Agenda:

• Review of August 15 Project Porchlight door-to-door campaign
• Planning for Harvest Fest and Project Porchlight give-away
• Planning for September Anti-Idling Month
• Update on Sustainable Jersey actions

Bloomfield residents Simone JohnBaptiste (left) and Christine Bruncati discuss their routes before heading out with an allotment of 50 bulbs each for the Project Porchlight giveaway. (Bloomfield Life)

Thirty-five volunteers spread out across Bloomfield on August 15 in sweltering heat, delivering free energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs to 1,650 households as part of a Project Porchlight blitz. That many bulbs will result in $50,000 in energy savings, 544.5 tons CO2 emissions prevented of entering the environment, and 94 cars removed from the road in the form of Green House Gases(GHG)! In addition, 600 individuals signed a pledge to change a standard light bulb to a more energy-efficient one, about half of what’s needed for a Sustainable Jersey challenge (you can still sign our pledge online).

RISING ABOVE THE DIM: Nearly 35 volunteers went door-to-door in town Aug. 15 to distribute free compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, one of many green-based initiatives sponsored by Greener Bloomfield, a local environmental advocacy organization. Above, Greener Bloomfield member Erin Ihde shares a laugh with Clinton Street resident Liz Holleran (along with her son Luke) after receiving a free CFL bulb. (Bloomfield Life)

From Bloomfield Life’s article:

Several township council members made it their mission to spread word of the CFL push. Ever the environmentalist, Councilman Nick Joanow claims practicing sustainability was viewed in a negative light until somewhat recently. Many were labeled as ‘tree huggers’ and ‘river rats,’ he said. ‘Let others know we are in this for the community,’ he told the crowd during a brief orientation at Watchung Presbyterian Church. ‘We’re all in, focused on this issue.’

Mayor Ray McCarthy, also on hand, praised the volunteers’ efforts and what they mean for the community.

The Council chambers were filled with people, with about 20 people speaking against the proposal and in favor of retaining full funding for the Open Space Trust Fund. They mentioned the need for open space in a town that’s 96% developed for health, well-being, and environmental reasons, the legacy of leaving open space for future generations, and the need to respect the majority vote of the people by referendum.

YES, we are having the Green Fest today! Celebrate and learn about sustainable living, working, and community at the Bloomfield Green Fest on Saturday, May 2, 2009, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Brookside Park. This event continues Earth Day festivities locally.

• See exhibits from local businesses and organizations
• Hear guest speakers talk about green living, working, and community
• Learn about recycling, composting, and home energy efficiency audits
• Judge the Bloomfield Schools’ “Save the Earth” poster contest
• Help clean up the Third River
• FREE Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs to the first 100 people provided by Home Depot
• Children’s workshops with 1,000 birdhouse and other kits for kids to put togther, sponsored by Home Depot
• The Waste Management Robot
• The Americorps Ambassador’s Enviroscape

Education and fun for all! Admission to Green Fest is free. Delicious food and drink will be available. The Bloomfield Green Fest is co-sponsored by Greener Bloomfield and the Bloomfield Recycling Committee.

Exhibitors:

• Acorn Home Improvements
• AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassadors
• Anderson Windows/Silver Line
• Backyard Wildlife Habitat
• Barb Conover Missouri Master Composter
• Bike Montclair
• Bloomfield Recycling Committee
• Bloomfield Vocational Tech Green Academy
• Boxed Organics
• Boy Scouts of America
• Brookdale Park Conservancy
• Cornicopia Network
• Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology
• Essex County Environmental Center
• Essex County Greens
• Farm to Bistro
• Fine Green Design
• Friends of Clark’s Pond and Third River
• Gaia Gardens Landscaping
• Go R.I.S.E. Up, Inc.
• Green Handyman
• Green Harmony Now
• Greener Bloomfield
• Guy Gsell/ Darren Gage/ Bob White
• Herbolution
• Home Depot
• Home Energy Diagnostics
• ICI Paint
• Music Together of Montclair
• Muti Oils
• New Jersey Clean Energy Program
• NJ Peace Action
• Pardise Pets
• Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners
• Photographic Coffee Mugs
• Project Porch Light
• Purple Dragon Co-op
• Shaklee
• Tony’s Hot dogs
• Unlimited – renewable energy in NJ
• Waste Management Recycle America
• Women’s International for Peace & Freedom

On the agenda for the meeting:

• The new Sustainable Jersey program that will certify towns going green 
• Planning for a Bloomfield Earth Day event 
• Reviewing the “Greenstorming” ideas from our first meeting 
• Your New Year’s “Greener” Resolutions

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. Refreshments will be provided.

Please RSVP at http://GreenerBloomfield.org/Jan2009Meeting, or at our Meetup site at www.meetup.com/GreenerBloomfield. We hope to see you NEXT TUESDAY night!