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Home automation may indeed be the next big trend in what consumers can do today to stand up for the environment. By setting up a wired (or even wireless) system, homeowners can optimize lighting level efficiency, cut heating and cooling energy costs and deactivate energy-consuming devices and appliances even when no one is home.
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Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling issued a comprehensive letter to legislative leaders outlining his support for moving forward with the proposed expansion of Virginia’s Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act, subject to the ability of the Commonwealth to negotiate acceptable waivers from the federal government to effectively reform Medicaid.
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The Shenandoah Valley Art Center, during the month of February, is exhibiting the artwork of art students from the Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School of Arts and Humanities Program.
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After a multi-year battle that included intensive industry lobbying, multiple scientific and economic studies, and fierce opposition from a uniquely diverse coalition, a legislative effort to lift Virginia’s longstanding ban on uranium mining has failed.
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Even for those of us without allergies, poor indoor air quality is an often overlooked health issue. Recent research has shown that the air inside some buildings can be more polluted than the outdoor air in the most industrialized of cities. And since many of us spend some 90 percent of our time indoors, cleaning the air where we live and work might be one of the most important things we can do for our health.
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In their annual rankings released this week, the U.S. Green Building Council announced that Virginia has improved to the top state for LEED-certified buildings. Virginia ranked behind Colorado and Illinois last year, but improved to the top spot for 2012, with 170 projects certified, and 29,709,574 square feet of LEED space certified.
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A free swap meet to barter used goods with fellow community members. This first official swap is for ladies only. Attendees are encouraged to bring up to two armloads of clothing, accessories, books, and small art/decor/household items to swap. Tables and racks will be available for item display. Attendees are also encouraged to bring snacks and drinks to share, along with a reusable mess kit and clean up bag for personal food use.
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Why is it that some of Virginia’s urban politicians show so little respect for the citizens of our rural counties? I refer to State Sens. Dick Saslaw (D) of Springfield and John Watkins (R) of Midlothian, who have co-sponsored a bill (SB 1341) before the General Assembly that would override local authority over the siting of commercial wind energy projects. They follow in the footsteps of State Senator Frank Wagner (R) of Virginia Beach, who for years has worked on behalf of corporate wind and against the interests of rural communities.
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Are you interested in improving the health and productivity of your forest land but don’t know where to start? The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can offer expert advice and financial assistance to help you better manage your property.
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Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s letter (Jan. 24) defending his transportation reform plan strikes me as more of an exercise in semantics than an innovative way to pay for the roads the state badly needs. Calling for a hike in the sales tax while eliminating the gas tax is certainly a novel idea. However, I have not read of any of the other 49 states thinking along such lines. There are good reasons. A tax paid on the consumption of gasoline comes as close as possible to an ideal tax.
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