This award category is intended to provide recognition to organizations or facilities that can document the success of their sustainability program by providing evidence of:

• A culture of environmental sustainability.
• Recent accomplishments related to reducing their environmental footprint.
• A commitment to future sustainability-oriented actions.

DEQ considers sustainability to be meeting the needs of the present without compromising the environmental resource needs of future generations. Winners in this category have made sustainability programs an integral part of their organizational culture through leadership, innovation, and continual improvement. The Program application provides organizations multiple ways to document that their facilities are operating in an environmental and sustainable manner.

The Program application differs from the Project application in that it is meant to recognize programs, systems, or management structures that broadly address many aspects of environmental sustainability. The Project application focuses on a specific environmentally focused project.

Use these links to download the Environmental & Sustainability Program application and instructions.

Eligibility:

• All programs must have been implemented within Virginia.
• At the time an application is submitted, the program must have been in place for at least one full year. In lieu of this requirement, a program must demonstrate that it is already successfully and positively contributing to the commonwealth's environmental protection and conservation efforts.
• Each applicant must have a record of sustained compliance.

This category is intended to recognize activities or processes initiated by a facility or organization within the past five years that are directed at a single goal to improve the environment and/or create a sustainable process beyond what is required by regulation. Examples include, but are not limited to, projects aimed at reducing waste generation, water consumption, or pollutant releases, increasing water reuse, green infrastructure, or use and access to clean energy, environmental education and outreach programs, tools or technology developed to enhance environmental progress, and adapting to the impacts of a changing climate.

The Project application differs from the Program application in that it is meant to recognize a single project with a specific environmentally focused goal. The Program application focuses on recognizing programs that broadly address many aspects of environmental sustainability.

Use these links to download the Environmental & Sustainability Project application and instructions.

Eligibility:

• All projects must have been implemented within Virginia.
• At the time an application is submitted, the project must have been in operation or have been completed for at least one full year. In lieu of this requirement, a project must demonstrate that it is already successfully and positively contributing to the commonwealth's environmental protection and conservation efforts.
• Each applicant must have a record of sustained compliance. 

On April 7, 2022, Governor Youngkin signed Executive Order 17, Recognizing the Value of Recycling and Waste Reduction (EO 17). This category is intended to recognize projects and programs supporting this executive order. The order includes 3 broad sections covered by this application:

1. Recognition of the value of recyclable material;
2. Making Virginia home to new clean technologies; and
3. Stopping food waste.

Applicant's programs must support one of these sections to apply to this category. It is not required or anticipated that a single project will support multiple sections of EO 17.

Use these links to download the Green Commonwealth application and instructions.

Eligibility:

• All programs must have been implemented within Virginia.
• At the time an application is submitted, the effort must have been in place for at least one full year. In lieu of this requirement, an effort must demonstrate that it is already successfully and positively contributing to the commonwealth's environmental protection and conservation. 
• Each applicant must have a record of sustained compliance. 

This category is intended to recognize exemplary land conservation work that was completed in the past 12 months in the Commonwealth. Examples include:

• Outstanding land conservation projects that permanently protect lands with high conservation values.
• The development of an integrated prioritized land conservation plan for an organization or agency's region of coverage. 

Use these links to download the Land Conservation application and instructions.

Eligibility:

ConserveVirginia is the Commonwealth’s data driven land conservation strategy. The strategy prioritizes the most important lands from a statewide perspective, targets limited resources toward those areas, and measures the progress made toward achieving multiple conservation goals. Using 21 mapped data inputs in seven categories, ConserveVirginia identifies approximately 6.9 million acres of priority lands for conservation. To be eligible for this award, a land conservation project or program must support ConserveVirginia

This category is intended to recognize outdoor recreation accomplishments meeting the 2024 Virginia Outdoors Plan goals and objectives.

Outdoor recreation supports healthy living, a healthy environment, the health of Virginia’s economy and the health of the Commonwealth’s residents and visitors. It is often the avid outdoor recreation enthusiast who influences environmental initiatives and programs. Without personal outdoor experiences and opportunities for environmental education, many accomplished professionals, the public and our elected officials would not prioritize environmental protection. Spanning generations and including all races and physical abilities, outdoor recreation is a top contributor to Virginia’s tourism and economics.

Use these links to download the Virginia Outdoors Plan Implementation application and instructions.

Eligibility:

• Entries in the Virginia Outdoors Plan category may be submitted for projects completed in Virginia by (a) Virginia businesses and industries; (b) government entities that own or manage land; (c) regional planning offices; (d) non-profits or (e) individuals.
• Projects must be complete prior to submission of the award application. If the project is a trail or water trail project, access and parking should be constructed and open to the public.