Greener Bloomfield

We’re back to our last-Thursday-of-the-month meeting schedule, and we have a great one. We’ll be touring a home that’s been remodeled “green”, nearly complete, and targeted for LEED certification. It includes a geothermal heating and cooling system, tankless hot water heater, energy-efficient lighting and plumbing, zero-VOC paints, and closed cell foam insulation, to name just a few things. The tour will begin at 7:00 pm on Thursday, January 28, and to protect the homeowners’ privacy, the address will only be sent to those who RSVP. Many of the people who worked on the project will be attending to answer questions.

January 20th, 2010 | Tags: Events, Green Building, Greener Bloomfield, Homes, Lighting, Meetings, Water | Category: Events, Featured, Green Building, Meetings | Leave a comment

Montclair’s Environmental Affairs office and Community Green present “The Story of Stuff” and “Trashed”, a double feature opening 2010’s monthly Green Film Series, examining a fundamental element of modern American culture – the creation and disposal of what we call “waste.”

The screening will be hosted at the Montclair Public Library’s Main Branch, 50 South Fullerton Avenue, Thursday, January 21st at 6:30 p.m. All events at the Library are free. The Green Film Series continues throughout 2010, on the third Thursday of each month. RSVP at Meetup.com. More »

January 20th, 2010 | Tags: Events, Local groups, Recycling, Waste | Category: Events | Leave a comment

The Great West Essex Toy Swap is an opportunity to bring your old toys to exchange for different toys your kids will love. It’s a great way to ensure your child’s previously loved things will geta new happy home, and that you can give them new things to play with at no cost to you. It’s a wonderful ReUse event!

The Great West Essex Toy Swap is the brainchild of Bloomfield resident and artist Greg Gutbezahl.The Swap will be held on Sunday February 21, 2010 from 10am to 3pm, with a drop off day on Saturday, February 20, 2010, after 4pm, at Temple Sholom of West Essex 760 Pompton Ave Cedar Grove, NJ 07009-1229, (973) 239-1326. More »

January 20th, 2010 | Tags: Events, Local groups, Recycling, Waste | Category: Events, Recycling | Leave a comment

Bloomfield can recycle in style with new recycling containers in the town’s public spaces. Bloomfield Department of Public Works, in partnership with the Bloomfield Recycling Committee, has launched a new, cost-free public space recycling program.

Baristanet reports that the program, launched with Creative Outdoor Advertising of America (”COA”), “is designed to enhance the township’s recycling efforts while generating revenue for the municipality”. The 26 recycling stations throughout the town will feature advertising to offset the cost.

“This new program offers residents an additional outlet to recycle while enjoying their time out and about Bloomfield,” said Councilman Nick Joanow, council liaison to the recycling committee and advocate for the new program. “We’re going to bolster our litter abatement program and generate new revenue through this initiative.”

January 20th, 2010 | Tags: Bloomfield, Recycling, Recycling Committee, Waste | Category: Bloomfield Township Gov't, Recycling | Leave a comment

Happy New Year! In the January 14 Bloomfield Life, Greener Bloomfield coordinator John Palomaki wrote the Bloomfield Public Square column and offered some New Year’s Resolutions for Bloomfield, focused mostly on sustainability. The full text is posted after the jump, and we welcome you to add your own resolutions you’d like to see Bloomfield take on in 2010. More »

January 14th, 2010 | Tags: Anti-Idling, Bloomfield, Food, Green Building, Ideas, Local Government, Local press, Open space, Recycling, Sustainability, Waste | Category: Bloomfield Township Gov't, Featured, Green Building, Recycling | Comments (1)

When people infuse small changes into a big holiday, more is different than just the day’s celebration. Changing the way we approach a tradition can create an impact that lasts all year. In my home, full at this time of year with growing children, family, friends and pets, we’ve adopted a few sustainable ideas of our own. Pick one or two for your family, and let the magic of the season begin.

1. Skip the throwaways: So much of what we buy is destined for the landfill almost as soon as it passes the checkout scanner. Aim to buy gifts and decorations that last, or can be handed down. More »

December 21st, 2009 | Tags: Bloomfield, Food, Green Purchasing, Holidays | Category: Featured | Leave a comment

This Saturday, December 12th is an international day of action for a strong climate treaty in Copenhagen, Denmark to stave off disastrous climate change. In Bloomfield, there will be a vigil outside the main post office on Montgomery St. on Sat., Dec. 12th from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. It is being organized by the Essex County Greens, and all interested individuals and organizations are invited to join.

The conference currently taking place in Copenhagen, attended by 192 nations, is the most important climate conference in world history. Unfortunately, the U.S. position is very weak – only calling for 4% reduction of C02 and other greenhouse gases below 1990 levels, when what is called for is at least 25% – 40%. More »

December 7th, 2009 | Tags: Bloomfield, Climate change, Essex Greens, Events, Sustainable Jersey | Category: Events, Featured | Leave a comment

We have a lot to celebrate and be thankful for. Instead of our usual last-Thursday-of-the-month Greener Bloomfield meetings, which would fall on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, we’re going to combine them into one “Celebrate!” meeting on Thursday, December 3, 7:30 pm, at the Bloomfield Civic Center. (Repeat: NO MEETING NOVEMBER 26 OR DECEMBER 24!)

We’ll celebrate Bloomfield’s Sustainable Jersey certification, a great accomplishment due to the volunteer work of our Greener Bloomfield members, friends on the Recycling Committee and other local organizations, and our elected officials and department heads! We’ll celebrate Bloomfield’s first hybrid police and fire vehicles! We’ll celebrate the holidays with a discussion on greening the holidays with Erin Ihde! And we’ll have some festive refreshments as we enjoy getting together one last time in a fulfilling 2009! More »

November 23rd, 2009 | Tags: Greener Bloomfield, Hybrids, Ideas, Meetings, Sustainable Jersey | Category: Events, Meetings | Leave a comment

In addition to Bloomfield’s Sustainable Jersey certification, eight awards will be given for innovation, leadership and collaboration in addition to four Sustainability Champion awards for the top certification point-getters. These towns are the Sustainable Jersey pioneers that can forever boast that they were the first, having achieved certification in year one of the program. Awards will be presented Tuesday, November 14 in Atlantic City. Follow the link to see a list of towns. More »

November 14th, 2009 | Tags: Bloomfield, Greener Bloomfield, Sustainable Jersey | Category: Bloomfield Township Gov't | Leave a comment

Bloomfield is one of only 30 towns in all of New Jersey to earn Sustainable Jersey certification! Greener Bloomfield coordinator John Palomaki will accept the award on behalf of the Township at a luncheon November 14 during the League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City.

“This certification is the result of the collaboration of many volunteers and community organizations with the Township Council and Administration,” said Palomaki. “It shows that great things can be accomplished when we all work together toward common goals. Through this process, we are protecting our environment, providing lasting value to the people who live and work in Bloomfield, and helping people find ways to save money with energy efficiency and conservation.” More »

November 14th, 2009 | Tags: Bloomfield, Bloomfield Center Redevelopment, Greener Bloomfield, Sustainable Jersey | Category: Bloomfield Township Gov't | Leave a comment

Greener Bloomfield and Mayor Raymond McCarthy received a letter today congratulating the Township on achieving Sustainable Jersey certification. It begins,

“We are pleased to announce that your municipality has achieved the 2009 Sustainable Jersey certification. The certification is good for three years. Your town is part of an elite group of municipalities that have achieved the prestigious Sustainable Jersey certification in the first year of the program. Municipalities that earn the certification are considered by their peers, by state government, and by the experts and civic organizations in New Jersey, to be among the leading municipalities in the state.”

Greener Bloomfield coordinated the certification effort, which involved the teamwork of many Greener Bloomfield and Recycling Committee volunteers, the Mayor and Township Council, and Township Administration. More to come after the official press release is issued Tuesday!

November 10th, 2009 | Tags: Bloomfield, Greener Bloomfield, Sustainable Jersey | Category: Bloomfield Township Gov't | Leave a comment

This Thursday, Oct. 29, 7:00 pm at the Bloomfield Civic Center, Greener Bloomfield is hosting a presentation of the new film Unlimited: Renewable Energy in the 21st Century, followed by a discussion with the local filmmaker Daniel Califf-Glick. The film features a group of passionate children calling for adults to take action and address global warming. Please RSVP at http://www.meetup.com/GreenerBloomfield.

Unlimited is a 26 minute documentary about renewable energy and other alternatives to fossil fuels. It also includes global warming and energy experts talking about various promising technologies such as solar, wind and tidal power, transportation and the issue of food as it pertains to energy consumption. Teachers in particular are invited to see it for possible use in the classroom.

After the film discussion, Greener Bloomfield will discuss winter/spring plans.

October 26th, 2009 | Tags: Energy, Geothermal, Greener Bloomfield, Solar, Sustainability, Wind | Category: Events, Meetings | Leave a comment

At 1 pm on Saturday, October 24, everyone is invited to Bloomfied College to join in an international day of climate action. The event is organized by the College’s student group, the BC Green Hearts Movement, as part of a 350.org initiative. “If you are interested in climate change, or have heard about it a lot in the news and want to become more familiar, or if you just want to get active in some way, this is the place to be,” according to coordinator Michael Palmieri.

Participants will walk to Foley Field and take a picture in the shape of 350 (the safe level of carbon in the atmosphere), which will be sent to local newspapers and even to world leaders meeting at The Copenhagen Climate Summit this December. After the photo, the group will return to the college and have lots of activities for everyone. FREE food, music, information and games will be provided. “You don’t have to be into science or going green to support this movement, you just have to a be a human who wants a clean future, without climate change.” Visit 350.org and the BC Green Hearts Movement blog for more information.

October 16th, 2009 | Tags: Bloomfield, Events, Local groups, Sustainability | Category: Events | Leave a comment

Learn how to green up your backyard at Montclair’s seventh annual “Compost Give-Back” in Edgemont Park on Saturday, October 17, from 11:00am to 3:00 pm. Free composting demonstrations will be conducted, and you’ll get info on Green and Healthy Yard Care, Backyard Habitats for Birds and Butterflies, Native Plants, Organic Gardening, Stormwater Protection, and Water Conservation. Montclair residents will be able to pick-up free compost and buy low-cost home composting bins. The event is co-hosted by the Montclair office of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Community Services (DCS).

October 14th, 2009 | Tags: Composting, Montclair, Organic gardening, Water | Category: Composting, Events | Leave a comment

The Montclair Green Film Series presents its first double-feature, on Thursday, October 15th, 6:30 P.M., hosted at the Public Library’s Main Branch at 50 So. Fullerton Ave. All events at the Library are free of charge.

The first show is a new edition of the award-winning movie, Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America. The film is a solutions-oriented exploration of energy issues and opportunities in the USA, looking at the sources of our electricity and the problems caused by energy production, including mountain top removal, childhood asthma, and global warming. The second film – Unlimited: Renewable Energy in the 21st Century – features a group of passionate 6th graders calling on adults to take action by addressing global warming. In addition, energy experts discuss promising technologies being used right here in New Jersey, such as solar, wind, tidal power, green transportation, and food as it pertains to energy consumption.

More »

October 14th, 2009 | Tags: Energy, Greener Bloomfield, Meetings, Sustainability | Category: Energy, Events | Leave a comment

Bloomfield Township is one of only 47 communities in New Jersey to complete its application for Sustainable Jersey certification. The application, submitted by Greener Bloomfield coordinator John Palomaki on behalf of the Township, is currently being reviewed by Sustainable Jersey. Certifications will be announced later in October, and Bloomfield will be recognized as one of the 47 “pioneers” at a special luncheon at the NJ League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City on November 17. In all, 231 communities registered to start the process.  More »

October 14th, 2009 | Tags: Anti-Idling, Bloomfield, Events, Green Building, Green Fest, Greener Bloomfield, Local Government, Recycling, Redevelopment, Sustainability, Sustainable Jersey, Water | Category: Bloomfield Township Gov't, Featured | Leave a comment

Just a reminder that our next Greener Bloomfield meeting IS TONIGHT, Thursday, September 24, at 7:00 pm. We will be meeting in the Bloomfield College Library’s Reading Room on the first floor. Agenda:

• Planning for 350.org event with Bloomfield College Green Hearts Movement
• Anti-Idling activities
• Recap of Harvest Fest
• Update on Sustainable Jersey status, next steps
• Planning for Fall/Winter activities

As always, you’ll have a chance to meet others who are interested in making Bloomfield greener. Plan to participate actively, and bring your thoughts and ideas. To RSVP, please go to www.meetup.com/GreenerBloomfield.

September 24th, 2009 | Tags: Anti-Idling, Meetings, Sustainable Jersey | Category: Events, Meetings | Leave a comment

Visit Greener Bloomfield at this weekend’s Harvest Fest and get a free compact fluorescent lightbulb from Project Porchlight! We’ll be in the Quad between the Civic Center, Library, and Children’s Library along Broad Street on Saturday and Sunday, Sept 19-20, from 11am to 6pm. Stop by to get your bulb, and also get information about making Bloomfield greener by reducing vehicle idling, saving water, and more.

Joining us in the Quad will be the Bloomfield Recycling Committee (Saturday), the Bloomfield Open Space Committee, the Essex Green Party, and Composting demos on Sunday (Bloomfield residents can even order a compost bin for just $35).

September 18th, 2009 | Tags: Anti-Idling, Green Fest, Greener Bloomfield, Lighting, Project Porchlight, Water | Category: Events, Green Fest | Leave a comment

On September 8, 2009, the Bloomfield Township Council unanimously adopted a new Water Conservation Ordinance, amending Chapter 556 of the township code. The ordinance essentially asks residents and businesses to take simple common-sense steps: conserve water used indoors, water lawns no more than 2 days per week (any 2 days), water lawns only between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., and don’t water your lawn when it’s raining, or when it’s already rained longer than 30 minutes. To see what the changes are, why they were made, and how they affect you, the residents and organizations in Bloomfield, go to our Water Conservation page.

September 17th, 2009 | Tags: Bloomfield, Water | Category: Bloomfield Township Gov't, Featured, Water | Leave a comment