City to Receive Green Giant Award for its Sustainability Efforts
The city of Richmond will receive the Sierra Club Falls of the James Group's Green Giant Award during the group's annual "Mistletoe and Holly" gala at the Science Museum of Virginia tonight. The city is receiving the award for environmental pioneering work, as it is the first major locality in the region to hire a sustainability manager and an energy manager to develop a comprehensive program to improve overall energy performance and increase sustainability. Among other items, the comprehensive program includes establishing a baseline greenhouse gas emissions inventory, retrofitting 220 intersections with LED lights by the end of 2010, and creating two new green alleys with permeable pavers to reduce storm water run-off.
"I thank the Sierra Club Falls of the James Group for this award. This recognition underscores my objective of developing and implementing sustainable policies and practices to conserve resources while creating cost savings for the city and taxpayers," said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. "Also, our Sustainability Manager Alicia Zatcoff and Energy Manager Larry Burkett have done an extraordinary job in assessing the city's carbon footprint. These efforts are reducing the city's greenjouse gas emissions and improving overall energy efficiency."
Each year the Falls of the James Group honors an individual or entity that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to protecting and improving the environment of greater Richmond. This year's award recognizes the city's work for not only saving taxpayer dollars, but also decreasing the demand for oil and mitigating the harmful effects of climate change.
"I thank the Sierra Club Falls of the James Group for this award. This recognition underscores my objective of developing and implementing sustainable policies and practices to conserve resources while creating cost savings for the city and taxpayers," said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. "Also, our Sustainability Manager Alicia Zatcoff and Energy Manager Larry Burkett have done an extraordinary job in assessing the city's carbon footprint. These efforts are reducing the city's greenjouse gas emissions and improving overall energy efficiency."
Each year the Falls of the James Group honors an individual or entity that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to protecting and improving the environment of greater Richmond. This year's award recognizes the city's work for not only saving taxpayer dollars, but also decreasing the demand for oil and mitigating the harmful effects of climate change.
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