Greener Bloomfield » Greenstorming http://greenerbloomfield.org Greener living, working, and community in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 01:30:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 en hourly 1 Feb 26 Meeting Inspires Many to Action http://greenerbloomfield.org/2009/03/feb-26-meeting-inspires-many-to-action/ http://greenerbloomfield.org/2009/03/feb-26-meeting-inspires-many-to-action/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:57:19 +0000 John http://greenerbloomfield.org/?p=249 At Greener Bloomfield’s February 26 meeting, over 20 residents participated at the Civic Center meeting room. First, John Palomaki presented the Sustainable Jersey program and website, which officially launched earlier that day. Councilman Nick Joanow described a field trip that several town administrators, John Palomaki, and he took to Westwood, NJ, a town that uses vegetable oil from local restaurants to produce biodiesel and has added 2 hybrid police vehicles and a DPW SUV to its fleet, saving thousands of dollars in fuel costs. Nick also invited everyone to an event at 7:00 pm on March 10 at the Civic Center with Dr. Nicholas Smith-Sebasto, a Montclair State professor who has implemented an aerobic food waste composting process that can consume 2 tons of food daily and yields nutrient-rich compost. Finally, the group “greenstormed” on the Earth Day event Greener Bloomfield is co-sponsoring with the Bloomfield Recycling Committee on May 2 at Brookside Park, with members volunteering for a variety of committees. More details will be provided in separate posts.

]]> http://greenerbloomfield.org/2009/03/feb-26-meeting-inspires-many-to-action/feed/ 0 Greenstorming: Government/Business http://greenerbloomfield.org/2008/11/greenstorming-governmentbusiness/ http://greenerbloomfield.org/2008/11/greenstorming-governmentbusiness/#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:34:07 +0000 John http://greenerbloomfield.org/?p=154 At the Greener Bloomfield meeting on Nov. 6, one “greenstorming” (brainstorming about going green) breakout group listed ideas for projects to help local government and businesses go green. If you have additional ideas or opinions, or if you’d like to work on any of these projects, please add a Comment! We’ll collect these ideas and begin prioritizing them and assigning workgroups to get them implemented.

Local Government/Business Greenstorm Ideas

  • Sustainability Coordinator
    • Possibly as a shared service between neighboring municipalities?
  • Explore shared services with neighboring communities
    • Possible cost reductions with volume
    • Access additional services others are using
    • Examples: Recycling, composting, biodiesel and other alternative fuels
  • Recycling education and enforcement
    • Important to get businesses recycling
    • Needed for entire community to increase % waste recycled
  • Improved vehicle fuel efficiency
    • Eliminate excessive/unnecessary idling
    • Consider having a departmental incentive/award for best fuel mileage increase each month
    • Encourage new vehicle purchases to be hybrid/electric and other high-mpg, low-emissions
]]> http://greenerbloomfield.org/2008/11/greenstorming-governmentbusiness/feed/ 0 Greenstorming: Schools http://greenerbloomfield.org/2008/11/greenstorming-schools/ http://greenerbloomfield.org/2008/11/greenstorming-schools/#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:33:51 +0000 John http://greenerbloomfield.org/?p=157 At the Greener Bloomfield meeting on Nov. 6, one “greenstorming” (brainstorming about going green) breakout group listed ideas for projects to help local schools go green. If you have additional ideas or opinions, or if you’d like to work on any of these projects, please add a Comment! We’ll collect these ideas and begin prioritizing them and assigning workgroups to get them implemented.

  • Recycling – make mandatory at all schools
  • Solar panels (photovoltaics) to provide electricity
  • Improve indoor air quality and comfort
    • Have better heat adjustments (rooms are too hot or too cold)
    • Add air purification
    • Switch to “green” cleaning supplies
  • Turn lights off when rooms not in use
    • Add occupancy sensors
    • Having cleaning crews only turn lights on for the room they’re cleaning and turn off when leaving
  • Composting of cafeteria food waste
  • Switch all electrical appliances to “Energy Star” appliances
  • Start an Environmental Club at all schools
  • Have more buses that use alternative fuels
  • Post “no idling” signs at schools
]]> http://greenerbloomfield.org/2008/11/greenstorming-schools/feed/ 0 Greenstorming: Homes http://greenerbloomfield.org/2008/11/greenstorming-homes/ http://greenerbloomfield.org/2008/11/greenstorming-homes/#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:32:35 +0000 John http://greenerbloomfield.org/?p=160 At the Greener Bloomfield meeting on Nov. 6, one “greenstorming” (brainstorming about going green) breakout group listed ideas for projects to help local homes go green. If you have additional ideas or opinions, or if you’d like to work on any of these projects, please add a Comment! We’ll collect these ideas and begin prioritizing them and assigning workgroups to get them implemented.

Greenstorming ideas for homes:

  • Key issue is how to reach people
  • Homeowner education (esp. multi-family)
    • Get PSE&G involved?
  • Information on green materials
    • Involve manufacturers’ reps
    • Discuss how green & historic preservation work together
  • Individuals telling their green story & how-to
  • Green living talk
    • With a kids’ meeting at the same time?
  • Neighborhood meetings for outreach
  • Information on servicing hybrid cars locally
  • Develop and publicize resources
    • Use Greener Bloomfield to point people to resources
    • FreeCycle
    • Electronics recycling
    • Green products
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