NIC: Environmental Innovations & Assets

Norfolk Southern Corporation - Lambert’s Point

Living Shoreline: Working in collaboration with the Elizabeth River Project since 2011, Norfolk Southern has been working to revitalize a large portion of shoreline that has been severely eroding over the course of several years; some places along the shoreline had cliffs of 14’ feet of exposed sediment. In 2020, NS constructed a living shoreline of 887 linear feet (three football fields) that was comprised of installations of rock marsh mills/breakwaters, and sand along with 24,000 native plants to provide natural habitats for fish and wildlife in the area. Around 2430 cubic feet of recycled oyster shells (12 dump truck loads) were layered on the expanse of breakwaters to create a habitat for oysters. Oysters are known for their ability to naturally clean water, with a single oyster being able to filter almost 50 gallons a day to search for food and nutrients.

Fuel Efficiency: One of Norfolk Southern’s largest contributions is it progressive take on fuel efficiency and its push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with its new energy management technologies. One of these technologies uses GPS-based systems to identify proper throttle and braking settings for optimal fuel efficiency based track topography and the weight of a train’s cargo. The company has also been converting its older Direct Current (DC) locomotives to Alternating Current (AC) technology that is much more fuel efficient. According to their 2021 Sustainability Report, the company reduced their diesel fuel usage by 81 million gallons; the total amount of  absolute carbon-dioxide emissions were decreased by roughly 1 million metric tons. 

Stormwater Treatment: Because Lambert’s Point is a coal trans load facility, the need to contain the harmful affects of coal is particularly important. Starting in 2000, NS began installing a new stormwater treatment facility that prevents 5,600 tons of coal from reaching the Elizabeth River and promotes a sustainable agenda. When it rains, the system collects, filters and treats stormwater to be reused in order to clean equipment and suppress dust as cars are being loaded. When the project became operational in March of 2013, the company had cut back its use of municipal water by almost 1.5 gallons a month. The system includes retention ponds, a 10,000 gallon holding tank, a “Hydroclone” filtration system to remove coal particles and most recently, an ultraviolet light treatment system used to kill traces of harmful bacteria and pollution before reusing stormwater.

Video: Norfolk Southern

Hampton Roads Transit

Mass Transit and the Environment: Hampton Roads Transit has made Environmental Stewardship a key part of their mission as they work to provide public transportation to the citizens of Norfolk. In 2009, an agency-wide Environmental Management System was implemented in order to reduce its environmental impacts and increase operating efficiency. In 2011, the agency developed the first light rail system in Virginia, the Tide, which spans for 7.4 miles and uses electric rail cars. HRT’s Southside Operation’s Complex, located a short distance from the corridor, LEED Gold certified and its hybrid diesel-electric fleet has increased to 37 buses (from 26 in 2012). In a relatively short period of time, the organization has been making serious strides to protect the environment and promote sustainable practices. Its serves as a model for other localities that are interested in taking first steps, but aren’t sure where to start. 

Norfolk State University

Progressive Campus for a Progressive Institution: Norfolk State University is one of a handful of higher learning institutions situated in the Hampton Roads area. Since its inception in 1935, the public historically black university has been changing students’ lives through model teaching, research and service. In accordance with that history, the institution is setting the bar for other universities to meet the needs of tomorrow by adopting green architecture and sustainable best practices on its campus. Norfolk State University has several LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings that recognize how the structures were designed and developed with environmental stewardship in mind. These certifications identify aspects and functions of a building that are congruent with sustainable architecture for the future. Examples of these characteristics include the ability to save energy, water efficiency,  reducing CO2 emissions, improving indoor environmental quality among many others. The university has also been making advances in energy management across all of its campus with a wide spread campaign to upgrade its buildings to include intelligent building automation that will monitor mechanical systems and decrease inefficiencies in energy usage. This, along with strides in stormwater management and the strict monitoring of fuel consumption by fleet vehicles, make Norfolk State University a model institution for sustainability and the sort of development that Norfolk will need to preserve the environment for generations to come.

NOAA Marine Operations Center - Atlantic Office

Green Roofs and Clean Waters: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association is a US federal agency within the Department of Commerce that is tasked with several responsibilities ranging from deep sea exploration, meteorologic forecasts, marine wildlife protection and preservation. Its Marine Operations Center is housed in Norfolk along the Innovation Corridor. It serves as a port for one NOAA survey ship and provides administrative, engineering, maintenance and logistical support to NOAA's Atlantic fleet. The Marine Operations Center has been very proactive in its practices and environmental stewardship since its enrollment into the Elizabeth River Project’s River Stars Business Program in 2005. The agency has placed eight Ultra-guard Stormwater inserts to prevent contaminants like litter, sand, and oil from flowing into the Elizabeth River during storms. Among other initiatives taken by the agency office, NOAA  (MAO-A) has installed two demonstration "green roofs" on two outlying garages, in hope of further reducing stormwater runoff and energy costs. These roofs, which cost merely $5,000, include plants in trays of engineered soil, made from shale and compost, that live off stormwater and sunlight on the roof. With these new “living roofs” soak up excess nutrients in the stormwater and prevent it from flowing into the Elizabeth River and harming body of water’s natural ecosystem. These two projects have served as examples of ideal investments that government agencies can make at a fraction of the cost; the kind of innovation that requires less but has a tremendous impact. 

Hermitage Museum and Gardens

Shoreline Restoration: What once was the private residence of a textile magnate on the shores of the Lafayette River has now been created into a museum with a nationally recognized art collection for members of the public to enjoy. The property also includes twelve acres of formal gardens, woodlands and educational wetlands. Starting in 2006, the museum began a large scale wetlands restoration project on the east end of the property. The project was a collaboration of the Hermitage, the NOAA Restoration Center, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Elizabeth River Project, the City of Norfolk and a large contingent of community volunteers. The Hermitage has continued with several different projects since that time and has restored 2.15 acres of natural wetlands on the property and adjacent areas. On top of that, the museum has worked with several organizations to plant several native plants and remove invasive species in the area, protecting the natural ecosystem.

WET Program and Public Outreach: The Hermitage Museum and Gardens has taken the opportunity of using its examples of wetlands restoration in order to educate adults and schoolchildren on their importance and their potential. The Wetland’s Enrichment Tours (WET) Program is a new educational program being rolled out by the museum that teaches students what wetlands are, why they are important and how they can help the environment. The museum has also committed to community outreach by hosting Fall Garden Lectures and even curated a thought-provoking art exhibition on the affect of climate change and sea-level rise. 

Elizabeth River Trail

The Premier Urban Waterfront Trail: The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation is the overseeing organization of Norfolk’s Iconic Elizabeth River Trail, a 10.5 mile trail that stretches along the Elizabeth River from Norfolk State University to the International Terminals. The trail includes solar powered-lights, charging stations, five ADA-compliant kayak launches that form a blue trail, playgrounds, eco-friendly hydration stations and several examples of educational signage. The alternative transportation route has proved incredibly popular with local citizens, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; in 2020 there were close to 400,000 visitors to the trail! In 2022, the foundation partnered with another local organization, Keep Norfolk Beautiful, to participate in the world’s largest volunteer effort for ocean health, the International Coastal Cleanup. The Elizabeth River Foundation continues to work and collaborate with several different organizations and businesses to create engaging programs/events on the ERT. Examples of these sort of programs range from volunteer cleanups, botanical tours and even art installations all on the trail. 

HRSD (Hampton Roads Sanitation District

Virginia Initiative Plant - Innovations in Wastewater: With one of its flagship locations nestled directly inside the Norfolk Innovation Corridor, HRSD is a driving force for innovation in green technology and innovation within our community. The regional organization provides wastewater treatment services not only to Norfolk and its immediate neighbors, but to a total of 20 cities and counties within southeastern Virginia—a total population of 1.7 million people. Its Virginia Initiative Plant (VIP) is located directly within the Corridor and has recently been working on several new developments in green technology and wastewater innovation. The VIP plant (along with the neighboring Army Base plant, located by Norfolk International Airport) has had several recent upgrades including pointed investments in nutrient reduction. These investments have allowed the plant to remove a total of 3.7 million pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus prior to being discharged into the Elizabeth River. To put into context, HRSD’s permits allow for around 658,000 pounds of nutrients to be discharged into the river and each of these plants removed close to 17% more nutrients than required by their permits. Other innovations include Ammonia-Based Aeration Control or (ABAC), a process that improves nitrogen removal performance, and reduces the amount of energy and chemicals required for aeration processes for wastewater management. 

SWIFT – HRSD’s Sustainable Water Initiative For Tomorrow: HRSD has been continually investing and developing on wastewater treatment innovations that will help preserve our environment for future generations. SWIFT takes treated wastewater that would usually be discharged back into the Elizabeth River and puts it through technologically advanced treatment processes to meet drinking water standards. After meeting these standards, the water is then injected into the Potomac Aquifer, which supplies groundwater throughout the Commonwealth. Through its research center in Suffolk, HRSD has been able to pump 380 million gallons of treatable and drinkable SWIFT water into the aquifer. This technology will not only figure out a sustainable means of replenishing the aquifer and our area’s drinking water, but will also help fight land subsidence as the Potomac Aquifer has dropped over 200 feet in the past century; this continued drop can and will contribute to sea level rise in Hampton Roads.  The organization is hoping to have 5 of these plants running by 2030, with one location immediately next to the Virginia Initiative Plant in our own Norfolk Innovation Corridor—a fitting location. 

Old Dominion University

Growing Green: Old Dominion University is the largest higher education institution in Hampton Roads. ODU was founded as a division of William and Mary, until it became an independent insitution in 1962. Since its elevation to a university in 1969, ODU has steadily been growing with a student body of over 20,000. To meet the demand, the university has invested heavily in green infrastructure with several LEED certified buildings on its campus. Opening in April 2021, the newest structures are: 1) the Chemistry Building, which contains 24 new research labs and 13 new teaching labs; and 2) the Owens House, a 165,000 square feet housing facility for STEM-H students. Both of these buildings are expected to be fully LEED certified for energy conservation. The university recently has been approved to begin construction on a new Biology Building, which will consist of 163,000 square-feet and contain all of the hallmarks of green architecture and environmental stewardship. This building will be a lynchpin for the University and set the standard in the Commonwealth.

Stopping Stormwater: As it is rests on main stem of the Elizabeth River, ODU’s 188 acre campus is particularly susceptible to flooding and externalities from uncontrolled stormwater. Seeing and understanding this dilemma, the university has taken extraordinary steps to address these problems. The university has invested in several different BMPs, or Best Management Practices, to control stormwater flow in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective ways. The university has converted .63 acres of impervious surfaces (concrete, asphalt, etc.) to become pervious with specially developed pavers that allow the flow of stormwater directly into the soil, instead of across sidewalks, roads and other services where it can collect pollutants (waster, trash, gasoline, fertilizer, etc.). The university has also invested heavily in another BMP: Bioretention Ponds. Various examples of these ponds exist on campus with the newest one being located on the north side of the facilities building. These retention areas not only reduce flooding and improve the habitat for local wildlife, but they also filter stormwater through several native plants that collect and clean the stormwater. These native plants are methodically planted and preserved all over campus to aid in controlling stormwater, while helping to protect the natural ecosystem of the surrounding area. 

Green Infrastructure Walking Tour: Curious about other projects the University has installed on campus? The university actually has an Interactive Map of all its Green Infrastructure Projects located here:  Green Infrastucture Walking Tour at ODU . Check the map for other examples of how this urban campus is working to become the greenest and cleanest in the Commonwealth.

Ohio Creek Watershed Project

The City of Norfolk has one of the highest rates of relative sea-level rise in the country and levels have raised by half a foot since 1992—twice the global average. The city’s Office of Resilience has been working furiously by different means to tackle the threats posed by sea-level rise and working to cover all of the bases: not only the effects on property damage and transportation, but also community development. With this in mind, the jewel of the city’s holistic approach can be found in the Ohio Creek Watershed Project. The project, which will be funded by a $112-million grant from the National Disaster Competition, will include several different components to develop and fortify the coastal neighborhood. These components include: 1) installing a "resilience park" comprised of native plants; 2) elevating roads within the neighborhood to bypass flooding; 3) construction of a berm, a rock jetty and floodgates to protect the area from flooding; 4) stormwater pump stations to push excess water back into the Elizabeth River; and, 5) the construction of a living shoreline and wetlands that will absorb water and encourage biodiversity. In the spirit of community, project leaders have kept the Chesterfield Heights and Grandy Village neighborhoods in close contact, consulting community members for input on the design of the project’s focal point, the resilience park. The park will include basketball courts, a playground and even a fishing pier. Collaboration is key as contractors, universities, city government departments and non-profits are all working together with community members to ensure the project creates a coastal community that is resilient, united and whole.

Images:  SCAPE Landscape Architecture DPC  

Ryan Resilience Lab (Elizabeth River Project)

After construction is finished, the new headquarters for the Elizabeth River Project, named the Pru and Louis Ryan Resilience Lab, will stand out as the crown jewel of the Norfolk’s  aptly named “Eco Corridor” within the North Colley neighborhood, facing Knitting Mill Creek. The new three-story green facility, which was designed with insight from several different universities, will be the first urban redevelopment project in Virginia that was intentionally built in the floodplain to demonstrate environmental resilience to sea level rise. The lab will be built on a living shoreline and will be a dynamic example of the potential that exists with new developments in green architecture. The Ryan Resilience Lab will be a sustainable and environmentally-friendly building, incorporating solar energy, rain barrels, and green roof. The entire building will be elevated 10 feet above the ground and it will include floating platforms and storage buildings that rise with flooding, as it occurs in real-time. Keeping public education and community involvement in mind, the facility will contain a public “Learning Park” that will host a rotation of different exhibits showing the new innovations in resilient technology and allow easy waterfront access to visitors with a kayak launch. Breaking ground in 2022, the Ryan Resilience Lab will be a hallmark environmental asset that will allow a glimpse into the future of a truly resilient Norfolk.

Images: Work Program Architects