Virginia Green Gazette
October 2011
VSGN Update?  
The VSGN is a directory
of companies that supply green products and services to the hospit-ality industry. Its goal is to be the green products and service source for VG participants and others, and currently includes listings for these categories:
- Bath products
- Cleaning products & services
- Electronics recycling
- Energy conservation
- Exhibits, marketing & events
- Food products
- Food service products & restaurant supplies
- Food waste reduction
- Grease recycling
- Green building products
- Linen service
- Office/printing
- Pest control & landscaping services
- Recycling
- Spa products & services
- Transportation & auto products/services
- Water conservation products & services

VG

Virginia Green is a voluntary self-certification program for the Commonwealth's hospitality and tourism industry intended to reduce the industry's environmental footprint while promoting its economic sustainability. It operates as a part- nership between the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association.
   
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And the winners are... VG Announces the 2011 Green Travel Stars Awards Winners!

VG winners
Award winners with VG's Meghann Slattery (left) and Tom Griffin (right) and VTC President/CEO Alisa Bailey (center).

Green Facility Program of the Year (large-scale): BF Saul Company - Hotel Division

 BF Saul is a commercial real estate company that owns a portfolio of various properties that include nineteen hotels, twelve of which are located in Virginia. In 2008, the company initiated an effort to focus on its "corporate social responsibility," and that soon spring-boarded into the development of a sustainability program, speci-fically focused on its hotel holdings. Simply entitled, "Our Big Green" program, BF Saul has created an ambitious environmental management program based on a points system for each expected green action. Each hotel is scored using the system, and management goals are based upon achieving continuous improvements in the program.  The result has been rapid environmental improvements and in all of the hotels and significant cost savings across the board. All twelve hotels in the Commonwealth are registered VG participants.

 

Green Facility Program of the Year (small-scale):  The Inn at Tabbs Creek in Haywood
Prior to opening in 2009, owners Greg and Lori Dusen performed an extensive remodeling of their inn and property with the goal of making the it as "eco-sensitive" as possible. Improvements included the installation of new windows, insulation, and ultra-efficient heating and cooling systems; use of sustainable building materials, energy and water efficient appliances, and a new chlorine-free system for the pool; organic gardening and foods; composting, recycling and waste reduction; and "eco-tours" of the property and the river which start and end at the dock where oysters are grown.  Moreover, the Inn at Tabbs Creek makes greening a central part of how they operate and they actively involve their guests in their greening efforts. Finally, they guarantee that your vacation will result in "no net impact" on the environment by offsetting the carbon impacts of all of their guests' trips with donations to a regional carbon fund which supports projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Most Innovative Green Project:  The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center's E-cycling Program
In 2009, the Virginia Aquarium first partnered with TFC Recycling and Creative Recycling to host two e-cycling events each year. E-cycling events provide for the collection and recycling of computers, cell phones, TVs, and all other used electronics that might otherwise go into a landfill. These items contain hazardous materials that could potentially leach into groundwater or into the air if disposed of or burned as trash. The events have turned into a huge community-level effort that engages all of the staff at the aquarium and dozens of volunteers and participants as cars line up to drop off their e-waste items and volunteers help remove them and package them for shipping to a certified recycler. The latest e-cycling event was just October 8th, and more than 28 tons of e-waste was collected, bringing the total amount collected in three years to more than 130 tons!

Best Virginia Green Supplier:  Virginia Linen Service
Virginia Linen Service is a registered participant of the Virginia Green Suppliers Network, a directory of companies who provide green products and services to the hospitality industry. The VGSN is where VG participants find the products and services that they need to move forward in their own greening efforts. Virginia Linen Services provides linens, towels, mats, and services to hotels, restaurants, conference centers, and other tourism-related facilities, including dozens of existing VG participants. The availability of their service itself allows participants to use "non-disposable" towels and linens and to avoid the use of water, energy, detergents, and labor associated with cleaning their own linens. The company's centralized cleaning process has also been designed to significantly reduce those impacts through many technological upgrades that improve efficiency. When compared to on-site laundering, the company reduces water use by an estimated 64%, energy use by 73%, and chemical/detergent use by 90%!  Additionally, Virginia Linen Service offers various new products such as their new "microtex eco-towel" and specially designed mats which reduce the need for cleaning and reduce costs overall. The company is a founding member of the Laundry Environmental Stewardship Program, which is an EPA-endorsed certification.   
 
Recognition as Green Travel Leaders 
Only four "Green Travel Star" awards were designated this first year. However, VG received many wonderful applications from its members detailing their efforts and many others were truly "award-worthy." The following organizations are also being recognized as "Green Travel Leaders" in the Virginia Green program for their outstanding efforts:

  • Cooper Vineyards (Louisa)
  • Croc's Eco-Bistro (Virginia Beach)
  • DuCard Vineyards (Etlan)
  • Full Circle Catering (Rockbridge)
  • George Washington's Mount Vernon
  • Great Wolf Lodge (Williamsburg)
  • Hilton Garden Inn - Downtown Richmond
  • Kimpton Hotels of Virginia
  • Montrose Bed & Breakfast
  • Poplar Spring - The Inn Spa (Casanova)
  • Roanoke Civic Center
  • Shadow Mountain Escape (Luray)
  • Sports for Nature
  • Starboards Coffee (Portsmouth)
  • Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center (Staunton)
  • The National Conference Center (Leesburg)
  • The Westin Richmond
  • Wingate by Wyndham (Lynchburg)
  • Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

 

Virginia Green at the State Fair VG State Fair

Virginia Green was represented for the first time with a booth at the State Fair October 7 - 9.  Volunteers from both DEQ and Virginia Green participants reached out to over 1,500 people over the course of three days, receiving positive feedback from fair goers. At right, VG member and booth volunteer Suzanne Dezern of Ivy Cottage in Middlesex County tells Miss Virginia Association of Fairs Katie Grace Yankey about the program.

 

Virginia Welcome Centers Promote VG

September marked the oficial kick-off to the Virginia's Welcome Centers endorsement of Virginia Green. Welcome Center personnel will now be promoting Virginia Green and all our members.  Each center now has a promotional kit which includes placards, posters, flags, and "Ask Me About Virginia Green" pins. Two larger displays will rotate between centers throughout the Commonwealth. In addition, promotional kits are being offered to local and regional Visitor Centers.