45. Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach recently became Virginia’s first designated “green destination,” as part of a state-wide program called Virginia Green. The goal of the program is to reduce the environmental impacts of the state’s tourism industry. We’re glad some attention is being paid to sustainability there—regardless of whether the ultimate goal is marketing tourism. The city won’t be getting an environment award from us, ranking 45th in SustainLane’s 2008 survey, but it does get kudos for a few very laudable efforts. Ten percent of Virginia Beach’s public school district buses now run on biodiesel, and all new and renovated school buildings will attain at least a LEED Silver rating. Also, in 2008, researchers proclaimed the city’s coast a viable location for a large-scale, offshore wind farm. They say such an installation would create jobs and attract green businesses and manufacturers to the area. This would be a great way to jump-start a sustainability movement in a city with 38 miles of coastline and nearly 150 farms in need of protection.

(Photo by Jason Pratt)