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Electricity:
Virginia Dominion Power: Exciting news! Charlottesville is the first city in Virginia to receive smart grids (you don’t have to do anything)! This will improve the efficiency of energy distribution by 4%. Also, sign up for GREEN POWER.
Energy Audits (see Home section)
Environmental/Conservation Organizations:
There are Bettys and Baldwins in and around the Charlottesville area doing incredible things for the environment! If you find you are too busy to get involved, they would love your financial help. If I had to pick only one, it would be the Piedmont Environmental Council, but check out the list.
Advocates for a Sustainable Albemarle Population: (434) 245-5151 (Dave, current president) Their mission is to increase knowledge and awareness about the effects of population growth on our natural environment and quality of life, and to encourage policies that allow our region to maintain a sustainable population size. www.asapnow.org
Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards: Founded in June 2008, supported by the VA Urban Forest Council (Trees Virginia) and by the VA Cooperative Extension offering training, supported rural and urban forests, increase public awareness of the intrinsic value and beauty of trees, educating the community on trees and tree care. I can’t wait to sign up for a training! (I LOVE trees.) cville.area.tree.stewards@gmail.com charlottesvilleareatreestewards.org/
Charlottesville Tomorrow.org: With its user-friendly community updates via email, this is a great way to keep abreast of the double D size development that is trying to be implanted here in town. www.charlottesvilletomorrow.org
Ivy Creek Foundation: (434) 973-7772, Their mission is simple, yet important: “To preserve and manage the Ivy Creek and Ragged Mountain Natural Areas for education and appreciation.” ivycreekfoundation.org
LEAP: (434) 227-4666, 608 Ridge Street. Established in 2009, the Local Energy Alliance Program’s mission is to lead the effort in our local community to conserve energy in buildings to promote cost savings, job creation, sustainability, local economic development, and environmental stewardship. leap-va.org
The Nature Conservancy: (434) 295-6106, 490 Westfield Rd, Charlottesville 22901. This is an international organization with an office here in town whose goal is to preserve plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. They use an approach called ” Conservation by design, which helps [them] identify the highest-priority places- landscapes and seascapes that, if conserved, promise to ensure biodiversity over the long term.” Membership of $25 includes a publication. www.nature.org
Piedmont Environmental Council: (434) 977-2033, 410 E. Water St. Suite 700, Charlottesville. The Piedmont Environmental Council is a 34-year-old non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the Piedmont’s rural economy, natural resources, history and beauty. If you live here, you really owe it to yourself to become a part of this organization. $25 membership (actually ANY dollar amount is welcomed!) www.pecva.org
Rivanna Conservation Alliance: (434) 977-4837. RCA’s mission is to safeguard the ecological, recreational, historical, cultural and scenic resources of the Rivanna River and its tributaries. www.rivannariver.org
Rivanna Trails Foundation: P.O. Box 1786, Charlottesville 22902. RTF is a non-profit organization founded in 1992 by local citizens with a dream to create a trail system throughout the greenbelt of the Rivanna River and its tributaries. The goal is to establish a footpath encircling Charlottesville. www.rivannatrails.org rivannatrails@gmail.com
Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club: P.O. Box 5531. Their mission is to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environments; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives. www.virginia.sierraclub.org/piedmont
Southern Environmental Law Center, 201 West Main Street, Suite 14 (434) 977-4090, Using “the full power of the law” SELC conserves clean water, healthy air, wild lands, and livable communities throughout the Southeast. www.southernenvironment.org
Wild Virginia: (434) 971-1553, P.O. Box 1065 Charlottesville. A private non-profit agency whose focus is any issue(s) related to the national forest, its protection and preservation. They host a hike every month to encourage your enjoyment of our nearby national forests – George Washington National Forest and Thomas Jefferson National Forest. Membership cost $25. www.wildvirginia.org
Eyeglasses:
LensCrafters: (434) 973-7766,1638 Rio Rd E Fashion Square Mall. Bring in your old glasses and they will donate them to a pair of needy eyes.
Clark Covert & Mueller Optometrists: (434) 973-5361. 441 Westfield Rd. Excellent local optometrists, Dr. Clark was one of the first optometrists from the area to travel to devastated areas struck by hurricane Katrina. They will give your old glasses to the Lions Club for donating to the needy.
