GOVERNOR KAINE SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO
IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND REDUCE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF STATE GOVERNMENT

~Directs executive branch agencies to further reduce
energy consumption and costs, announces “Green
Commonwealth Challenge” ~

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today issued
Executive Order 82, which will significantly expand
efforts to reduce the energy and environmental impact
of executive branch agencies and institutions. As part
of the Governor’s Renew Virginia initiative, this policy
promotes energy and water efficient buildings,
encourages reductions in employee travel and
commuting, and will minimize the use of disposable
materials.

“Virginians are blessed to inhabit a state with
tremendous natural beauty and abundant resources
that support our economy,” Governor Kaine said.
“Because the Commonwealth’s business operation is
so large, any action we take to reduce our
environmental impact will have a significant effect. I
am hopeful that by reducing the environmental impact
of government operations, the Commonwealth can
inspire private businesses and individuals to adopt
similar measures.”

Green Commonwealth Challenge

As part of the Executive Order, Governor Kaine also
issued the “Green Commonwealth Challenge” to
engage the state workforce in the greening of
government. Agencies and institutions that choose to
participate will report to the Secretary of Natural
Resources information such as the following for the
period of June 15 through November 15, 2009:

• The number of in-person meetings avoided
  through the use of video conferences or
  conference calls, as well as an estimate of
  travel miles avoided
  
• The number of different materials included in
  the agency’s recycling program
  
• Electricity bills for the months of July, August
  and September of 2008, as well as the months
  of July, August and September 2009
  

The Secretary of Natural Resources will develop a
scoring system and provide guidelines for participating
agencies, compile all the reports received by
December 1, 2009, and announce the three highest-
scoring agencies by December 15, 2009.

State employees are also invited to submit
suggestions to reduce the state government’s
environmental impact to the Department of Human
Resource Management’s Employee Suggestion
Program. The employee who submits the best idea,
determined by the Chief of Staff and Secretaries of
Administration and Natural Resources, will receive one
day of annual leave.

Environmental Management Systems

Executive Order 82 directs all executive branch
agencies and institutions to either develop an
Environmental Management System (EMS) or adopt
and post to their website a suite of policies concerning
the use of energy and water, waste reduction and
travel that will reduce costs and environmental
impacts. If an EMS is not developed, adopted policies
must include the following:

• Reduce energy use by powering down
  computers when not in use, turning off interior
  and exterior lights when not needed, and
  reducing after-hours use of heating and cooling
  systems.
  
• Reduce water use by eliminating leaks,
  minimizing use of water for irrigation through
  reduced frequency of watering, timing of
  watering, and use of drought-resistant grass
  and plants.
  
• Reduce waste by reducing consumption of
  paper and disposable supplies, increasing
  recycling of white and mixed paper, plastic,
  batteries, printer cartridges and aluminum.
  
• Reduce travel expenses by encouraging
  carpooling, video conferencing and conference
  calls, and by purchasing alternative fuels.