City Efforts

Long before Roanoke launched the new Clean and Green Campaign, the city had implemented a number of projects aimed at reducing its carbon footprint and creating a new foundation of best practices. Among these, Roanoke was the first city in Virginia to join Local Governments for Sustainability (formerly known as ICLEI), an international organization dedicated to improving the environment by encouraging local government initiatives. The city developed plans for a new Williamson Road fire station that will be its first LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building. Roanoke became the first local government in Southwest Virginia to make biodiesel fuels mandatory in many of its fleet vehicles, and installed LED lights in traffic signals at 60 major intersections, which will result in up to 90 percent less energy consumption. And as Roanoke residents know, the city has a highly successful curbside recycling program that has diverted thousands of tons of waste from the landfill and saved the city thousands of dollars in the process.

These are just a few of the steps the City of Roanoke has taken in its commitment to the greener living. We recognize that helping to create a sustainable future is one of the most important issues facing localities today. The Clean and Green Campaign provides a catalyst for taking our environmental responsibility to the next level, and we invite citizens and businesses alike to join us in this exciting initiative.