The 2025 Governor's Environmental Excellence Award Winners were announced at the 35th Annual Environment Virginia Symposium on April 8, 2025. The application period for the 2026 Governor's Environmental Awards will open in the fall.

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, 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.

Judging Criteria for the Environmental & Sustainability Project Category

Applicants should address each of the following criteria, making sure to include complete and concise answers that are responsive to the application questions.

• Implementation Strategy [20 points maximum]
  • Describe how the project was designed to reduce your environmental footprint. How does the project make a significant contribution to improving the environment, address an environmental issue, and/or address health and safety concerns for workers or the community. Please include how this project rises above typical activities for your organizational sector. Note that following sections will ask for information on measurable results.
  • Describe the education, training, and outreach components of the project. Please explain and provide the total number of people educated, trained, or reached. Include efforts to reach a diverse group.
• Environmental Results [20 points maximum]
  • How has the project reduced the facility or organization's environmental footprint? What quantifiable environmental results have been achieved by the project? Results are expected to be specific to the project implemented.
• Efficiency & Economic Benefits [20 points maximum]
  • Include the implementation cost and savings information. For help answering this question, consider the questions below. The list below is not all inclusive and some items might not apply to this project.
    • What was the cost to implement the project (for example the cost of new equipment and training)?
    • Was there a cost savings? If so, how much was saved (did reduction in water/energy/material lead to a cost savings)? If not, describe how the value of the project exceeds the costs.
    • Was the return-on-investment calculated?
    • Did the project save staff time, provide a safer working environment, or reduce environmental risk?
    • Include other, less tangible, economic benefits that can be attributed to the project.
• Originality and Innovativeness [20 points maximum]
  • Describe what makes your project original and innovative and how it differs from the standard practice.
• Technical Value and Transferability [20 points maximum]
  • Identify the types of groups, facilities, and/or entities that might duplicate all or some of your efforts.

Eligibility

• All projects must have been developed and completed 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.