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Today, Fairfax County announced the winners of the 2025 Environmental Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding individuals, organizations and businesses that have made remarkable contributions to environmental stewardship and sustainability.
This year’s winners include a senior planner advancing climate resilience, a wastewater director restoring ecosystems, a Fairfax County Public Schools team fostering environmental literacy, a dedicated advocate for habitat restoration, a grassroots partnership promoting sustainability in underserved communities, and a business championing circular fashion and textile waste reduction.
“These winners exemplify how individual and collective action can positively transform our community,” said Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay. “Their achievements inspire all of us to continue working together to protect and enhance our natural environment for future generations.”
The Environmental Excellence Awards are presented annually to recognize county residents, county employees, businesses and organizations who have dedicated their time and expertise to preserving the health and beauty of Fairfax County’s natural resources. The awards are administered by the Environmental Quality Advisory Council with support from the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC). A committee of the council selects awardees from a pool of nominations.
The 2025 Environmental Excellence Awardees are:
County Government Employee Category: Allison Homer, a senior planner with OEEC, for advancing climate adaptation and resilience through equity-driven solutions, including the launch of Fairfax County’s AC Rescue program for underserved populations.
County Government Employee Category: Michael McGrath, Wastewater Treatment Director at the Noman M. Cole, Jr. Water Recycling Facility, for 23 years of leadership in sustainable water management and the ecological recovery of Gunston Cove through advanced treatment technologies.
County Government Employee Category: Get2Green Team, for advancing environmental literacy among Fairfax County Public Schools students and building sustainable school cultures through outdoor learning spaces, wildlife habitats, garden programs, and waste reduction efforts.
Individual Resident Category: Margaret E. Fisher, an advocate for habitat restoration and biodiversity, for her property-based and community-wide initiatives promoting wildlife sanctuaries, native plants, and pesticide-free practices as part of the Plant NOVA Natives campaign.
Organization Category: Friends of Holmes Run (FoHR) and Hispanics Against Child Abuse and Neglect (HACAN), for their transformative partnership educating the Culmore-Crossroads community about sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics and fostering trust in municipal water with culturally relevant outreach programs.
Business Category: Sewing Lab, for empowering individuals to reduce textile waste and embrace circular fashion through hands-on workshops, clothing swaps, and educational programs in partnership with local organizations.
An awards ceremony to celebrate the 2024 and 2025 Environmental Excellence Award winners will take place on October 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Government Center in the Board Auditorium with a reception to immediately follow in the Forum. The event will also honor the recipients of the Friends of Trees and James M. Scott Exceptional Design awards.
For more information, including a list of past winners, please visit the Environmental Excellence Awards webpage.
Fairfax County is shining a spotlight on the power of energy efficiency during Energy Efficiency Week, designated this year as October 1-7, 2025. While the week offers a designated time to rally around sustainability, the benefits of energy efficiency are something that residents, businesses and the community can embrace year-round.
Adopting energy efficiency policies and practices in the county reduces costs, cuts air pollution and helps meet climate goals.
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Fairfax County’s new, innovative AC Rescue program has installed nearly 40 portable and window air conditioning units so far, providing vital relief to residents in dire need.
Designed to bridge the gap for residents ineligible for traditional cooling support programs, AC Rescue offers a lifeline to those facing dangerously hot conditions in their homes. The program is operated by the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination as part of the county's Resilient Fairfax initiative, in collaboration with the non-profit Rebuilding Together-AFF.
Rebuilding Together volunteer installing a window air conditioning unit
Focusing on the unique needs of residents unable to access existing state and county cooling programs like Cooling Assistance or Senior Cool Care, AC Rescue has quickly made an impact since it was piloted in summer 2024 at Harmony Place Mobile Home Park in the Franconia District.
Following the successful 2024 pilot, AC Rescue was transformed into an ongoing county program, using Resilient Fairfax funding. Programs like AC Rescue are growing in importance as temperatures continue to rise. Extreme heat is a silent but deadly threat, as exposure to high temperatures can lead to life-threatening conditions.
“AC Rescue is about more than providing comfort—it’s about protecting lives, as heat is the most fatal natural hazard in Fairfax County and in the U.S.,” said Allison Homer, program manager for Resilient Fairfax and AC Rescue.
Unlike other programs that primarily assist with utility bills or cater to limited groups, such as seniors with very low income, AC Rescue is available year-round to Fairfax County residents of all ages and abilities who do not have working AC at home. Its eligibility criteria include households earning up to 80% of the area median income, making the program accessible to a wider range of county residents. The program primarily operates through referrals from the county’s safety net providers. All AC equipment is provided free of charge for eligible residents.
While nearly 40 installations have been completed to date (including the 2024 pilot), another dozen households are in the process and referrals continue to come in. By partnering with Rebuilding Together-AFF, the program ensures safe, energy-efficient equipment installations that families can rely on, and access to other home repairs that Rebuilding Together provides.
County officials hope the program’s ongoing efforts will not only offer immediate relief by filling a gap in cooling access but also contribute to a more climate-resilient, sustainable Fairfax County for all.
Residents seeking assistance can call Rebuilding Together at 703-528-1999. Those looking for general information about the program can visit the AC Rescue program page or call 703-324-7262.
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