Each year, applications for the Texas Environmental Excellence Awards are judged by the  Governor’s Blue Ribbon Committee  according to a set of criteria, as determined by the TCEQ. For all categories except Large Business/Technical and Innovative Technology, the following criteria will be used:

• Innovative - Does the project contribute new information on how to improve the environment? Is it a new concept or process? Has it ever been executed successfully before? First time in Texas? Is it a creative solution to a problem?


• Beneficial - Does it make a significant contribution to improving the environment? Does it reduce health risk or conserve resources? Does it reduce a large volume or significant percentage of air contaminants, hazardous/toxic contaminants, solid waste, energy or water resources? Is it beneficial to the economy, the environment, or local community? Are people participating? Does it tackle a difficult task?


• Measurable - Describe your project's results. Can its contributions to environmental quality be measured? Is the measure specific?


• Educational - Does the project promote public awareness or education? Does it include employee training or technology transfer? Does it include “how to” guidelines/brochures/videos? Does it encourage other environmental efforts? Are employees involved in development and implementation? Does it serve as a model for other efforts?


• Cooperative Effort - Does this project involve a cooperative effort between multiple entities or organizations (city/state government, industries, civic groups, schools, citizens, associations)?


• Exceptional - Is the project self-sustaining or ongoing? Does it go significantly beyond legal requirements? Does it address other social needs, such as environmental equity? Does it solve a serious environmental problem or result in a significant positive impact on the environment? Does your project take place in a critical region, such as the border area?


• For Large Business/Technical or Innovative Technology categories, selection of the winning projects will be based on the following criteria:


• Innovative - Is significant research and development required? Is this the first application of this technology? Is it a new way to use existing technology? Is it state of the art or is it standard technology?


• Response to Regulations - Does the project go beyond compliance? Is it a response to pending regulations (within two years)? Is it regulatory compliant? Is it enforcement driven?


• Measurable - Describe your project's results. Can its contribution to environmental quality be measured? Is the measure specific? What are the amounts and percentage reductions in hazardous wastes, Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) releases and transfers, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), water and energy usage? All reductions should be compared with a baseline year with known amounts and be expressed in amount and percentage.


• Exceptional - Does it address high-priority environmental needs? Does it address worker or community safety concerns? Does your project take place in a critical region, nonattainment or near-nonattainment area?