The county's 130 "green points" total, out of 200 possible, qualified it a "Green Government" among the other forty communities across Virginia that participated in the challenge. The cornerstone of VML's Go Green Virginia Environmental Initiative, the "Green Government Challenge" is a friendly competition among VML member local governments to encourage the implementation of specific environmental policies and practical actions that reduce carbon emissions. 

“We are very pleased to receive this recognition as part of VML’s inaugural challenge,” said County Executive Bob Tucker in announcing the award.  “Being named a Green Government reflects well on the effort and commitment the County has focused on environmental stewardship in recent years.”

The challenge evaluated local governments in the areas of policy adoption, energy efficiency, green buildings, waste management, vehicles, land use and transportation, water and air quality, employee incentives, education and community participation, schools, and innovation. The County recently earned the ENERGY STAR for the McIntire Rd. County Office Building, and has reduced its county-wide energy consumption by 10.3% since its baseline year of 2005, resulting in a total energy savings of over 1 million kilowatt-hours and a cost savings of $100,000. In December of 2007, the Board of Supervisors signed the US Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration, joining 34 other “Cool Counties” across the nation who have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions county-wide by 80% by 2050.