Special Air Quality & Special Environmental Awards

The Special Award Program is used by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners and the Environmental Assistance and Protection Board, to recognize innovative programs that reduce pollution and improve the environment in Forsyth County. The awards are open to businesses, industries and the general public including Nonprofit organizations and local governments implementing environmental programs outside of their stated mission.

Applications for calendar year 2018 are currently being accepted and must be submitted no later than July 5, 2019. If you have questions about applying for an award you may contact Peter Lloyd. Board members review the submitted applications and determine which programs merit the issuance of a Special Award. In order to fully evaluate applications, the Environmental Assistance and Protection Board requires all applicants to attend the board meeting to discuss the activity/project. Awards selected will be presented by the Forsyth County Commissioners at a later date.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection for an application or download one from the links below.

Special Air Quality Award – Business and Industry
(download application - Adobe .pdf ) (download application - Word .doc)

The Special Air Quality Award Program is used by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners and the EAPB to recognize Forsyth County businesses and industries for implementing innovative programs that reduce air pollution and improve air quality. Businesses and Industries that reduce air pollution beyond the minimum required by regulations are eligible for the Special Air Quality Award.

Special Environmental Award – Business and Industry
(download application - Adobe .pdf) (download application - Word .doc)

The Special Environmental Award Program is used by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners and the EAPB to recognize Forsyth County businesses and industries for implementing innovative programs that reduce pollution in other media, such as, water, solid waste, and hazardous waste. Businesses and industries that reduce pollution beyond the minimum required by regulations or achieved using standard business and industry practices are eligible for the Special Environmental Award.

Special Environmental Award - Public Sector
(download application - Adobe .pdf) (download application - Word .doc)

The Public Sector Special Environmental Award Program is used by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners and the EAPB to recognize organizations in Forsyth County for implementing innovative programs that improve the environment. Examples include pollution reductions, natural resource conservation, energy conservation, and environmental awareness promotion. Volunteer groups, the general public and other organizations including non-profit organizations and local governments implementing environmental programs outside of their stated mission, are eligible for the Public Sector Special Environmental Award.

1. 2013 Special Environmental Awards

   Presented to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Maintenance Division for Outstanding Environmental Stewardship Reducing Electrical Use By 398,732 Kwh, Reducing Water/Sewer Use By 3,399,396 Gallons And Reducing Co2 Emissions By 605,905 Pounds.

   Presented to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Carver High School for Outstanding Efforts To Conserve Energy Earning The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Award (Buildings That Use 35 Percent Less Energy And Generate 35 Percent Fewer Greenhouse Gas Emissions Than Similar Buildings Across The Nation).

   Presented to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Clemmons Middle School for Outstanding Efforts To Conserve Energy Earning The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Award (Buildings That Use 35 Percent Less Energy And Generate 35 Percent Fewer Greenhouse Gas Emissions Than Similar Buildings Across The Nation).

   

   From left to right: Peter DeVries, Chairman of the Forsyth County Environmental Assistance and Protection Board; and Howard, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

2013 Special Environmental Awards

Presented to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for Outstanding Efforts To Recycle 100 Percent Of Fine Tobacco Waste.

2. 2012 Special Environmental Awards

   Presented to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Maintenance Department, for Outstanding Efforts To Conserve Energy By Converting 23,718 T12 Lamps And Ballasts To T8 Lamps And Electronic Ballasts, And 340 Metal Halide Fixtures To T5 High Bay Lighting Reducing Energy Consumption By 1,251,229 Kwh Per Year And Co2 Emissions By 1,946,251 Pounds Per Year.

   

   from left to right: Wayne Loflin, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Peter DeVries, Chairman of the Forsyth County Environmental Assistance and Protection Board; Howard Moore and Dr. Beverly Emory Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

3. 2011 Special Environmental Awards

   Presented to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for For Outstanding Efforts To Recycle 6000 Tons Of Solid Waste Including Recycling Of Cigarette Packaging Waste.

   

   from left to right: Yong Yi and Edd Bullock, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Peter DeVries, Chairman of the Forsyth County Environmental Assistance and Protection Board; Frederick Barnes, Chris Tickle, and MikeHartman, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

4. 2011 Special Environmental Awards

   Special Environmental Awards were presented to two Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Kernersville Middle School and North Hills Elementary School, for Outstanding Efforts To Conserve Energy Earning The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Award (Buildings That Use 35 Percent Less Energy And Generate 35 Percent Fewer Greenhouse Gas Emissions Than Similar Buildings Across The Nation

   

   from left to right: Peter DeVries, Chairman of the Forsyth County Environmental Assistance and Protection Board; Howard Moore and Wayne Loflin, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

5. 2011 Special Environmental Award

   Presented to Highland Industries, Inc. for Partnering With Industrial Conservation Engineering Recycling, Llc And Recycling 100 Percent Of All Solid Waste (2.3 Million Pounds Per Year) And Becoming Landfill Free As Of March 30, 2012

   

   from left to right: Peter DeVries, Chairman of the Forsyth County Environmental Assistance and Protection Board; Janae Wells and Bryan Roan, Highland Industries, Inc.

6. 2010 Special Air Quality Award and 2010 Special Environmental Award

   A Special Air Quality Award was presented to Wake Forest University: Refrigerant Replacement: Re-fitting and Installation of Chiller Units Operating Using the Low Toxicity Refrigerant R-123 Instead of R-11.

   A Special Environmental Award was presented to Wake Forest University: Waste Reduction: Diversion of 44.3% (1,100 tons) of Wake forest University’s waste from the Landfill.

   

   From left to right: Meagan Anderson, Wake Forest University; Peter DeVries, Chairman of the Forsyth County Environmental Assistance and Protection Board; and Michelle Adkins Wake Forest University

7. 2010 Special Air Quality Award

   Presented to Piedmont Landfill and Recycling Center for Landfill Gas to Energy: Installation of Three Internal Combustion Engines to Produce Renewable Energy From Landfill Gas.

   

   From left to right: Lee Palmer, Piedmont Landfill and Recycling Center; Peter DeVries, Chairman of the Forsyth County Environmental Assistance and Protection Board; and Stan Joseph, Piedmont Landfill and Recycling Center.

8. 2010 Special Environmental Award

   Presented to Highland Industries for Toluene Management System: Reduction of Virgin Toluene Usage by 44%.

   

   From left to right: Brian Roan, Highland Industries; Peter DeVries, Chairman of the Forsyth County Environmental Assistance and Protection Board; Scott Burkhart and Janae Wells, Highland Industries.

9. 2009 Special Environmental Award

   Presented to Wake Forest University for: proactive hazardous waste reduction programs including best management practices, improved chemical inventory control, inter-departmental redistribution of unused chemicals, neutralization of concentrated acids and caustics, and waste consolidation.

   

   Richard Linville presenting a Special Environmental Award to Wake Forest University. (from left to right: Richard Linville, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners; Michelle Adkins and Jim Alty, Wake Forest University; and Peter DeVries, Chairman of the Forsyth County Environmental Assistance and Protection Board.)

10. 2009 Special Air Quality Award and 2009 Special Environmental Award

    The 2009 Special Air Quality Award was presented to Highland Industries for activities and investments resulting in a thirty percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from calendar year 2008 to 2009.

    A 2009 Special Environmental Award was presented to Highland Industries for energy conservation activities and investments resulting in saving one and a half million (1,500,000) kilowatt hours from calendar year 2008 to 2009.

    

    Richard Linville presenting the awards to Highland Industries. (from left to right: Richard Linville, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners; Bryan Roan and Janae Wells, Highland Industries; and Peter DeVries, Chairman of the Forsyth County Environmental Affairs Board.)

11. 2008 Special Environmental Award

    Presented to Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina for: Reducing 2,600,000 pounds of solid waste by refurbishing and recycling computers, CRT monitors and related computer devices.

    

    Richard Linville presenting a Special Environmental Award to Goodwill Industries of Northwest N.C. (from left to right: Richard Linville, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners; John Leonard, E Manager, Goodwill Industries of Northwest N.C.; and Peter DeVries, Chairman of the Forsyth County Environmental Assistance and Protection Board.)

12. 2008 Special Air Quality Award and 2008 Special Environmental Award

    The 2008 Special Air Quality Award was presented to Highland Industries for reducing volatile organic compound air emissions by controlling the reclaim and virgin toluene storage tanks and R#6 unit.

    A 2008 Special Environmental Award was presented to Highland Industries for fifty percent reduction in their solid waste stream by reusing and recycling cardboard tubing.

    

    Beaufort Bailey, Board of County Commissioners (back center), presented the awards to Highland Industries. (from left to right: Bryan Roan, Janae Wells and Scott Burkhart, of Highland Industries; and Peter DeVries, Chairman of the Forsyth County Environmental Affairs Board.)

13. 2007 SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD

    Presented to Dry Cleaning Station for: Investing in Environmentally Responsible Technology, Significantly Reducing Adverse Environmental Impacts and Providing the Citizens of Forsyth County a Safe Dry Cleaning Alternative

    

    Commissioner Richard Linville presenting the Special Environmental Award to Dry Cleaning Station. (from left to right: Richard Linville, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners; Peter DeVries, Chairman, Environmental Assistance and Protection Board; Bill Patton, Dry Cleaning Station; and Gray Patton Dry Cleaning Station)

14. 2005 SPECIAL AIR QUALITY AWARD

    Presented to VP Buildings, Inc. for: Converting from Solvent to Waterborne Paint Coating, Resulting in a 76 Percent Reduction in Hazardous Air Pollution Emissions for 2005

    

    Presentation of the 2005 Special Air Quality Award to VP Buildings, Inc. (from left to right: Peter DeVries, Chairman, Environmental Assistance and Protection Board; Jennifer Williams, Environmental Coordinator, VP Buildings; Richard Linville, Forsyth County Commissioner; Dennis Dozier, Plant Manager, VP Buildings)

15. 2004 SPECIAL AIR QUALITY AWARD

    Presented to Highland Industries for: Reductions in VOC Emissions

    

    Commissioner Debra Conrad-Shrader presenting the Special Air Quality Award to Highland Industries, Inc. (from left to right: Debra Conrad-Shrader ( Vice Chair, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners), Peter DeVries (Vice Chairman, Environmental Assistance and Protection Board), Gary Voss (Highland), Chess Maxwell (Highland), Bryan Roan (Highland)

16. 2004 SPECIAL AIR QUALITY AWARD

    Presented to Johnson Controls, Inc. for: Reductions in Lead Air Emissions and Reductions in Hazardous Waste Liquids Containing Lead and Petroleum Naptha

    

    Commissioner David Plyler presenting the Special Environmental Award to Johnson Controls, Inc. (from left to right: David Plyler, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners; Vaughn Benton, Johnson Controls; Peter DeVries, Vice Chairman, Environmental Assistance and Protection Board; Rick Irby; Johnson Controls)

17. 2003 SPECIAL AIR QUALITY AWARD

    Presented to LARCO Construction, a division of Nello L. Teer Company, Inc., for: Installation of A New Hauck Eco-Star II Burner, Thus Increasing Fuel Efficiency By 25% and Reducing Fuel Related Air Pollution

    

    Commissioner David Plyler presenting the Special Air Quality Award to LARCO Construction. (from left to right: Barry Henderson, Chairman, Environmental Assistance and Protection Board; David Plyler, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners; Robert Ponton, LARCO; Fred Fenske, LARCO)