The Virginia Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP) is a voluntary program that encourages Virginia businesses to go beyond compliance and embrace pollution prevention in their day-to-day activities. The VEEP Sustainability Partners track is designed to encourage large organizations, in both the private and public sector across Virginia, to make environmental sustainability part of their culture through leadership, innovation, and continual improvement. Organizations must demonstrate this commitment through measurable and verifiable conservation efforts, leading to direct and indirect improvements in energy usage, water usage, waste generation, and other environmental benefits.

Sustainability Partners Program Application

Applications and participation are on a calendar year basis. Data and narrative information on sustainability efforts is required. The application period for 2025 VEEP Sustainability Partners is now closed.

Key characteristics of VEEP Sustainability Partners:

  • Aimed at organizations with a culture of sustainability and community involvement (one application per organization).
  • Encourages continual, measurable reductions.
  • No DEQ site visit.
  • Public recognition.
  • Access to VEEP Resources and Networking.
  • No regulatory incentives are provided for VEEP SP.

VEEP Sustainability Partner Summary

The summaries below describe programs the 2025 Sustainability Partners have implemented.

SP MEMBER

PROJECT HIGHLIGHT

City of Charlottesville

In 2024, through the City's Energy and Water Management Program (EWMP), has developed energy and water education tailored for Charlottesville City Schools (CCS) curriculum and has incorporated lesson plans into the CCS Science Pacing Guide. These materials are available to all science teachers with the resources necessary to deliver the activities. 

 

Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program

 

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted Fairfax County Government and Schools Zero Waste Plan. This sets the county government and Fairfax County Public Schools on a path toward zero waste by 2030 with two goals: diverting 90% of waste away from landfills or incinerators and decreasing the total amount of waste generated by 25%.

Prince William County Government

Since 2024, Prince William County Government has been implementing key action strategies recommended by the Community Energy and Sustainability Master Plan through the Capital Improvement Program. This includes solar arrays installed at county facilities, EV Charging Hub design and construction, and evaluation of electrification and net-zero buildings.

Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind

 		The school's partnership with the Virginia Department of Forestry has resulted in the planting of hundreds of trees over the past five years, with an additional 30 trees planted this year. The effort is both environmental and educational, and the school was recognized in 2024 as a Tree Campus K-12 by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.

WSSI has a Land Stewardship Sustainability Committee that manages and coordinates land stewardship sustainability projects within Davey entities. The Committee provides members a forum to discuss proper environmental stewardship and sustainability best practices for the industry regarding things like pollinator habitat, innovative technologies, mitigation, etc.