West Orange Energy Diet

Small Australian Town Stands Up for the Tap

2009-07-18T12:26:00.001-04:00

July 16, 2009
BUNDANOON JOURNAL
Small Australian Town Stands Up for the Tap

By MERAIAH FOLEY
BUNDANOON, Australia — When the residents here voted this month to stop selling bottled water in town, they never expected to be thrust into the global spotlight.

With a nearly unanimous show of hands at a community meeting, the people in this small tourist town touched off a worldwide debate about the social and environmental effects of bottled water that has put the beverage industry on the defensive.

State and local officials across the United States have been phasing out the use of bottled water at government workplaces in recent years, citing a variety of concerns, including the energy used to make and transport the bottles and an erosion of public trust in municipal water supplies. But as far as campaigners are aware, Bundanoon is the first town in the world to stop all sales of bottled water.

Set in the cool highlands southwest of Sydney, Bundanoon is a sleepy town of tidy gardens and quaint cottages surrounded by the weekend estates of wealthy urbanites. It is the sort of place where strangers strike up conversations on park benches along the picturesque main street and townsfolk leave fresh flowers on the local war memorial.

According to Huw Kingston, the owner of Ye Olde Bicycle Shoppe and a leader of the “Bundy on Tap” campaign, the ban did not begin as an environmental crusade. It started when a bottling company sought permission to extract millions of liters of water from the local aquifer.

At first, residents were upset at the prospect of tanker trucks rumbling through their quiet streets. But as opposition grew, Mr. Kingston said many residents began to question the idea of trucking water about 100 miles north to a bottling plant in Sydney, only to transport it somewhere else — possibly even back to Bundanoon — for sale.

“We became aware, as a community, of what the bottled-water industry was all about,” Mr. Kingston said. “So the idea was floated that if we don’t want an extraction plant in our town, maybe we shouldn’t be selling the end product at all.”

A dozen or so activists got together and called a community meeting. Of the 356 residents who turned out to vote on the ban by a show of hands, only one objected.

The ban is entirely voluntary. But with the support of the public, the town’s six food retailers have agreed to pull bottled water from their shelves starting in September. They plan to recoup their losses by selling inexpensive, reusable bottles that can be filled at drinking fountains and filtered water dispensers to be placed around town.

Some of the town’s 2,500 residents say they support the plan because they worry about the effects of chemicals in plastic bottles; some view it as a positive demonstration against the water plant.

Others, however, are skeptical that the local council could afford to maintain the new drinking fountains, while still others worry about the health implications of leaving only sweetened alternatives on refrigerator shelves.

“I don’t see why water should be picked on,” said Trevor Fenton, a retired Bundanoon resident. “What I’d like is to see them get rid of all the soft drinks, but they’d never do that.”

Environmentalists have been gaining traction in the fight against bottled water. In addition to the new restrictions by state and local governments in the United States, many high-profile restaurateurs have also begun replacing fancy imported water with tap water. Recently, a United States Congressional committee debated whether to step up regulation on the bottled-water industry after reviewing two new studies that questioned whether bottled water was any safer than that from a tap.

The attention has irked the industry, which is worth around $60 billion a year worldwide and about $400 million a year in Australia. Industry groups say it is unfair to single out bottled water when many other consumer goods — like disposable diapers and imported produce, cheese and wine — have an equal or greater impact on the environment.

In Australia, most bottled water is produced domestically, in recyclable bottles that make up a very small proportion of landfill waste, according to Geoff Parker, the chief executive of the Australasian Bottled Water Institute.

“We need to keep the product in perspective,” Mr. Parker said. “There are tens of thousands of products in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, and we would suggest that there are a vast number that would have a larger carbon footprint than bottled water.”

The issue has touched a nerve. The day of the Bundanoon vote, the state government in New South Wales announced that it would stop buying bottled water, prompting the federal environment minister to urge other states to follow suit. The moves set off a flurry of newspaper editorials over the weekend and set the lines ablaze on talk radio shows across Australia.

The shopkeepers of Bundanoon say they have been amused by all the attention the ban has brought their way, and have even been offered a supply of specially branded reusable water bottles from a major European supplier.

Outside his newspaper and magazine store, Peter Stewart said the extra focus on Bundanoon was worth the $1,200 a year he expected to lose on bottled-water sales.

“That a group of people can get together over a few months and make headlines all over the world, it’s just amazing,” he said. “There’s a lot of pride in town.”

Sustainable Jersey Announcement

2009-07-17T22:07:00.002-04:00

Need Help Navigating Sustainable Jersey?

Is your town registered or thinking about registering for Sustainable Jersey?
Checkout the "Getting Started" guide
attached here and online at http://www.sustainablejersey.com/editor/doc/act61tb1sa6.pdf
for concise directions to help you navigate the registration and certification process.

Other announcements of interest

(Please contact these organizations directly,
if you have questions about these events/ happenings)

Information Workshop on the
Local Government Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant Program

On Thursday, July 23, 2009, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) will be holding an Information Workshop on the Local Government Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant Program. For information on this new grant program, please visit the web page at: http://www.nj.gov/dep/opsc/ghggrant.html

Workshop Details:

Date: Thursday, July 23, 2009
Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Public Hearing Room, NJDEP Headquarters
401 E. State Street,
Trenton, NJ 08625

The workshop will provide an overview of the grant program including local government eligibility, a description of all the types of projects eligible for the grant, funding levels, and the application process.

Seating is limited to 150 people. Preference will be given to eligible entities and their representatives. Only local government agencies are eligible to apply for funding under this Grant Program. A local government agency must be:

* a contracting unit under the Local Public Contacts Law
(N.J.S.A. 40A:11-2(1)) , i.e., municipality, county or local authority;
* a board of education under the Public School Contracts Law
(N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-2a); or
* a county college under the County College Contracts Law
(N.J.S.A. 18A:64A-25.2b).

This event is FREE; however, registration is mandatory to attend. To register for the event, please send your contact information, including name, address, phone number, email address and name of the local government agency you are representing to ghggrantsregistration@dep.state.nj.us.

Please note that on July 20, 2009 a similar workshop has been organized ONLY on the Land Use Planning and Transportation eligible related projects. The July 20th workshop is FULL. More information on this workshop can be found at: http://www.njfuture.org/Media/Docs/July%2020,%202009%20dep%20workshop.pdf

Global Warming by the Numbers

2009-02-13T17:23:00.002-05:00

Global Warming by the Numbers

Friday the 13th just got a little scarier. Here are 13 facts about the realities of global warming. Even Jason would be scared.

The numbers speak for themselves -- we must make 2009 the showdown year for global warming action. There is no time to lose.

You can help by spreading the word any way you can -- through email, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, whatever works for you.
Take Action
Tell a Friend
35%

Increase in the global carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels since the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1992.
388.57 ppm

Average concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in May 2008, a record high.
541 – 970 ppm

The projected concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by 2100 under a business as usual scenario where we don't dramatically reduce global warming emissions.
260 – 280 ppm

Average concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere before industrial emissions.
50 – 200 years

Length of time carbon dioxide stays in the earth's atmosphere before it is absorbed into carbon sinks.
1000 years

Length of time changes in the earth's surface temperature, rainfall, and sea level will remain even after carbon dioxide emissions are completely stopped.
34%

Percentage that 2008's Arctic seasonal sea ice melt outpaced normal levels.
70%

Increase in the rate of Greenland's ice melt over the last five years.
1.7 days

Number of days earlier seasons are coming than 50 years ago.
1.5 million

Number of acres of forests in Colorado destroyed by the pine beetle, which is better able to survive warmer winters and is wrecking havoc in America's western forests.
$427 million

Amount spent by the oil and coal industries in the first six months of 2008 in political contributions, lobbying expenditures and advertising to oppose climate action.
0

Number of global warming bills passed by the Senate.
0

Number of global warming bills passed by the House.

Sources:

* NOAA CO2 Trends
* IPCC Third Assessment Report
* Carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere
* Atmosphere, Climate & Environment Information Programme
* ESRL News: New Study Shows Climate Change Largely Irreversible
* Arctic Sea Ice News & Analysis
* An Accurate Picture Of Ice Loss In Greenland
* Pine Beetles: Worse Than You Thought
* Early seasons : article : Nature Reports Climate Change
* Hill Heat : Oil and Coal Industries Spending Two Million Dollars a Day to Shape Political Debate

mercury-absorbent container lining for broken CFLs

2008-11-07T12:30:00.002-05:00

PROVIDENCE, R.I., June 27 (UPI) -- Brown University researchers in
Rhode Island said they've discovered a material that can be used to
absorb mercury from compact fluorescent lamps.

A team led by engineering Professor Robert Hurt has used the
nanomaterial to create a mercury-absorbent container lining for broken
CFLs, the university said Friday in a release.

CFLs contain 3 milligrams to 5 milligrams of mercury, which can be
released as vapor when a bulb is broken.

The mercury-capturing lining can be attached to the inside of
store-bought CFL packaging that can be placed over the area where a
bulb has been broken.

The researchers also created a lining for plastic bags that soaks up
the mercury left over from the CFL shards that are thrown away. The
packaging and lined plastic bags can be safely discarded and recycled,
the report said.

"It's a complete management system to deal with a bulb broken in the
home," said Hurt, director of Brown's Institute for Molecular and
Nanoscale Innovation.

The 2008 Tahoe Hybrid is available with better fuel economy then any of his competitors.(

2008-09-17T01:04:00.001-04:00

The Hybrid taken to its logical extreme.

The 2008 Tahoe Hybrid is available with better fuel economy then any of his competitors.(1) So why mess with a good thing? To make it better, of course. Seems the Green Car Journal agrees — they've named the 2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid(2) the Green Car of the Year®.(3)

America's first full-size hybrid SUV(4) is available in two- or four-wheel drive and provides the power and capability you expect from a utility vehicle while delivering efficiency you never imagined. Its hybrid propulsion system is designed to operate in three ways: electric power, engine power, or any combination of electric and engine power. When you need the extra muscle of Tahoe's Vortec V8, it kicks in seamlessly. When you need to conserve, two small and lightweight 60 kW motors get the job done.

And here's the big finish: When you pair the two-mode technology with our Active Fuel Management system, the Tahoe Hybrid offers up to 50% better city fuel economy over the non-hybrid Tahoe.(5) That's one hardworking hybrid.

Climate change could cost N.J. billions

2008-08-04T14:58:00.001-04:00

Climate change could cost N.J. billions

By Cynthia Henry

Inquirer Staff Writer
Climate change will wallop New Jersey by 2100, endangering lives and causing tens of billions of dollars in losses, according to a recent report issued by the University of Maryland.

The study, part of a project that looked at eight states, was prepared for the National Conference of State Legislators. It follows an international shift toward research on the economic consequence of climate change and adaptation policies rather than how to prevent the change.

"If there's a bottom line in this research, it's that delaying action carries a significant cost," said Matthias Ruth, director of the university's Center for Integrative Environmental Research and the study's author.

If global warming continues unabated, the report predicts:

New Jersey's coast, including Atlantic City, will flood every one to two years, potentially endangering 60 percent of the state's population and threatening $106 billion in real estate.

Heavily paved Camden will broil in summer, driving up heat-related deaths 55 percent by 2020.

Lacking cold winters, Jersey orchards will stop bearing apples and berries.

Native birch, beech and maple trees will disappear from the state's forests.

Low-lying access roads could flood, cutting off ports and jeopardizing $100 million in commercial fishing and $42 billion in manufacturing.

"New Jersey will experience among the hardest hits" in the nation, said Ruth, whose organization also researched the economic effect of global warming on Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada and Ohio. Four more case studies are due out in the fall.

In the last century, New Jersey has experienced rising temperatures, increased precipitation, more frequent severe weather, and a sea level rising at nearly twice the average rate worldwide, according to the report, made public on July 23.

If climate change progresses unchecked, the study predicted, an estimated 1 percent to 3 percent of the state's 210-mile shoreline will be inundated by 2100.

As conditions worsen, tourists will stay away, resulting in an economic loss of more than $3.7 billion a year as early as 2017, researchers concluded. Also lost would be 40,000 jobs.

Addressing beach erosion would cost $6 billion over the next 50 years, the report said. Ruth dismissed measures such as beach replenishment as Band-Aids.

"Minor adjustments here or there ain't going to cut it," he said. "This is a wound that's about to break open."

Ruth said states should serve as public policy laboratories providing lessons to the federal government. California, Maryland and Massachusetts are leading the way.

He predicted larger and more frequent storms and hurricanes, and floods that roads, bridges and homes could not withstand.

By 2050, catastrophic storms "will occur once every 30 years or once every 40 years, but we're still designing as if they occur every 100 years," Ruth said.

New Jersey has been "relatively aggressive" in its policies to address global warming, said Judi Greenwald, director of innovative solutions at the Pew Center for Global Climate Change in Washington.

It is a member of the multistate Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a market-based program to reduce power-plant emissions, Greenwald said. It also has a renewable portfolio standard to encourage production of cleaner electricity and a "clean-car" program to reduce vehicle emissions.

Last year, Gov. Corzine signed a law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.

"But everybody has to do more," Greenwald said. "The climate is more vulnerable than we thought. We're seeing changes faster than we expected to see them."

Ruth said he sympathized with area farmers who see some benefit to global warming. But he predicted that gains resulting from one decade of longer growing seasons would be offset by the end of the century by continually rising temperatures, pests and diseases.

Dairy cows would suffer from heat stress, according to the report, and apples and berries would fail to develop properly.

Camden's summer temperatures are now 7 to 10 degrees higher than those of nearby suburbs. Over time, Camden and other cities would become dangerously hot, especially for those with respiratory and other diseases.

Ruth recommends incorporating more green space into urban planning.

"Historically, when we looked at the climate change challenge, we asked how much it was going to cost to cut carbon emissions, totaled the expenses, and threw up our hands at the expense; so we didn't do anything," Ruth said. "This study shows there is a cost to inaction."

To read "Economic Impacts of Climate Change on New Jersey," go to http://tinyurl.com/654722
Contact staff writer Cynthia Henry at 856-779-3970 or chenry@phillynews.com.

"The Art of Recycling" & Energy Diet Fair

2008-06-05T16:21:00.006-04:00

"The Art of Recycling" & Energy Diet Fair June 21, 2008. 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM. Essex Green, West Orange, NJ

Technology Smooths the Way for Home Wind-Power Turbines

2008-04-15T14:36:00.002-04:00

April 15, 2008
Technology Smooths the Way for Home Wind-Power Turbines
By JOHN CASEY

Wind turbines, once used primarily for farms and rural houses far from electrical service, are becoming more common in heavily populated residential areas as homeowners are attracted to ease of use, financial incentives and low environmental effects.

No one tracks the number of small-scale residential wind turbines — windmills that run turbines to produce electricity — in the United States. Experts on renewable energy say a convergence of factors, political, technical and ecological, has caused a surge in the use of residential wind turbines, especially in the Northeast and California.

“Back in the early days, off-grid electrical generation was pursued mostly by hippies and rednecks, usually in isolated, rural areas,” said Joe Schwartz, editor of Home Power magazine. “Now, it’s a lot more mainstream.”

“The big shift happened in the last three years,” Mr. Schwartz said, because of technology that makes it possible to feed electricity back to the grid, the commercial power system fed by large utilities. “These new systems use the utility for back up power, removing the need for big, expensive battery backup systems.”

Some of the “plug and play” systems can be plugged directly into a circuit in the home electrical panel. Homeowners can use energy from the wind turbine or the power company without taking action.

Federal wind energy incentives introduced after the oil crisis of the late 1970s helped drive large-scale turbine use. But the federal government does not currently provide a tax credit for residential-scale wind energy, as it does for residential solar applications, according to the American Wind Energy Association, a trade group for wind-power developers and equipment manufacturers.

A number of states, however, have incentive programs. In New York, “we have incentive levels for different installations, but a homeowner could expect to get approximately $4,000 per electric meter for a wind turbine,” said Paul Tonko, president of the New York State Renewable Energy Development Authority, which administers the state’s renewable energy incentives. “That would cover about 30 to 40 percent of the project cost.”

“Certainly, the technology has improved, and the cost per project is coming down,” Mr. Tonko said. “Turbines for farms and residential applications are seeing much more activity.”

States have also enacted so-called net metering laws that require utilities to buy excess power made by a residential turbine at retail rather than wholesale prices. “Many of the barriers to residential turbines have been lowered, but net-metering removes what may be the biggest barrier,” said Jim Green, a senior project leader at the Wind Technology Center, part of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo.

“Along with state incentives, net metering entirely changes the economics of residential wind generation,” Mr. Green said.

Ecological concerns, more than cost savings may drive many new residential turbine installations. “People want to reduce their carbon footprints,” Mr. Tonko said. “They’re concerned about climate change and they want to reduce our reliance of foreign sources of fuels.”

Mr. Schwartz, the editor, said that even with the economic benefits, it can take 20 years to pay back the installation cost.

“This isn’t about people putting turbines in to lower their electric bills as much as it is about people voting with their dollars to help the environment in some small way,” he said.

Despite growing interest, some hurdles will not change. Whether a residential turbine saves a money or just eases ecological guilt depends largely on the wind . The wind energy available in any given location is called the “wind resource.”

Even if the wind is strong, zoning and aesthetics can pose problems. “Turbines work in rural areas with strong wind,” Mr. Schwartz said. “But in urban and suburban areas, neighbors are never happy to see a 60- to 120-foot tower going up across the street.”

Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company

2008-02-23T10:08:00.001-05:00

WEST ORANGE ENERGY DIET FAIR EXHIBITORS EXPANDED LIST WITH CONTACT INFORMATION

Exhibitors Booth/Table Number/LOCATION

Alper Realty 26 G
Eco-Friendly Realtor
53 Valley Street
Maplewood, NJ 07040
973-580-1151
Contact: Larry Chiger
larry@westorangecondo.com
www.westorangecondo.com

Ambit Energy 30 G
Energy Alternatives/Fundraising Opportunity
P.O. Box 2515
East Orange, NJ 07019
973-674-8880
Contact: Najah Riker
income@ambitworkathome.com
www.workathome.energy526.com/ny/en/

American Energy Technologies 8 G
Commercial and Industrial Solar Photovoltaic Integrator
50 Sequoia Place
Wayne, NJ 07470
973-839-1100
Contact: Bruce Neely
bneely@aetsolar.net

Commerce Bank 13 C
425 Pleasant Valley Way
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-669-1649
Contact: William Johnson
willliam.johnson@yesbank.com

DMT Automotive Enterprises/Toyota-Autoland Outside
Hybrid Car Dealership
170 Route 22
East Springfield, NJ 07081
973-467-6190
Contact: Russ Macholl
russ.macholl@1800autoland.com

Essex County Environmental Center 21 C
County Service
621 B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ 07068
973-228-8776
Contact: Kelly Wenzel, Program Director
kwenzel@parks.essexcountynj.org
The Essex County Environmental is a facility of the County Park System, located in West Essex Park. The Center is dedicated to creating awareness understanding and appreciation of the environment and its relationship to Essex County residents. We offer a variety of programs for children, families and adults.

Essex Greens Clean Energy Campaign 35 G
Non-Profit
500 Broughton Avenue
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
973-338-0987
Contact: Ted Glick
indpol@igc.org

EVCO Mechanical Corporation Table 2 G Booth 101 G
Energy Conservation Solutions
44 Standish Avenue
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-324-7000
Contact: Scott Schultz
sschultz@evcomechanical.com
EVCO is a leader in money-saving energy conservation solutions. From solar electric to high-efficiency Energy Recovery Units, we help our clients realize the full potential from their buildings systems while both saving dollars and conserving limited resources.

Senior Horticultural Program-Friendship and Peace Society 19 C
36 Walnut Avenue
Millburn, NJ 07046
973-379-5488
Contact: Maya Bloom
mayabloom@yahoo.com
www.Friendship-and-Peace.org
Available to instruct horticultural classes through out the Essex County Master Gardener Program www.mgessex.org
Natural jewelry available by appointment.

Green by Design TV 25 C
TV Media focused on exploring, documenting and developing Green Living efforts and living sustainable lives.
P.O. Box 109
Montclair, NJ 07042
201-452-5488
Contact: Greg and Connie Mattison
cmatti@comcast.net
www.greenbydesigntv.com
GBDTV offers sponsorships for the grassroots TV series spotlighting sustainable living. Alternative distribution through the website as video streams and PodCasts with plans for more. Currently broadcasting to 2 million homes in the NJ tri-state area on governmental, educational, and community access stations.

Green Elements Healthy Home Store 20 C
Environmentally Friendly Home Building Supplies
906 Main Street
Boonton, NJ 07005
973-998-9811
Contact: Suzie Blodgett
sblodgett@greenelementsdesign.com
www.greenelementsdesign.com
Selling exclusively non-toxic environmentally-friendly green design and building supplies including paints, flooring, counter tops, tiles and cabinetry hardware.
Green lifestyle shop offers organic mattresses, beddings, linens, home accessories, green lifestyle and fair trade gifts. Live Well!

Green Living Solutions 41 C
Home energy audits, green lifestyle education/coaching, sustainable renovations consulting (e.g. water conservation, energy, etc)
212 Lorraine Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07043
973-508-4954
Contact: Gray Russell
grayrussell07043@yahoo.com
www.greenlivingsolutionsnj.com
An exciting new home energy and lifestyle consulting group which will help you discover the best ways to save energy, save money on energy bills, and save the planet by reducing your carbon footprint.
Green Living solutions will show you how, step-by-step, clearly and simply.
Gray is Environmental Coordinator for the Township of Montclair, providing information to the municipality, residents, schools, businesses and waste prevention and recycling. His workshop today is focused on Home Energy Tips and creating sustainability where we live. Educational speaking engagements are available on a variety of pertinent topics with local and global focus.

Greensender, LLC 7 G
Green Gift Store
515 Valley Street, Suite 120
Maplewood, NJ 07040
973-821-4213
Contact: Mike Aaron
maaron@greensender.com
The place to find the perfect green gift for any occasion!

Green Technologies, LLC 42 G
Home Energy Audits/Soy-based Insulation/Educational programs for returning military personnel.
2610 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10030
201-881-6158
Contact: Charles J. Jones
greentechnologiesllc@verizon.net
Offering home energy analysis/energy audits/green building consulting, infa-red imaging, soy-based, spray foam insulation applications, developing programs for returning military personnel in green technologies.

Gregory Elementary School PTA 14 G
27 Undercliff Terrace
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-219-7687
Contact: Tammy Williams-Blackwell
twmsblackwell@comcast.net

Hackensack Riverkeeper, Inc. Booth 102 G
Eco-program/environmental advocacy
231 Main Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
201-968-0808
Contact: Capt. Hugh Carola
hugh@hackensakriverkeeper.org
www.hackensackriverkeeper.org
Our mission is to provide representation for the natural living resources for the Hackensack River.

Home Image 22 G
Energy Saving Devices
2421 Long Beach Road
Oceanside, NY 11572
516-284-8206
Contact: Eytan Konigsberg
eytan@humidexhome.com
www.hydrocareusa.com
Hydrocare takes care of hard water problems.
www.energousa.com
Selling Energo, Hydrocare, Humidex

Hop 2 Green, Inc. 11 G
Environmentally-Friendly Office Equipment
3917 Amboy Road
Staten Island, NY 10308
718-967-6900
Contact: Sharon Voto
svoto@legendtechnologies.net
sales@hop2green.comwww.hop2green.com
We invite you to join us to bring sustainability to the workplace!
A RAFFLE WILL BE HELD ON EARTH DAY - VISIT US AT THE FAIR AND ENTER AT THE TABLE.

Liberty Middle School Science Club 33 C

Mayor’s Office/Municipal Clerk Office/NPP 17 C
66 Main Street
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-325-4100
Contact: Shariann Quirk
squirk@westorange.org
www.westorange.org

New Jersey Audubon Society 9 G
621 A Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ 07068
973-226-6082
Contact: Laurie Sindlinger
laurie.sindlinger@njaudubon.org
www.njaudubon.org
Provides environmental education programs to schools, scouts, and other community groups in Essex County and surrounding areas.
The Audubon Society has been fostering environmental awareness and a conservation ethic while preserving wildlife and natural systems since 1897.

NJ Smart Start 28 G
N. J. Clean Energy Program, Smart Start Buildings
Commercial & Industrial
3350 Highway 138 West, Wall Twp., NJ 07719
Contact: William Steets
732-556-9190
bsteets@eamenergy.com
Your power to save, at home, for business and for the future

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities 29 G
2 Gateway Center
Newark, NJ 07102
866-NJSMART
Contact: Victoria Fisher
www.nj.gov/bpu

New Jersey Clean Energy Program 27 G
Conservation Services Group
Iselin, NJ 08830
732-218-3419
Contact: Michele Maybaum
michele.maybaum@csgrp.com
NJ State Residential energy efficiency conservation programs.
From heating and cooling equipment rebates to in-home energy assessments.
From information on Energy Star qualified products to Power Tips for saving energy and money.
From energy usage calculators to financial incentives...NJ's Clean Energy program gives residents the Power to Save!
www.njcleanenergy.com

NJ Transit 12 G
One Penn Plaza East
Newark, NJ 07105
973-491-8071
Contact: Sallie Morris
snorris@njtransit.com
www.njtransit.com

North Jersey NARI (Nat’l Assoc. of the Remodeling Industry) 39 G
Non-Profit
P.O. Box 14 TCB
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-736-1680
Contact: Micky Wagner
A remodeling resource for homeowners and professional members alike, providing information, education and mentorship to the community at large.

Optimax Environmental Solutions 3 G
Home Consulting/Solutions
640 Longview Road
South Orange, NJ 07079
862-307-6394
Contact: Benjamin Kant
www.optimax1.com
info@optimax1.com
Outstanding, reasonable and commonsense service.
Indoor air quality consulting mold remediation, basement/foundation waterproofing, water, fire, flood, damage restoration drainage solutions.
Airfree Air purifiers: silent, economical, no filters, no UV, safe, ozone-free, ion-free, low-energy

Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School 31 C
110 South Orange Road
Livingston, NJ 07039
973-597-1115 x1177
Contact: William Landau, Chair, Science Department
wlandau@rkyhs.org
Displaying an outpouring of items that were taken and discussed at Kushner as part of an Environmental Issues Club.
"Projects that people should be aware of for their environmental consciousness
and concern."

Reliable Wood Products/Reliable Paper Recycling Booth 110 G
1 Caven Point Ave
Jersey City, NJ 07305
201-206-9865
Contact: Lou Troiano
www.reliablewodproducts.com
www.reliablepaperrecycling.com

Remax Village Square 14 G
Realtor
516 Valley Road
Upper Montclair, NJ 07043
973-731-4714
Contact: Tammy Williams-Blackwell

Renewal By Andersen Booth 100 G
Green Window Sales
70 Jackson Drive, Suite A
Cranford, NJ 07016
908-497-1020
Contact: Geri Kruszewksi
gerik@rbacentralnj.com
www.renewalbbyandersen.com
Renewal by Andersen is the FIRST and ONLY replacement window that is Green Seal Certified. Our windows are manufactured and packaged in an environmentally conscious manner.
Start to finish, we do it all - manufacture, sell, install, service and guarantee our products.

Rock Spring Water Co. Inc. 15 G
Water Sales
479 Northfield Avenue
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-731-4554
Contact: Russel Barling
rockspringwater@aol.com
Fill your carafe with free Rock Spring Water in Gym and Cafe
West Orange's only water source and with a fascinating and unusual history that began with creating an exodus to West Orange in search of health and well-being!
www.rockspringwater.com

Safonique, Llc. 10G
Green Cleaning Products
P.O. Box 1776
Thomasville, GA 31799
347-524-8259
Contact: Patricia A. Boswell
patriciaboswell95@yahoo.com
www.safonique.com
An exciting new improved product that for all your laundry needs
"Free your laundry and your mind will follow."
Selling 100 oz. bottle of Safonique green laundry product

Shaklee 23G
Eco Friendly Products
122 Union Avenue
Maplewood, NJ 07740
973-768-4436
Contact: Nick Turalksi
nickturalski@bhsecurityonlne.com
www.shaklee.com
Get clean- Safe for you, your home, and your planet!

Sola Design, LLC
Eco-friendly Booth 104 G
Alternative Home Energy/Solar Energy
36 Ferndale Road
North Caldwell, NJ 07006
973-762-2880
Contact: Dan Gallegher
dan@sola-design.com
www.sola-design.com
Design and installation of "state of the science" daylighting systems as part of a total energy savings package. We provide total energy audits, detailed lighting studies, payback analysis and comprehensive daylighting packages that save up to 50% of your total energy costs.
Our passive solar daylighting systems are 99.7% efficient and can deliver pure sunshine throughout most buildings.
Free perfect daylight becomes your primary lighting system.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce 38 G
Humanitarian/Community Effort
P.O. Box 83 TCB
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-731-0360
Contact: Micky Wagner
mail@westorangechamber.com
www.westorangechamber.com
"In the business of business relationships."

West Orange Fire Department 36 G
415 Valley Road
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-325-4175
Contact: Micky Wagner
firedept@westorange.org
Fire suppression/fire protection services
State-mandated commercial fire inspections
Smoke detector/carbon monoxide/fire extinguishers/inspections for residential property sales
National Code Enforcement
Emergency Medical Services

West Orange High School 34 C
Science Club
51 Conforti Ave.
West Orange, NJ 07052
www.westorange.k12.us/Schools/WOHS/default.htm
Selling quality "green" products/clothing for fund raising

West Orange Public Library 4 G
Municipal/Community Service
6 Mt. Pleasant Ave.
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-736-6198
Contact: Renee Riezer
admin@westorangelibrary.org
"Where Bright Ideas Begin"

West Orange Township Recycling 24 G
Recycling Center
590 Mt. Pleasant Ave.
West Orange, NJ 07052
Contact: Recycling Coordinator
973-325-4205
www.westorange.org

Whole Foods Market Booth 120 Cafe
Retail Green, Eco-Friendly
235 Prospect Avenue
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-669-3196
Contact: Rachel Bogan
www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Open 7 days 8 am - 10 pm
WFM Coffee & Apples donated by Whole Foods Market at booth 120
Selling Metal Water Bottles & $1.00 Reusable "Green" shopping bags.

Ysabel’s Beauty Salon 40 C
Full-service Family Salon
271 Main Street
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-324-2662
Contact: Ysabel Strowe
ysabelbeautuysalon@gmail.com
Full-service family salon always striving to utilize green and sustainable methods and products
Bilingual English/Spanish speaking catering to a diverse clientele.
Unique product lines which can enhance all types of hair.

West Orange Energy Diet "Czar" [click here]

2008-02-20T23:40:00.003-05:00

Jen McDonnell Vice Chair of the West Orange Energy Diet interviews Max Manshel, Deputy Mayor for the Energy Diet in December 2007.

West Orange Energy Diet Fair

2008-01-28T01:58:00.000-05:00

Art by Roosevelt Middle School Student

West Orange Energy Diet Fair

Learn how to Reduce Energy Consumption

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24

LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL

Map

12 noon - 5 PM

(Snow date March 2)

Free Admission - Open to All

Interactive Workshops Demonstrations

Kids Games & Activities

Green Vendors

Giveaways and More

Keynote Speakers: Former Gov. JAMES FLORIO, Mayor JOHN MCKEON

VENDORS: Whole Foods Market, GeoGenix, US Green Building Council/NJ, Smart Start (Clean Energy), Vista Energy Group, American Energy Technologies

Big Belly Trash compacter

2007-12-27T16:23:00.000-05:00

A "BigBelly" Solar Compactor.

It has ton of benefits---it will save the city time and money, it will keep litter from overflowing, and discourage illegal dumping of trash.

Tim Mc Carthy, Public Works, City of Boston

Big Belly Trash compacter

2007-12-27T15:59:00.000-05:00

Tip of the month [December]

2007-12-04T01:39:00.001-05:00

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Home Electronics

The Holidays are upon us and shopping we will go! What are the people on your holiday list asking for this year? Electronic devises are usually one of the more popular holiday gifts. From cell phones to video games, CD players, TVs, and computers, we are likely to purchase at least one new electronic device this month.

I looked into what's on my family's electronic wish list and found the following:

What's hot for the "20 something" are the iPod nano and laptop computers.

For the tweens and teens Wii or Xbox Game systems are the coveted present, while my brother wants a new desktop personal computer to keep his business up to date.

My sister and brother – in - law are considering a new camcorder to take pictures of their baby due at Christmas and a either a High Definition or Plasma TV to watch those videos.

And of course even Grandma and Grandpa need an update from the old VCR to a new easy to use DVD player. They want to watch those baby videos too!

As my family and yours shop for our electronic items this holiday season we should keep a Green Theme in mind. Cutting energy usage not only helps the earth but also helps our finances. Look for the Energy Star label on what ever electronics you buy, including Christmas tree lights.

Which of the items desired by my family members use the most energy? Large screen, high definition or plasma televisions are the greatest energy guzzlers and will add dollars onto your electric bill. But you can be smart about what TV you purchase. Several reliable organizations have run tests on various makes and models to determine their energy consumption. Information compiled by CNET (www.cnet.com) found a Sharp LC 65 inch TV uses 584 Kw of energy turned on and 76 Kw turned off. A better choice might be a Westinghouse 47 inch which uses 207 Kw while turned on and 1.11 Kw turned off. If my sister and her husband buy the Westinghouse instead of the Sharp they can save about $160.00 per year, savings they can use toward that camcorder they want. You know they'll want lots of videos of that cute baby!

When it comes to computers the "20 somethings" have the right idea. Laptops consume less energy than desk top computers and their portability is a great asset. They can go easily from home to office or to meetings at the local coffee shop. So, big brother, take the kids advice and get a laptop for yourself. Not only will you save money but you'll be much more hip.

HardcoreWare.net, a website dedicated to providing in depth reviews of computer and gaming systems, tested the teens and tweens much desired X Box 360 and Wii consoles along with Playstation 3. During an active 30 minute gaming session using similar types of games the results highly favored the Nintendo Wii system. Wii used 17.8 Kw while Xbox 360 came in at 185 Kw and Playstation 3 topped the others using 198.6 Kw of energy. Wii scored best while consoles were idle too, using only 13.5 Kw , while Xbox used 157 Kw and Playstation scored the worst at 177.7 Kw . So, make sure the kids turn off their system when they aren't actively playing! Save Energy, save the planet and save money!

The younger crowd can also be environmentally friendly by purchasing the sun powered Solio Charger to keep those iPods up and running. The Tread Flip, a clever case recently developed for the iPod nano, is made from recycled rubber tires. It's a nice combination in keeping on the edge of the Green movement.

It looks like Grandma and Grandpa's DVD player is on the lower scale of energy use. But be careful, as DVD players use "phantom" energy. The US government Energy Star program states that "Americans spend more money to power DVD players when turned off than when actually in use." Hard to believe, isn't it? They also state "If all DVD sales carried the Energy Star, it would mean 6 billion pounds less air pollution — the same as taking 75,000 cars off the road". So buy a DVD player with the Energy Star label and unplug the one you have when you're not watching a movie.

Shop smart and remember: if you don't have time to research the products you want to purchase go with the ENERGY STAR (www.energystar.gov) label for savings on energy and money. Happy Shopping and Happy Holidays!

Patti Regan Taylor for the West Orange Energy Diet
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Office of Max Manshel, Deputy Mayor for Energy Diet
34 Collamore Terrace
West Orange, N.J. 07052-3919
(201) 455-6552

West Orange Energy Diet Tip of the Month

2007-09-21T12:27:00.000-04:00

Energy Diet – Tip of the Month

In January of this year, Mayor John McKeon launched the West Orange Energy Diet. Many of us are now on board to reduce our personal and family energy consumption by 20% within a year. If you didn’t start in January, now is the perfect time to look at your energy usage and see where you might save, not only energy, but also money! Both Mayor Mc Keon and Max Manshel, West Orange Deputy Mayor in charge of the town’s Energy Diet, have been working hard to get the message out.

We are now introducing the “Tip of the Month” to spread some ideas and tips on energy conservation and the 3 R’s of cutting energy usage – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

Reduce Your Use

A few years ago I was vacationing with my family at a resort in the Dominican Republic. The white beach and aqua blue ocean were beautiful and inviting – just the tropical vacation I was waiting for. After the first day or two, I began walking the beach in the early morning, one of my favorite things to do. I passed several men busily picking up garbage from the beach. As I continued my walk beyond the resort area, I was suddenly surrounded by empty plastic water bottles along with scattered other garbage. I was astounded by their numbers! The beautiful beach was littered with plastic bottles which apparently washed in with the tides. The scenic walk I was expecting had taken an unpleasant turn. Where did all these empty plastic bottles come from? This was my first indication that all was not well with our bottled water usage.

As many of you have been hearing in the news, there are problems associated with our reliance on bottled water. Don’t take me wrong, I use bottled water too. I think there is a time and a place for it, but I made a conscious effort this past summer to decrease my use of bottled water. Now I often carry around my reusable container of filtered tap water. Not only have I saved money, but I’ve greatly decreased my use of plastic bottles and my car is cleaner (well – a little cleaner)!

Some stats on bottled water:

-The bottled water industry has grown by leaps and bounds in the past 10 years.

-86% of plastic water bottles end up in the garbage (and I think a lot of them find there way to that beach in the Dominican Republic). That’s 38 billion discarded per year in the US alone!

-The bottled water industry uses 1.5 billion barrels of oil each year in creating these plastic bottles. Transporting bottled water to the market uses even more energy.

-About 25% of bottled water is actually tap water. Some big suppliers of bottled water made the news this summer as this fact came out into the open. So much for pure mountain springs.

-The water used in bottled water is less regulated and has fewer tests for contaminants than municipal water sources.

So, on your Energy Diet, West Orange encourages you to look at your bottled water habits and see what you can do personally to reduce your use!

Please, be sure to Recycle the bottles you do use!

You can also recycle other plastic. Containers with a neck such as those used for milk, juice, laundry detergent, etc. should go out with your recycling. Don’t forget: glass, aluminum, tin, steel and bi - metal containers are also recycled in West Orange!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Patti Regan Taylor, Member West Orange Energy Diet Committee