The Mayor and Council on May 15 honored a church congregation, a local business and two city programs with Environmental Excellence Awards recognizing their contributions to Rockville’s environmental health and sustainability.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville was honored for Outstanding Achievement in Green Building Technology. UUCR is one of the few congregations in Montgomery County to install a rooftop solar array. The solar panels generate approximately 30 percent of the church’s electricity needs, saving close to $3,000 in electricity costs.
Dawson’s Market was recognized for Outstanding Leadership in Environmental Practices, for its commitment to local food programs and environmental practices that support sustainable agriculture, waste reduction and energy efficiency.
Rockville’s Community Services Division youth programs were honored for Outstanding Environmental Education and Academic Achievements, in recognition of the 364 hours of environmental community service earned by students participating in two programs in 2015 and 2016. Students in the Summer Civic Program collected 30 bags of trash from the stream behind the Twinbrook Community Recreation Center, placed “Do Not Pollute” markers on 20 storm drains in Rockville Town Center, removed invasive plants from a 400-foot section of stream valley in Dawson Farm Park and assisted with stream sample collections to learn about aquatic biology and help assess the health of Rockville’s streams. Students in the Latino Youth Development Program collected 16 bags of trash during four stream cleanups at Maryvale Park, near Thomas Farm Community Center and at Winding Rose Tributary, and adopted the stream near Julius West Middle School, committing to seasonal cleanups there.
For more information and video of the awards presentation, see the May 15 Mayor and Council meeting listing at www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter.
The Environmental Excellence Awards are presented annually by the Mayor and Council following a review and recommendation by the city’s Environment Commission. Nominations are accepted throughout the year. For more information about award categories and guidelines, application forms and eligibility, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/environment/awards, email [email protected], or call 240-314-8870.
Learn more about the city’s environmental and sustainability efforts.