Greensboro honors local sustainability leaders at Live Green Awards

Greensboro’s Office of Sustainability & Resilience (OSR) celebrated community leaders, organizations, and city staff at the fourth annual Live Green Awards on January 16, 2026, recognizing efforts that advance sustainability and resilience across the city. The awards showcased projects with direct implications for energy, stormwater management, waste diversion, and local job training.

Energy Wise honoree Robert Powell was recognized for long-term leadership in solar energy and sustainable architectural design, a designation that spotlights local expertise as the city pursues cleaner energy investments. The In Touch with Nature Award went to the Greensboro Downtown Greenway under Dabney Sanders’ stewardship, noted for environmental stewardship and design features such as solar-powered lighting and stormwater treatment systems that reduce runoff into local streams.

The Sustainability Champion Award resulted in a tie, with A Simple Gesture honored for food rescue work that diverts edible food from landfills and Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina recognized for large-scale diversion of materials through reuse and recovery programs. Those projects have immediate local effects: reducing landfill volumes, cutting greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste, and supplying materials and food to community partners.

Forge Greensboro, represented by Tiffany Jacobs, received the Unity in Sustainability Award for inclusive sustainability programming and workforce development that connects residents with green-economy jobs. In the Waste Not category, Masey DeMoss and Ashley Robinson from the city’s Solid Waste & Recycling Department were recognized for outreach on recycling and composting—efforts that aim to increase household participation in diversion programs and reduce contamination rates.

City officials framed the 2026 Live Green Awards as a standalone event to provide deeper recognition for nominees and winners, signaling a renewed emphasis on elevating local initiatives. For residents, the awards highlight tangible projects and local leaders whose work translates into cleaner streets, safer waterways, new employment pathways, and lower waste costs for the community.

The event serves as both recognition and a roadmap: projects honored here can be scaled or replicated elsewhere in Guilford County if city officials and partners track measurable outcomes and report progress. Residents looking to engage with local sustainability efforts can follow OSR programs and watch for upcoming outreach on recycling, composting, stormwater initiatives, and workforce training. The Live Green Awards put a spotlight on homegrown solutions; the next step is converting recognition into measurable results that benefit Greensboro neighborhoods.