Three familiar spaces in Fairfax County are reshaping how Virginia thinks about energy, waste and environmental responsibility, and they have been recognized among the commonwealth’s best.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger has honored three Fairfax County–based initiatives with 2026 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards, highlighting local efforts that cut greenhouse gas emissions, keep textiles and books out of landfills and bring practical sustainability into residents’ daily routines.
The Fairfax County awardees are:
- Fairfax County Park Authority – Spring Hill Recreation Center Energy Upgrades (Silver Medal)
- Sewing Lab LLC – Circular Fashion Education and Textile Waste Reduction Program (Bronze Medal)
- Fairfax County Public Library and Department of Procurement and Material Management – Library Book Reuse and Recycling Project (Honorable Mention)
The awards recognized the significant contributions of environmental and conservation leaders in five categories: sustainability, environmental project, greening of government, land conservation and implementation of the Virginia Outdoors Plan. They are given to businesses and industrial facilities, not-for-profit organizations and government agencies. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation coordinate the awards program.
“Across Fairfax County, we’re integrating sustainability into the everyday places our residents rely on,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay. “This state recognition underscores how those efforts are reducing waste, lowering emissions and building a more sustainable future, and it shows how local action can deliver real environmental benefits.”
"I’m proud to see these innovative, community focused programs recognized at the state level," said Dalia Palchik, Providence District supervisor and chair of the board's Environmental Committee. "Each of these projects shows how practical, hands on solutions can reduce waste, cut emissions and make sustainability part of everyday life for our residents. This recognition reflects the commitment of our staff, partners and community members who continue to lead the way in building a more resilient future."
Spring Hill Recreation Center Energy Upgrades
The Park Authority’s comprehensive energy renovation at Spring Hill Recreation Center in McLean achieved a 38 percent reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions, as recognized by the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards.
In 2024, the Park Authority completed a comprehensive energy retrofit at Spring Hill Rec Center to address aging building systems and improve overall performance. Multiple electrical and mechanical units were nearing end-of-life, so the project team took a holistic approach to replace and reconfigure core systems.
Energy efficient features included a rooftop-mounted solar array, Geothermal heat pumps and a heat pump water heater, specialized HVAC units for the indoor pool, hot water plant upgrades, including high-efficiency boilers, advanced building controls, and interior and exterior lighting upgrades.
In its first full year, the project reduced electricity consumption by 988,000 kWh, a 42% reduction and natural gas by 10,715 therms, saving $105,000. Carbon emissions dropped by 377 tons CO2e, a reduction of approximately one-third.
Sewing Lab – Circular Fashion Education and Textile Waste Reduction
Sewing Lab, a member of the Fairfax County Green Business Partners, was honored for its Circular Fashion Education and Textile Waste Reduction Program, which advances both waste reduction and community education.
The Herndon-based business focuses on keeping textiles “in use and out of landfills” by teaching residents how to sew, repair and upcycle clothing and household textiles, extending the life of items that might otherwise be discarded.
During the past year, Sewing Lab diverted an estimated 5,000 pounds of textiles from disposal through swaps and classes, reusing or repurposing 7,500 garments. Approximately 70% of class materials came from donated or surplus sources. Environmental education is woven into every class, linking personal clothing choices to broader impacts such as landfill waste, water use, and greenhouse gas emissions.
The county has identified textile waste as a growing concern regionally; businesses like Sewing Lab support county and regional waste diversion goals by helping residents change habits and consumption patterns.
Library Book Reuse and Recycling Project
The Library Book Reuse and Recycling Project—a joint effort between Fairfax County Public Library and the Department of Procurement and Material Management—gives withdrawn print materials a second life by partnering with ThriftBooks.
Each year, FCPL has removed items from its collection that are outdated, damaged or no longer in demand. Historically, some of these materials could be difficult to redirect from disposal. In the pilot project that began in 2025, the county’s Logistics Center collected library materials that were no longer usable and sent them to ThriftBooks, where the materials have either been resold on the secondary market or recycled.
In less than a year, the county collected more than 110,000 books, with 90,000 books recycled and 20,000 books reused. The project has shown early success by avoiding landfill costs, and reducing environmental burden in Fairfax County.
This project supports Fairfax County’s broader Zero Waste efforts by maximizing the useful life of materials and ensuring environmentally sound end-of-life options.
Continuing Commitment to Sustainability
Fairfax County’s recognition in the 2026 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards builds on a long history of environmental initiatives. The county has adopted comprehensive climate and energy strategies through its Countywide Strategic Plan, Operational Energy Strategy, and the goals in the Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan.
“This recognition from the Commonwealth reflects our county’s long-standing commitment to environmental and sustainable actions and advances the goals in our Countywide Strategic Plan,” said County Executive Bryan Hill. “It shows that when we invest in innovation, partnerships and practical solutions, we deliver real benefits for our residents.”
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