Eco-City Newsletter – January 2026

Green Building Plan

New developments in Alexandria will begin to meet new Green Building Standards. On Saturday, January 24th, the City Council approved the Green Building Plan, a new chapter in the City's Master Plan. The Green Building Plan replaces the City's 2019 Green Building Policy , which required new developments to improve their sustainability by achieving certifications from 3rd party green building organizations.

The recently adopted Green Building Plan moves away from these certifications in favor of focusing on key metrics, particularly Energy Use Intensity (EUI), renewable energy, and electrification. "Ultimately, the Green Building Plan is designed to make sure that a building's energy performance is a priority in design, rather than a consequence of other design decisions" said Ryan Freed, Climate Action Officer, "Mitigating the impact of new developments by requiring better energy performance is crucial to ensuring the resilience of our community, the resilience of our grid, and affordability of housing".

A brief overview of the requirements in the Green Building Plan:

• Buildings must meet EUI targets, for multifamily buildings that is an EUI of 35
• Each development must meet 3% of its energy with on-site renewable energy, or pay into a Clean Energy Fund (up to $150,000)
• Electric appliances and systems are prioritized, with a set of limited exceptions

More information and the complete Plan will be available at the City's Green Building webpage.

As a part of Council's approval, the Department of Planning & Zoning was directed to establish a development review process, and the Office of Climate Action was directed to return to Council in two years, or sooner if conditions warrant, to evaluate the metrics and make recommendations for changes if needed.

Office of Climate Action Relocates to Tavern Square

The City of Alexandria's Office of Climate Action (OCA) has moved to a new temporary office space at Tavern Square (421 King Street) as part of the ongoing renovations at City Hall . Several other City of Alexandria departments have also temporarily relocated as part of this transition. Departments now located at Tavern Square include the City Manager's Office, Mayor and City Council Offices, Office of Communications and Community Engagement, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Race and Social Equity, City Clerk, the Department of Planning & Zoning, and the Office of Analytics, Innovation, and Data.

Although the office location has changed, OCA's commitment to advancing sustainability, climate resilience, and community engagement in Alexandria remains the same. Residents, partners, and community-based organizations can expect continued collaboration and support throughout this transition.

We look forward to welcoming visitors to our new Tavern Square location and will share updates as City Hall renovations progress.

Please note: The City Attorney's Office will temporarily relocate to 123 Pitt Street.

Welcome to a New Chapter for Natural Resources in Alexandria

RPCA Natural Resources entered an exciting new chapter with a refreshed website featuring updated information, new leadership, and a growing lineup of programs and events designed to help residents connect more deeply with Alexandria's natural spaces. With new Natural Resources Managers on board and a renewed focus on education, stewardship, and community engagement, there has never been a better time to explore, learn, and get involved.

The new Natural Resources Managers-Raychel Frye and Katrina Napora-bring strong backgrounds in wildlife management, environmental science, and sustainable land stewardship. Frye's experience ranges from the U.S. Forest Service to habitat and wildlife management for the Gila River Indian Community , while Napora's work with the U.S. Geological Survey focused-on streams and wetlands research.

Exciting outreach opportunities were announced for the year, including an educational video on protecting local trees, seasonal features highlighting early blooms in parks, guided nature walks with the Natural Resources Managers, and Earth Month meet-and-greet events at local parks and recreation centers.

Following these events, a Natural Resources feedback survey will be released to gather public input, with results shared by December 2026.)

The community was encouraged to follow Natural Resources on social media ( Instagram and Facebook ) for the latest updates and to stay connected with upcoming events and ways to engage with Alexandria's parks and wildlife.

What You Can Do if You Encounter Someone Experiencing Homelessness

If you see someone who may need housing support, the Alexandria community offers financial and housing assistance.

If you have engaged the individual in conversation and know they are in need of supportive services, let them know they can call 703.746.5700 or text 703.346.5599 or they may walk-in for services at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center , 4850 Mark Center Drive, during business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Staff will support them by identifying next steps for assistance with their specific situation. Once screened, individuals will be added to the waitlist and referred once a bed is available at Alexandria Community Shelter or Carpenter's Shelter .

During the winter months, let them know about the City's Winter Shelter Program run by Carpenter's Shelter (703.548.7500), which is open daily from November 1 through April 15, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. You can also share with them the Alexandria Community Resources Card: English | Spanish .

If you aren't comfortable engaging in conversion, contact Alex 311 to report your observations; please refrain from taking photos of residents experiencing homelessness out of respect for their privacy. Your report will be sent to Department of Community & Human Services (DCHS) staff, who will go out and speak to the person within 24-48 business hours and offer available support and resources.

DCHS values individual personal choice and does not force services on anyone, but staff work hard to ensure everyone is aware of the supportive services available to them and their right to access them and transition out of homelessness.

For more immediate welfare checks, call the police non-emergency line at 703.746.4444.