As reported by NBC News. 

They all showed up, bragging they're green.

Governor Tim Kaine was on-hand, bragging they're all green too.

The gathering at the Virginia Beach Convention Center was to recognize the city as Virginia's first certified "Virginia Green" community.

One year ago, the Virginia Beach Convention Center was certified Virginia Green as environmentally friendly. From the glass designed to keep the building cool in the summer and warm in the winter, to hands free sinks and recycled paper towels, to all cleaning chemicals green-sealed and certified as environmentally friendly.

Governor Tim Kaine said, "Virginia Beach is accumulating all these restaurants, attractions, hotels, events, as part of the "green" principals in the tourism industry."

Little things, like convention center rooms not in use, have the lights off.

General Manager Courtney Dyer, "We're trying to save energy. When no one is in the rooms we turn off the lights. All the lights except the ones next to the exit."

Over 60 hospitality businesses are certified Virginia Green including Crocs' owner Laura Habr who accepted the Governor's proclamation, "We're all part of the green movement in the hospitality industry. Everything we do is to educate locals and tourists."

Back at the convention center there are recycling compactors. It's much cheaper to send recyclables to TFC Recycling.

Ed Farmer from TFC says, "We've been doing this 35 years...we were that early...now green is coming back to us."

Governor Kaine wants more localities to become Virginia Green.