Overview of Accomplishments
Since its inception, the V-REMS partnership has consistently helped advance its mission of building trust among community partners, improving the regional environment, and improving organizational efficiency, all in an effort to achieve environmental sustainability. Through the V-REMS Partnership’s regular avenues of communication, partners have been able to identify opportunities for collaboration that align with their own key priorities, discuss ongoing V-REMS environmental initiatives and new collaborative opportunities, and form workgroups to manage both individual and joint environmental responsibilities.
| Significant V-REMS Accomplishments Include: |
- DSCR recognized as a winner of the White House Closing the Circle Award for its leadership of V-REMS.
- Eight V-REMS partners received Chesapeake Business for The Bay Excellence Awards.
- Increased standing of seven partners in the VA DEQ’s Environmental Excellence Programs (E2, E3, E4).
- Diesel School Bus Retrofits Workgroup: The retrofitting of 197 school buses in Richmond and Hopewell cities funded by a $274,000 EPA award and $14,000 contribution from the Virginia DEQ. These retrofits will lead to cleaner air for over 20,000 children.
- E-85 Fueling Stations Workgroup: The award of $284,000 from the DOE to finance the construction of 12 E-85 fueling stations. V-REMS partners will leverage their own resources to contribute over $1 million more to the project through cash and in-kind resources.
- Pollution-Absorbing Concrete Workgroup: Developed a concept to test the effectiveness of a NOx-absorbing concrete at one of the partner’s sites. Submitted a proposal to the DoD/DOE/EPA Environmental Security Technology Certification Program. The Partnership is exploring a range of potential funding sources for the project.
- Energy Efficiency Workgroup: Information exchange from workgroup interactions led to the replication of a number of energy efficiency projects among V-REMS partners. The success of one V-REMS partner’s lighting efficiency initiative inspired a number of other partners to pursue similar initiatives. So far these initiatives have led to $472,701 in cost savings and significant emissions reductions.
- Stormwater Workgroup: One V-REMS partner learned about the use of rain gardens and bio-retention ponds from another partner and in turn built eight rain gardens at their own facility. The V-REMS Partnership exchanged information about stormwater issues and Best Management Practices in 2006 and plans to work more on this key issue in 2007.
- Solid Waste Management Workgroup: Developed a concept and proposal for how a company could increase composting at a number of its sites and collaborate with other local organizations in its composting program. The proposed project has the potential to divert large quantities of organic waste from landfills. The Partnership is exploring potential funding sources for the project.
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