Green Expo is Thursday, April 20, 7-9 pm at the Vienna Community Center. The event is sponsored by the Town of Vienna's Conservation & Sustainability Commission.
The official Town Calendar event link is:
https://www.viennava.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/2514/275?cum=4&cury=2023
This annual event will feature 20 plus local exhibitors offering information on sustainable practices, such as water conservation & keeping our streams clean, energy efficiency, native plants, local wildlife, green landscaping, recycling, composting, and zero waste.
There will be three "Ask Me Anything" sessions. Each speaker will present for about 15 minutes with another 15 minutes for questions-and-answers.
Our speakers are:
-- Joanne Burke, CFP, CPA/PFS, M.A., of Birch Street Financial Advisors, and Meredith Haines, of Citizens' Climate Lobby (Fairfax Chapter), will discuss the tax benefits (tax credits and rebates) available to consumers who install solar and energy-efficient home improvements as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
-- Scott Diffenderfer, urban arborist for the Town of Vienna, will discuss how to plant a tree properly,. which is critical to its survival and getting a return on your investment.
-- Mala Persaud, owner of Trace, Vienna's "zero-waste store," and Charlie Forbes, the Public Works Environmental Services Manager for the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program, will discuss "how to recycle right."
Special Features
A real hit last year, Secret Garden Birds & Bees (an all-volunteer nonprofit organization working with wildlife rehabilitators, falconers, naturalists, biologists and beekeepers to share our love of nature and wildlife with our communities) again will show live birds of prey (owls, hawks and kestrel).
We hope to have Stormy the Raindrop on hand to visit with the kids, chatting about why it's important to keep bad stuff out of our local streams and handing out coloring books. (To see Stormy in action, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_tJJzKAtw0). Children can also take a passport around to each of the exhibitors to get a stamp.
Giveaways
We will give away a home energy audit (worth $595), a composter and a rain barrel.
Why should people attend?
-- It's a great way to observe/celebrate Earth Day, which is Saturday, April 22.
-- The first step to going greener is getting educated and connected with resources. This event makes it easy to do that in one place.
-- This is a great way to network and connect with others who can support you on your sustainable journey.
-- An added benefit of practicing sustainability is that it often saves you money at home and in your business.
PLEASE JOIN US AS AN EXHIBITOR!
If your business or organization (or school, or club) provides products or services that offer conservation and/or sustainable practices and/or also embraces the obligation to current and future generations to foster a healthy, safe and sustainable community, we would love to have you join us!
This is a free opportunity to set up a table and network with other like minded businesses, and the community.
Email for more information about the Green Expo as a visitor or exhibitor.
For more information on the Conservation and Sustainability Commission, click here!