Dec 25 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Greg Edwards Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va.

Ralph "Abe" Lincoln has enlisted his delivery business, Richmond Express, in the Green Revolution.

He is not alone. Last year, the idea of going "green" began to catch on with more and more Virginians.

In 2007, for example, green -- energy-saving and environmentally friendly -- building techniques grew in acceptance, and state government produced its first comprehensive energy plan with a strong conservation component.

Businesses and individuals continued to gain recognition for constructing offices and homes according to green standards.

CarMax, for example, was singled out in April by the U.S. Green Building Council, for its world-class energy efficient and environmentally friendly headquarters building in Goochland County.

And in Henrico County, a developer announced this month that a warehouse and office complex would be built to LEED standards at East Parham Road and Ackley Avenue near a former Superfund site. LEED is the Green Building Council's rating system and stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Consumers helped make Dominion Virginia Power's discount program for energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs into a success and Virginians, such as Lincoln, bought hybrid vehicles.

Lincoln added two hybrid Toyota Priuses to his courier delivery fleet of four cargo vans and seven covered pickup trucks. He hopes to save about 2,050 gallons of gasoline yearly per Prius compared with his vans, which are rated about 14 miles per gallon.

A study released in June showed that Virginia was ranked 11th nationally in hybrid vehicles, with 240,000 hybrids taking to the roads in 2006, according to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. Hybrid numbers rose 21 percent increase from 2005.

Virginia businesses also produced alternative fuels for motor vehicles. During the past year, a biodiesel refinery began operation in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom and plans have been announced for a 55,000gallon ethanol plant in Hopewell.

Another step to the green side was Virginia's first Energy Star sales-tax holiday, which offered consumers a tax break during a four-day weekend in October on specific appliances designed to save energy and dollars spent on energy bills. Numbers for the taxes saved during the event are not yet in, officials say.

Energy conservation is a key part of the state energy plan developed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's administration at the direction of the General Assembly and released to the public in September.

The plan calls for reducing electricity consumption by 10 percent in Virginia by 2022 and for a 30 percent cut in greenhouse gases that produce climate change. The plan drew generally good marks from industry and the environmental community.

While Lincoln has joined the growing green revolution, he mentioned one virtually pollution-free device that he employs only as an afterthought: the bicycle. Some of his deliveries downtown are made by messengers pedaling bicycles. No petroleum burned. No exhaust fumes.

Contact Greg Edwards at (804) 649-6390 or gedwards@timesdispatch.com.