Neighbors Scorn Those Who Don't Clean Up After Pets

Stewart plans on installing a solar water heater this year, which will further reduce his bills.

The family also owns a hybrid car, which Stewart uses to commute to his job in Tysons Corner three days a week (he telecommutes the other two). Gas cost? About $10 a week, he estimates.

Stewart has always had an interest in saving energy, he said. He recalls a paper he wrote as an engineering student in the early 1980s, based on the future decline of energy resources; in other words, Stewart was thinking "peak oil" before the term became popular.

Check out Sustainable Loudoun, at http://www.lccss.org, to find out more about eco-friendly living and conservation in the county and to get a great start on learning how to reduce your household's energy consumption and save money.

There's also a newly formed group called Green Enterprise and Beer that meets once a month to discuss and explore ways to grow the green economy here in Loudoun. The next get-together is 6 p.m. Friday at the Old Dominion Brew Pub in Ashburn.

Spreading Sounds of Music

If you're looking for outdoor music fun this summer, you don't have to leave Loudoun anymore to catch some great acts.

When I first moved to the county, the Bluemont Summer Concert Series was the only outdoor music series in Loudoun. Since 1976, this organization has been bringing musical entertainment and more to Leesburg and other small communities in Virginia.

Grab a picnic basket and your lawn chairs -- Bluemont's first concert in Loudoun, featuring John McCutcheon, kicks off at 7 p.m. today on the courthouse lawn in Leesburg. Alcohol, smoking and pets are prohibited. Tickets are $5, $2 for children younger than 12 and $4 for Bluemont Friends.

Lansdowne Resort hosts a summer jazz concert every Friday this summer from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Cost? Free. Light food and beverages are available for purchase. Not a lot for the kids -- my husband and I got a babysitter one night last summer and attended the concert with friends. After the show, head inside the resort to Stonewalls Tavern to play billiards or darts.

Since its inaugural year in 2004, the Loudoun Summer Music Fest has been bringing big-name acts to the lawn at Belmont Country Club in Ashburn. Before the series arrived, you'd have to drive to Wolf Trap or Nissan Pavilion to see bands such as Blues Traveler, Travis Tritt and REO Speedwagon.

Great for families, the series not only features music but has become a Loudoun socializing event. Set up camp toward the rear of the venue if you've got little ones -- the concerts can be loud for young ears. As a bonus, free moon bounces are set up in the back. No food or drinks may be brought in -- security made me throw out my bottled water -- but the Web site says to e-mail organizers if you have special needs.

General admission tickets start at $15 depending on the act, and children younger than 6 are free. Golden Circle tickets are available at some concerts for $30 or $35 -- these get you up front, preferential seating during the show.

Tarara Winery in Leesburg is hosting a concert series Saturday evenings starting July 5. A variety of artists will perform throughout the season, which features pop, blues, rock and acoustic music. The gates open at 5 p.m. for picnickers and, of course, wine will be available for purchase. Advance tickets can be bought online -- a season pass for all 11 concerts is $90 ($165 if purchased at the gate), and one concert costs $10 ($15 at the gate). Children younger than 6 get in free.

Want to save gas and walk to a concert?

Some planned communities in Loudoun, such as Brambleton, Broadlands and South Riding, sponsor free concerts for residents throughout the summer, so check with your HOA for outdoor music in your own neighborhood.