Three projects in the Charlottesville area have received recognition from the Commonwealth of Virginia for their efforts to reduce their impact on the environment.
Governor Abigail Spanberger has announced the 2026 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards, an initiative of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
“Protecting Virginia’s environment and promoting stewardship across the Commonwealth have impacts that will last for generations,” Spanberger said in an information release.
The awards were given to the Piedmont Housing Alliance, the Rockfish Valley Foundation, and the Charlottesville company InBio.
The Piedmont Housing Alliance received one of seven gold medals for the Kindlewood redevelopment.
“Piedmont Housing Alliance’s redevelopment of the Kindlewood Community in Charlottesville has allowed the 12-acres of Section 8 homes to become one of Virginia’s largest climate-resilient, net-zero-ready, affordable housing communities, all while ensuring no residents were displaced,” reads the release.
PHA is developing the project in four phases and in February City Council signed off on a proposal to build fewer units as I reported for C-Ville Weekly.
The awards were announced at the Virginia Military Institute on March 24 and the materials offer more information.
“All homes meet Zero Energy Ready Home standards and Enterprise Green Communities certification, featuring high-performance insulation, air-sealing, ENERGY STAR appliances, and solar-optimized rooftops,” reads a pamphlet made for the awards.
The Rockfish Valley Foundation in Nelson County won one of the other gold medals for an environmental literacy program called ENLIT.
“The Rockfish Valley Foundation’s Environmental Literacy (ENLIT) project is a multi-year initiative designed to enhance environmental education along the South Rockfish River Trails in Nelson County, Virginia,” reads the release. “ENLIT has become a unique educational asset in Virginia, offering self-guided learning, structured walk-talks, and new opportunities for school field trips, community programs, and environmental stewardship.”
The grant-funded project began in 2018 and had involved more than a hundred volunteers. Around 1,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted.
The pharmaceutical company InBio won a silver medal for work to make their Charlottesville space environmentally sustainable.
“Initiatives included in the Environmental Sustainability Program range from 17,000 square feet of new energy efficient laboratory space to an innovative Green Benefits program that provides financial incentives to employees,” the release continues.
According to the pamphlet, the company’s investment of $35,000 into the Green Benefits program has resulted in over $227,000 in projects undertaken by employees at their own homes.
Visit the DEQ website for more on the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards.
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