How green is your Main Street? The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC), and Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association (VHTA) have partnered for the Virginia Green program. This is the statewide campaign to promote environmentally friendly practices in Virginia’s tourism industry – and it’s one more opportunity to market your community.

Certification is given by the DEQ and applications can be found at their Web site. The program originally began as Virginia Green Lodgingm but it is growing to include many more aspects of the tourism industry. Just a few of the focus areas for qualification are optional linen service, recycling, elimination or minimization of styrofoam disposables, water and energy conservation, and green events.

Greening your Main Street has benefits beyond the environment. It make economic sense! Conservation efforts can have a direct correlation to dollars saved. Some of the benefits of joining are: a listing on the Virginia Green Web site, use of Virginia Green logo, and an increase in environmentally conscious visitors.