Charlottesville is going green. During a tide of concern about climate change and energy preservation, Charlottesville is becoming one of the latest cities to pass environmentally friendly standards.

The (Charlottesville) Daily Progress reported the city is constructing a vegetative roof on city hall and the police department headquarters. The lifespan of the buildings’ roofs was ending, and city officials took the opportunity to build an environmentally friendly roof. Green roofs are designed to reduce energy costs and reduce stormwater runoff.

The city has also offered a lower tax assessment rate for energy-efficient homes and agreed to offer energy-saving light bulbs to residents.

Charlottesville certainly isn’t the only community responding to concern about the environment. Albemarle County, for example, installed a green roof on its government headquarters. Arlington County requires all developers to construct buildings according to sustainable standards from the U.S. Green Building Council or contribute to the county’s Green Building Fund.

All across Virginia, localities, businesses and educational institutions are responding to the call for environmental stewardship. Virginia Business will look significantly at this trend in its April issue.

Be prepared to see just how green Virginia can be.