Falls Church City Schools’ effort to reduce energy usage and promote sustainability has won them recognition from the Virginia School Boards Association as a “Certified Green School Division,” a school press release announced today.

Through participation in the Virginia School Boards Association’s (VSBA) Green Schools Challenge competition earlier this year, F.C. City schools have “committed itself to lead by example and help everyone in the school system take steps to reduce their carbon footprint,” said the release.

The VSBA Green Schools Challenge is a friendly competition designed to encourage implementation of specific environmental policies and practical actions that reduce the carbon emissions generated by both the local school division and the broader community.

The goal of the challenge is to become a certified “Green School Division.” Formal recognition, and an announcement of the city school’s specific level of certification, will come next week at the VSBA Annual Conference. The top three school divisions in each of three student population brackets (less than 5,000; 5,001-10,000; 10,001-plus) will be recognized.

The VSBA Green Schools Challenge is sponsored by Moseley Architects.