Loudoun County to Encourage Green Business Ventures

The challenge will kick off on Thursday, Nov. 19, and will encourage businesses to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gases in the region.  

"The Green Business Challenge will help us engage local businesses in our efforts to address energy efficiency and the environment throughout the county," said County Supervisor Andrea McGimsey (D-Potomac).

The kickoff for the challenge will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Board Room of the Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E. in Leesburg, and will feature Loudoun County Chamber President and CEO Tony Howard, as well as McGimsey, who serves as the Board of Supervisors Energy and Environment Committee Chair. They will discuss ideas for businesses to reduce their energy uses and the idea behind the Green Business Challenge.

"Businesses that adopt sound, energy-efficient practices not only reduce their costs and improve their efficiency, they can also gain a competitive advantage with prospective employees, customers and partners that care about a company's environmental practices," said Howard. Other business leaders want to maximize on Loudoun’s cutting-edge reputation.

"We want to build on our reputation as a leader in best energy conservation practices here in Loudoun County," says Alan Hansen, Director of Architecture at DBI Architects, Inc., one of the creators of the Green Business Challenge. "The great thing is that the changes we are talking about are changes that anyone can make." Any business or nonprofit organization whose operation resides in Loudoun County is eligible to apply for this award. Points are earned within each of nine different categories, including Certified Green Business, Silver Green Business, Gold Green Business and Platinum Green business. Awards will be based on the number of points earned. The levels of award achieved will vary according to businesses size.

In a different effort to embrace a greener future for Loudoun, the non-profit Sustainable Loudoun has organized and sponsored a public outreach "Energy Summit" event, which it has done every year for the past 4 years. This year’s Green Living Forum will take place on Friday, Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at George Washington University’s Virginia campus, located at 20101 Academic Way in Ashburn. Doors open at 6 p.m. for light refreshments and exhibits.

Presenters include Martin Ogle, Chief Naturalist, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority; Tena Meadows O'Rear, Green Consultant; Najib Salehi, Loudoun Energy Manager; Dale Hoffmeyer, Environmental Protection Specialist, EPA; and Linna Ferguson, Food Garden Consultant. Discussions will include home gardening, plant ecology, energy solutions and green construction, among other topics. A moderated question and answer session will follow presentations. More information about the Green Business Challenge is available online at www.loudoun.gov/energy. More information about the Green Living Forum is available at www.sustainableloudoun.org.