Sustainable Blacksburg Accomplishments

Sustainable Blacksburg is a collaborative community partnership formed as part of a 2005 $95,000 U.S. EPA Resource Conservation Challenge grant received by the Town of Blacksburg and the Virginia Tech YMCA to address toxic chemical risks facing the community.  Numerous community members have come together to form Sustainable Blacksburg, including representatives from the local government, Virginia Tech, university student organizations, local businesses, architectural and engineering firms, and non-profit organizations.

Mission: Sustainable Blacksburg is a non-profit community organization that facilitates effective environmental stewardship in the Blacksburg area to enhance the region’s livability by reducing its impact on the local and global environment.

Current Goals:

1. To initiate and promote sustainable practices.
2. To disseminate information that will help us live in balance with our environment.
3. To support other groups that focus on sustainable practices.

Some projects initiated by Sustainable Blacksburg are:

• Developed a Downtown Blacksburg businesses recycling plan.
• Sponsored with Virginia Tech and the Town of Blacksburg sustainability weeks in the fall of 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
• Helped establish Go Green NRV, an organization of New River Valley businesses who want to decrease their carbon emissions and promote good environmental practices.
• Promoted citizens using reusable bags for shopping instead of plastic and paper bags.
• Promoted citizens using reusable water bottles instead of disposable plastic bottles.
• Assisted the Town of Blacksburg develop its greenhouse-gas-emission inventory and a climate action plan.
• Working with the Town of Blacksburg to make the town code greener.
• Develop a list of business in the New River Valley who provide green services and products.
• Develop a list of green buildings and renovations in Blacksburg.
• Co-sponsored with the Blacksburg Public Library information sessions on greening Christmas, energy-conservation in the home, sustainable gardening/sustainable lawn & landscaping, and benefits and sources of local foods.