VML Recognizes Richmond with Highest Go Green Virginia Award

The City of Richmond was recognized by the Virginia Municipal League’s (VML) Go Green Virginia program with Platinum Certification, the highest recognition in the program. This program scores the city based on performance for energy efficiency, renewable energy, community outreach, stormwater management, recycling, land use and transportation, and other related fields. Richmond received the award at the 2018 VML Annual Conference on Monday, Oct. 1.

The Virginia Municipal League’s Go Green Virginia initiative encourages communities to take the necessary steps to reduce energy usage and promote sustainability. Member local governments are urged to participate in a friendly competition known as the Green Government Challenge.

The “Challenge” is designed to encourage implementation of specific environmental policies and practical actions that not only reduce carbon emissions, but can save local governments money. VML is a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan association of city, town and county governments established in 1905 to improve and assist local governments through legislative advocacy, research, education and other services.

City Government Gets Green

City employees are working hard to implement Mayor Dwight C. Jones' Green Government Order calling for city agencies to create more efficiency and less waste in city government and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from government operations. 

Under the Green Government Order, city government is, among other things:

• Creating an Energy Management Plan to reduce electricity and fuel use
• Implementing a Green Procurement Policy
• Developing an anti-idling policy for city vehicles 
• Implementing a Telework and Alternative Work Schedule Initiative designed to achieve a goal of 20 percent of eligible workers engaged in telework or alternative work schedules