Around the Internet: Braddock Street, Field Trips, and Saving Energy

Friday Photos is back this week with 79 new photos, most on South Braddock Street from the 1976 Architectural Survey. George Washington’s Office (the Adam Kurtz House) is also featured in this batch. See all the new additions at the top of the Flickr photostream.

31 South Braddock Street

Speaking of Braddock, if you were not able to take the Braddock Road bus trip with the French and Indian War Foundation, one of the participants wrote about her experiences and the sights along the way. Read Becca Milfeld’s journey at The Washington Post.

Hoping to get in another road trip or two yourself before summer ends? Check out 16 Amazing Field Trips Every Virginian Took As A Kid. . . And Should Retake Now for some ideas. One you probably didn’t take, but is worth the trip, is the Route 11 Potato Chip Factory. Patricia Keppel of Virginia’s Travel Blog recommends 10 stops between Winchester and Staunton. While you are on the road, keep your eyes peeled for roadside rest stops. The National Trust for Historic Preservation featured these now almost obsolete and forgotten structures in Roadside Rest Shelters: Destinations All Their Own with photographs by Ryann Ford.

While summer is usually a fun and relaxing time, the summer heatwave might be causing your energy bills to spike. This Old House guru Kevin O’Connor walks you through How to Perform Home Energy Audit (also great to keep in mind if heating for the winter is an additional energy concern).

Maybe it’s crossed your mind about using the summer sunshine to keep your bills down with solar panels. CityLab writer Julian Spector brings you 7 Things to Know Before Installing Solar Panels on Your Roof and shares What I Learned Installing Solar Panels in Southeast Washington, D.C. in May of this year. Solar panels won’t work in every situation, especially in our tree-loving city, but in the right situation they may help take the sting out of heating and cooling your home or business.