.
Host Jessica Abralind, Green Building Planner for Arlington, breaks down technical subjects to keep the quick 10 minute episodes engaging and accessible, “These really smart and charming people that I meet through my work have some hilarious stories and fascinating insights into the world we all live in. I’m excited to share that with the community.”
Take a few minutes and (binge) listen to all episodes from our entire first season:
Episode 1 – Warrior
Episode 2 – Hoodwinked
Episode 3 – Construction, Moms (…and Machine Guns)
Episode 4 – Power to the People
Episode 5 – This is What the Future Looks Like
Episode 6 – Care and Feeding
Episode 7 – Feedback Episode
Episode 8 – The Unexpected Benefits of Energy Efficiency
Episode 9 – The Gadget Guy
Recent Stories

Let the Arlingtones surprise your friend or sweetie this Valentine’s Day with a barbershop quartet singing love songs in four part a cappella harmony! Choose from a small selection of songs in our repertoire to surprise your special someone.
$75 for two songs delivered to a place of your choice by a live, in-person quartet. Includes a classy tin of chocolates, fresh red rose and personalized card. Small mileage surcharge for >5 miles outside Arlington VA.
$30 Facetime/Skype valentine- two songs delivered ‘live’ via Facetime or Skype at an agreed-on time.
$20 virtual valentine- two pre-recorded quartet songs delivered via email with a personalized message.

Have you noticed a striking sculpture at Monroe Street and Wilson Boulevard? It’s the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington’s newest installation, Make Your Mark, by Arlington artist, Adam Henry. This sculpture celebrates MoCA Arlington’s rebranding and brings the museum’s energy outdoors.
On February 11, come inside when the museum’s galleries reopen with two new exhibitions: Rebecca Rivas Rogers: Grey View and Crisis of Image.
Grey View, in the Wyatt Resident Artist Gallery, is an homage to “gray” and a snapshot of the artist’s process. Consisting of photographs, collage, and a site-specific installation, this show is an outgrowth of Rivas-Rogers’ visual investigations into places you see on your way to somewhere else.
On the main level, Crisis of Image features artists who seek equity in today’s saturated visual world by developing new methods related to the production of images.
Valentine Pop-Up at George Mason University
Valentine gifts for someone special or for yourself are here at George Mason University from noon -4pm on February 14, 2023. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Kingsbury Chocolates, find a handmade bag from Karina Gaull, pick up treats from Village
Standup Comedy Showcase Starring Matt Ruby (Comedy Central)
Dead Horse Comedy Productions brings together top comedians from the DMV and beyond for a live standup comedy show!
Matt Ruby, Headliner
Matt Ruby is a comedian, writer, and filmmaker from New York City. His comedy has been filmed by