For hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related industries, it’s easy being green in the Commonwealth with the help of Virginia Green.

 

Virginia Green is a partnership program among DEQ, the Virginia Tourism Corporation and the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association. The program seeks to reduce the environmental effects of the tourism industry and raise environmental awareness.

 

It started in September 2006 with outreach to hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and other lodging facilities by the DEQ Office of Pollution Prevention. Now the program includes more than 140 participants, including convention and conference centers, restaurants, a public arena, travel organizations and the first certified Virginia Green event, a marathon March 15 in Virginia Beach.

 

“The aggregate impact of all these facilities doing something is going to be very significant,” Tom Griffin, Virginia Green coordinator at DEQ, said.  

 

According to the program, a good hotel recycling program can divert more than 50 percent of its solid wastes, and 30 percent reductions in water and energy are easily achievable through simple pollution prevention techniques.

 

This work also spreads the idea that reducing an environmental footprint, an individual’s effect on the environment, is important.

 

“Overall this program is going to have a far-reaching audience and so much impact because of it,” Griffin said.

 

The Virginia Beach Convention Center became the first convention center in the Commonwealth in August 2008 to join the Virginia Green program. From left to right: Tom Griffin, DEQ; Jim Ricketts, Virginia Beach Convention Center and Visitors Bureau director; Courtney Dyer, VBCC manager; and Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf

As consumers, DEQ’s employees also have a role in spreading the green message. Since the summer of 2007, DEQ has asked facilities being considered for potential conference or meeting locations about their conservation measures. Their responses are taken into account when selecting a location. In addition, DEQ employees are encouraged to help with outreach about Virginia Green in their own communities.

 

Steps taken by Virginia Green businesses to reduce waste, recycle and prevent pollution can also have benefits such as cost savings and positive publicity.

 

“In some cases, it is two to three times more expensive to pay for waste removal versus recycling pickup,” Griffin said. “Some Virginia Green restaurants are saving $400 to $800 per month by recycling.”

 

Like other programs overseen by the Office of Pollution Prevention, Virginia Green is voluntary. Virginia Green participants self-certify that they are implementing the basic requirements for the appropriate sector of tourism. 

 

“The compliance end is driven by the public,” Griffin said. “It is really effective in this case because these tourism facilities are open to the public, and the industry is focused on customer service.”

 

DEQ currently administers Virginia Green providing assistance, recognition and maintenance of the website and participant information. The Virginia Tourism Corporation includes all the Virginia Green lodging participants in a searchable online application for accommodations and highlights participating restaurants. 

 

But plans are in the works to expand the promotion and scope of the program. Virginia Tourism is working to integrate Virginia Green into its “Living Passionately” marketing campaign. With this new emphasis, the program expects participation to increase fourfold in the next two years.

 

Additional information about Virginia Green is available on the DEQ website.