Eco-City Newsletter – May 2026

Eco-City Homes

When the Benders moved into their 1940s-era Alexandria home, Jim got right to work making energy-saving improvements. "In the '40s, energy efficiency was not a thing," Jim said with a laugh. "There was no insulation in the walls and about this much [here, he measured barely an inch between thumb and forefinger] insulation between the attic and ceiling of the second floor."

The first upgrades targeted adding thick insulation in the attic, building out 2x4 stud walls from the inside to create space for insulation around the house, and replacing the original single-pane windows. Together, those improvements dramatically increased the comfort of their home while reducing heating and cooling costs.

More recently, the family installed solar panels. Now, for much of the spring and early summer, their electric bill drops to less than $10, and their home produces more energy than it consumes for about half the year. But beyond the obvious financial and sustainability benefits, the family has also gained a deeper understanding about their energy use.

"I've learned more about how I consume energy from [the app associated with the solar panels] than anything else," Jim said. The system lets him see exactly when energy use spikes throughout the day, particularly when the AC goes on or they run a load of laundry or the dishwasher. That knowledge has helped his family make choices that save energy and put less strain on the grid.

"There's so much we can do to save energy when we put our minds to it," he said. "Your day-to-day actions have an environmental impact."

For Jim, being recognized through Eco-City Homes feels encouraging to keep the conversation going. "I'm glad to be recognized for stuff I've been doing all of my adult life, even when it wasn't that popular" he laughed. "It's good to promote these actions. I like to see that it's more of a public dialogue."

You can become an Eco-City Home, too! Find the short online sign-up forms for renters, condo owners, and homeowners on the program website .

Eco-City Business: Pedego

Todd Ketch, owner of Pedego Alexandria, chatted with us about some of the ways the shop goes green. One easy step was opting for more efficient lighting throughout.

"The LEDs in the shop were here when we moved in, but then I also replaced all the tube fluorescent lights in the bigger storage area with LEDs. It's more sustainable, it's nice that they don't get as hot, and I like not having to change out lights all the time-the LEDs last forever!" he shared.

Sustainability and biking go hand in hand(lebar), and he's been excited to see the rise in electric bikes. "Back when electric bikes were becoming a thing, you'd mostly see interest from retirees. Now, everyone is riding e-bikes: kids getting to school, commuters, and people who are realizing that it's an easy way to get around town-it's really nice to not have to find and pay for parking! Plus, we have the best area for it. We don't just have great trails for biking, but there are actually destinations that you can bike to." (As I was talking with Todd, he waved to a couple who would be coming back the next day to take some bikes to Mount Vernon.)

As for being an Eco-City Business? "We love being involved in sharing sustainability resources with Alexandrians. Being an Eco-City Business goes right along with that."

Eco-City Staff

Stevie Mathews (she/her) is the Director of Planning and Schedule for Alexandria Transit Company (DASH).

How would you describe your role and connection to Eco-City? I oversee DASH's service planning and technology departments. Using data, these teams determine improvements to transit reliability, efficiency, and access. By optimizing transit service and encouraging mode shift from single-occupancy vehicles, my work helps reduce emissions and supports Alexandria's Eco-City goals.

What are you most excited about? I'm most excited about using better data and technology tools to make transit more reliable and easier to use, so more people choose it over driving. Small improvements in service quality can have a big impact on sustainability and equity outcomes!

Fun fact about yourself? I enjoy translating messy datasets into clear insights-and outside of work, I love working in my garden, hiking with my dog and planning my next travel destination.