WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2012

In November 2011, the city of Richmond was honored by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) of Richmondand the James River Green Building Council (JRGBC), for innovative practices and outstanding leadership within the field of sustainability.

ULI of Richmond presented Mayor Jones’ Bicycle, Pedestrian and Trail Planning Commission with their 2011 Vision Award for sustainable development. The commission’s mission is to find creative approaches that the city administration can take to promote bicycles and walking over typical modes of transportation, reduce vehicles on the road, enhance economic development, and improve the overall health of Richmond residents. Overall, the commission is working to address a number of public policy issues including public health, land use and transportation, economic development and to support the city’s sustainability goals.

The James River Green Building Council (JRGBC) honored Alicia Zatcoff at the Seventh Annual Green Building Leadership Awards. As the city’s first sustainability manager, Zatcoff received the 2011 Individual Leadership Award for her outstanding contributions to green building and sustainability in Virginia. 

Zatcoff is leading the effort to create the first sustainability plan for the Richmond community and currently oversees the implementation of Mayor Dwight Jones’ Order for Green Government. This order is a sweeping initiative to create more efficiency and less waste in city government and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from government operations.