Solarize NoVA & Energy Efficiency

Solarize NoVA is a program of the  Northern Virginia Regional Commission  in partnership with our local government members, the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) and local solar installers in the region. Through a competitive review process, LEAP evaluates proposals from local installers and selects a high-quality installer that has committed to providing discounted prices to all program participants. With low upfront costs, a streamlined process, and energy savings, Solarize NoVA is a win-win for the consumer and the environment.

For more detailed data on the growth of solar arrays in the region  click here .

To assist homeowners and building owners assess the solar capacity of their home/building, the Northern Virginia Regional Commission created a unique map that provides information related to the amount of solar equipment that can fit on a roof, the kWh that can be generated, the projected monetary savings and environmental benefits. Northern Virginia was the first region in the Commonwealth to create such a map.

While nothing takes the place of having a professional make an assessment, the NoVA Solar Map begins the conversation on how you can benefit from installing solar.

The Northern Virginia Regional Commission is pleased to work with Community Housing Partners Energy Solutions (CHP). CHP is the authorized weatherization assistance program implementer in the region. The energy efficiency programs are funded by local utilities and in some instances the State or Federal Governments.

Since 2016, CHP has helped more than 10,200 families in Northern Virginia improve the energy efficiency of their home or apartment. These efforts have led to 7,130,612.40 kWhe being saved and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Virginia on an annual basis by 3,183.22 tons.

Energy Equity recognizes that disenfranchised/marginalized communities have borne higher burdens of pollution and have been largely left out (lack of investment) in the deployment of clean energy and energy efficiency investment.

Program services are available to both homeowners and renters. Qualification is based on household income and/or age. If a household contains a member who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Public Assistance, Food Stamps, or fuel assistance, the household is automatically eligible for services. Applications are accepted from renters, homeowners, and rental property owners. CHP serves both single-family homes, manufactured homes, and multi-family buildings.

Fill out the survey at the link below to see what programs you potentially are eligible to participate in. You can  download CHP's multi-language flyer here  to share with your family, friends and neighbors.

Our team at the Northern Virginia Regional Commission have put together a number of informative maps on the impact of climate change on the region.

This map shows urban heat islands in Northern Virginia on July 13, 2020, an extreme heat day when the air temperature exceeded 95 degrees Fahrenheit. In urban areas, much of the land is covered with development. Since buildings and roads absorb more heat than trees and greenery, this causes urban areas to have higher surface temperatures than surrounding areas. Areas where this occurs are referred to as “heat islands.” Heat islands can refer to temperature differences between cities and their surrounding areas as well as temperature differences in different areas in a city or region.

View the Map from NVRC here:  https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c225bece42c345c3a292a025ccb6acdb 

Warmer ocean temperatures and melting sea ice have resulted in global sea level rise. In 2018, global sea level was 3.2 inches (81 mm) above the 1993 average (NOAA, 2019). As global temperatures continue to warm, sea level will continue to rise. How much it will rise depends mostly on the rate of future carbon dioxide emissions and future global warming. How fast it will rise depends mostly on the rate of glacier and ice sheet melting. The National Climate Assessment and other efforts have estimated that by the year 2100, global sea levels may rise an additional 6.6 feet. 

In Northern Virginia, the reach of the Potomac River downstream of the Great Falls in Great Falls National Park is hydrologically connected to the ocean. Therefore, it is influenced by tides and storm surge. In addition to the aforementioned sea level rise contributors, land subsidence (or land sinking) contributes to the rate of sea level rise. The relative sea level trend observed at the tidal gauge on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. is 3.33 mm/year of rise. This trend is based on observed monthly mean sea level data from 1924 to 2018 which is equivalent to a change of 1.09 feet in 100 years. 

View the map and data here:  https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/d8319e3a2b5c42efa9dd241ddc0a0932/page/Sea-Level-Rise/ 

NVRC is the official planning district for the region. It is a consortium of the leading 13 local governments in the region representing more than 2.5 million residents.

Northern Virginia is the economic engine of the Commonwealth with a  GDP of $228 Billion (2020)  representing nearly 42% of the GDP of Virginia. Its economy is larger than 25 states and is the 49th largest economy in the world.