James City County has once again received the Go Green Award for its efforts in protecting the environment.
James City County has won the award and received some of the highest possible scores every year since 2009, according to a county news release.
The Go Green Award is given by the Virginia Association of Counties (VACO) to the communities with the best sustainability and lowest carbon footprint. This year’s annual conference was held Nov. 12-14 in Bath County.
“James City County takes the values of ‘excellence, integrity, collaboration and stewardship’ to heart and these attributes are integral to environmental sustainability,” Bryan Hill, county administrator, said. “Every County department works hard to incorporate green measures into our practices to help make this the premier County that it is.”
VACO supports county officials all over Virginia and promotes various campaigns and lobbying efforts, according to their website. James City County has earned the platinum award, the highest level of achievement, every year since 2012, according to the release.
VACO created the Go Green Virginia project as a way to challenge communities to compete with the goal of creating positive effects on the surrounding environment.
The requirements to become a “green government” county are to consistently reduce carbon emissions, boost sustainability and save money, according to the release.
The county has made various commitments to environmental conservation over the years, according to the county website.
The county has been working to conserve water in the area through a variety of programs. Water usage has a large environmental impact on the area due to the county’s reliance on groundwater, the website said.
The county has also developed resource protection areas to help with the surrounding ecosystem. The areas are adjacent to bodies of water that perform important ecological processes and are sensitive to the effects of water degradation, according to the county website.
Various departments and area organizations work together to promote conservation programs, the release said. The efforts include changes in policies, educating citizens about conservation, and advising the Board of Supervisors.
For more information, visit the county website at jamescitycountyva.gov.
