Fairfax County's commitment to environmental stewardship is demonstrated by policies, programs and projects that lower greenhouse gas emissions associated with its operations. These efforts include reducing electricity and natural gas used in county buildings and operations, and gasoline and diesel used in county fleet vehicles and buses. Decreasing overall energy use not only provides wide-ranging environmental benefits, it also provides fiscal benefits to the county and its residents through utility cost avoidance.
On July 13, 2021, the Board of Supervisors adopted a new greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal through the Carbon Neutral Counties Declaration. Led by Fairfax County, Carbon Neutral Counties provides a mechanism for counties across the country to commit to operational emissions reductions. By signing the declaration, Fairfax County pledges to be energy carbon neutral by 2040, work with state and federal partners to advance this goal, and ensure it is implemented equitably.
Meeting this carbon neutral goal will require significant emissions reductions across all facets of county operations. As such, on July 13, 2021, the Board also adopted an update to the Fairfax County Operational Energy Strategy. First adopted in 2018, the Energy Strategy is intended to advance the objectives of the Board’s Environmental Vision through the setting of goals, targets, and actions across major focus areas. The updated Energy Strategy incorporates the carbon neutral goal in a new greenhouse gas emissions reductions focus area and includes accelerated targets across many of the remaining focus areas outlined below.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions
- Energy Use and Efficiency
- Water Use and Efficiency
- Green Buildings
- Renewables
- Fleet Electrification
- Goods and Services
- Waste Management and Recycling
- Awareness and Engagrement
- Utility Cost Management
- Reporting and Collaboration
