Innovative Strategies and Community Engagement Drive Sustainability Successes

The Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination announced today the release of the 2024 Climate Action Progress and Highlights report, showcasing significant strides made in sustainability, energy efficiency, and climate resilience over the past year. 

From reducing emissions and enhancing energy efficiency to expanding its renewable energy footprint, the report underscores the county's whole-of-government approach to creating a resilient, sustainable community for all.

Key Achievements Serving the Community in 2024:

• Sustain Fairfax Campaign: Started the Sustain Fairfax public awareness campaign, to increase community engagement and participation in sustainability initiatives.
• Green Business Partners Program: Expanded to 51 member organizations actively engaging in sustainable practices.
• Flood Risk Reduction Services: Launched the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMAP), providing reimbursements to property owners for flood-proofing practices.
• Extreme Heat Services: Upgraded Cooling Centers, increasing their usage from 251 visits in 2023 to 1,301 visits in 2024.
• Urban Design and Building Codes: Revising Urban Design Guidelines to incorporate climate-friendly features and enforced the updated Uniform State Building Code to improve energy efficiency and support renewable energy adoption.
• Tree Planting Initiatives: Planted approximately 16,000 trees, including 287 at schools and government sites, focusing on urban heat islands and equity-driven site selection.

Key Milestones for County Operations in 2024:

• Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Overall emissions in county operations are down almost 28% compared to the fiscal year 2018 baseline.
• Energy Efficiency Enhancements: Total electricity use in county operations has decreased by 15% since FY2018, a result of continuous upgrades of county facilities.
• Solar Installations: 10 county buildings now have rooftop solar, with 10 more planned by the end of 2025.
• Climate Resilient Design: Developed a Climate Resilient Design Checklist, piloted in the Embry Rucker Shelter and Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center designs.

"Our progress in 2024 is a testament to our steadfast commitment to addressing climate change and building a resilient community,” said Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay. “Despite funding challenges and changes in federal policy, we are dedicated to continuing this momentum and leading by example to ensure a sustainable Fairfax County for generations to come."

The 2024 report tracks progress in implementing the county’s three climate and energy plans – the Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP), the Operational Energy Strategy (OES), and Resilient Fairfax. 

These plans set ambitious goals that include: lowering greenhouse gas emissions to achieve community-wide carbon neutrality by 2050; achieving carbon neutrality for government operations by 2040; and improving community resilience to the effects of climate change that are already occurring. 

“Our collaborative efforts across all county agencies and with our community partners have enabled us to make significant impact,” said John Morrill, director of the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination. “We look forward to building on these achievements and tackling the challenges ahead with innovative solutions and robust community engagement.” 

In 2025, Fairfax County anticipates further advancements, including the launch of a “concierge” program to assist residents with home energy improvements and an AC Rescue program for extreme heat resiliency.

The report, as well as more of the data and information, is available on the Climate Action Dashboard — a single site for explaining and sharing progress with residents on the county’s climate action goals. 

To learn more about the county’s climate policies, programs and progress, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/environment-energy-coordination.