Virginia Green is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s campaign to promote environmentally-friendly practices is all aspects of Virginia’s tourism industry. Virginia Green has established “core activities” specific to each sector of tourism, and these practices are considered the required minimum for participation in the program. However, Virginia Green encourages its participants to reduce their environmental impacts in all aspects of their operations; and this profile provides a full list of all their “green” activities.
Virginia Green Partners are primarily committing to help support Virginia Green and encourage their customers to join or do business with Virginia Green-certified participants. Although not necessarily tourism facilities themselves, Partners are expected to practice green activities in their own facilities as well!
“Norfolk International Airport is a major commercial airport serving southeastern Virginia and provides convenient air access for the region’s tourists and visitors.”
Green Statement: “We have followed sustainable environmental practices for decades as a “best business practice” to conserve resources, and preserve our beautiful garden atmosphere.”
CORE ACTIVITIES for all Virginia Green Partner Organizations
Support Virginia Green. Partners must promote the Virginia Green Program to clients, members, and staff and encourage them to do business with Virginia Green participants. This partner organization pledges that they:
- Encourage clients who are in the tourism industry to join Virginia Green.
- Strive to design projects that minimize overall environmental impacts and incorporate the use of efficient systems and sustainable materials.
- Carry and promote environmentally-friendly products and provide services that minimize the use of harmful chemicals and materials.
- Have a travel / conference policy that encourages employees to stay in / do business with Virginia Green or similarly-minded facilities.
- Send out emails or mailers to their membership about Virginia Green.
- Made an official Virginia Green Endorsement of some kind through their Board or other Committee to support Virginia Green.
- Include a Virginia Green feature in their newsletter or other publication.
- Display the Virginia Green certificate prominently in their facility / offices and use the Virginia Green window decals.
- Use the Virginia Green logo on signage pointing out recycling or other “green” improvements in your facility.
- Highlight their involvement in Virginia Green on their website and include a link to their Virginia Green facility profile
Green Meetings and Conferences. When Virginia Green Partners hold meetings or conferences they must provide recycling and make an effort to reduce the use of Styrofoam and other disposables. This partner pledges that they:
- Have conferences at a Virginia Green Lodging facility, and let the facility know that they want a “green event!”
- Minimize copying and always make 2-sided copies
- Have eliminated the use of Styrofoam cups and plates; instead they use actual mugs
- Use silverware instead of plastic utensils
- Use non-bleached napkins or maintain a supply of cloth napkins
- Serve water in pitchers and glassware instead of bottles
- Avoid box lunches – trays/platters of food are much less wasteful
Recycling and Waste Reduction. Virginia Green Partners are highly encouraged to maintain a comprehensive recycling program if they have a facility. This partner pledges that they:
- Recycle: glass, aluminum cans, plastic, office paper, toner cartridges, newspaper, cardboard, packing supplies, fluorescent lamps, electronic equipment, waste oil, used antifreeze, scrap metal and compost
- Track overall waste bills
- Use bulk soap dispensers instead of individual soaps
- Use high efficiency hand-dryers in restrooms
- Purchase recycled-content paper towels and toilet paper
- Encourage suppliers to minimize packaging and other waste materials
- Purchase from vendors and service providers with a commitment to the environment
- Make 2-sided copies/ printed materials
- Use electronic correspondence and forms
- Purchase durable equipment and furniture
- Use latex paints
- Re-use paint thinners
- Properly recycle/dispose of thinners and solvents
- Perform preventative maintenance on all appliances, HVAC systems, plumbing, and vehicles
- Use less toxic materials
- Minimize the use of pesticides and herbicides
- Ongoing glycol recovery program to properly capture and dispose of aircraft deicing fluids
Water Conservation. Virginia Green partners are highly encouraged to have a plan for conserving water in their facility that should consider plumbing modifications and landscaping. This partner pledges that they:
- Track overall water usage and wastewater
- Perform preventative maintenance to stop drips and leaks
- Use water-flow metering to discover leaks and areas of high use
- Have high efficiency dishwashers
- Have low flow restrictors on faucets and showerheads
- Have low flow toilets
- Have automatic faucets or toilets in public restrooms
- Discourage water-based cleanup (sweeping first)
- Have an effective landscape management plan which utilize drought tolerant species
- Use cisterns and/or dripline irrigation
- Actively work with VA DEQ and Norfolk Botanical Garden to monitor and control airfield runoff to mitigate encroachment on the city water supply
Energy Efficiency. Virginia Green partners are highly encouraged a plan in place that encourages replacement of lighting and equipment to energy-efficient alternatives in their facility. This partner pledges that they:
- Track overall energy bills
- Have had an energy audit to identify efficiency opportunities
- Have an “energy management system” in place to track and meter energy usage
- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs in all rooms and in canned lighting
- Use LED Exit Signs
- Use high efficiency fluorescent ballasts and lamps (T5s and T8s)
- Have high efficiency heating & air conditioning (HVAC) systems
- Perform preventative maintenance on HVAC system
- Have individual thermostats for each room/area
- Use natural lighting
- Use lighting sensors to turn on/off lights
- Have thermal-rated windows and insulation
- Use directional (downward-facing) lighting in parking areas and other outdoor areas
- Replacing several hundred quartz and incandescent obstruction and taxiway light fixtures with LED fixtures, realizing a wattage reduction of up to 80% with no loss of effectiveness
- Converting from T-12 fluorescent lights with magnetic ballasts to T-8 fluorescent fixtures with electronic ballasts in 2009-2010 with a 20% corresponding reduction in wattage
- Use heat exchangers to get “free cooling” during cooler seasons
- Constructed a $3.5 million aircraft engine run-up enclosure to reduce noise pollution during aircraft maintenance, and have constructed blast walls and berms to reduce noise exposure around the airport
- Airport Police utilize a three-wheeled electric patrol vehicle powered by a lithium ion battery