[We're also looking for volunteers to help at our table for an hour or two, starting with setup at 9:00. If you'd like to help, please sign up at www.meetup.com/GreenerBloomfield. Thank you!]

With the amount of rainfall this regions gets, lawns can thrive with no more than 2 days of watering. Best practices are to water each section of lawn for 30 minutes, allowing water to infiltrate into the soil and encourage deep root growth. Watering for less than that results in short roots that are susceptible not only to drought but also disease. There are exemptions for establishing new lawns and for nurseries. Flowers, shrubs, and vegetable gardens may be watered as often as necessary and cars may be washed, as long as the hoses have automatic shut-off nozzles. The ordinance applies to both residences and businesses, and also urges use water-efficient plumbing fixtures. The water conservation ordinance also earns Bloomfield 10 priority points for Sustainable Jersey certification.

After a warning for a first offense, fines for subsequent offenses range from $25 to $2,000 and/or community service or imprisonment for the most extreme cases.

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.

• Project Porchlight resolution – declares August 15 Project Porchlight Day, when volunteers will go door-to-door, and encourages residents to save money and electricity by changing a standard light bulb to a more energy efficient one. (More volunteers needed!)
• Anti-Idling resolution – declares September “Anti-Idling Month” to focus attention on the issue, warns of the dangers to health (especially asthma), wasted fuel, greenhouse gas emissions, engine wear, and NJ’s state law and $250 minimum fine for idling more than 3 minutes. It also encourages residents to idle no more than 10 seconds and supports anti-idling education, targeted enforcement of the law, and establishment of “idle-free zones”.
• Sustainable Land Use Pledge resolution – resolves to take a number of steps in land use decisions and include them in the next Master Plan resolution, such as facility siting, housing variety, open space, transportation choices, mixed use, green design, regional cooperation, and sustainable parking regulations.
• Grass “Cut It and Leave It” resolution – encourages residents to leave their short grass clippings on the lawn where it will help mulch and fertilize, rather than bagging it for fuel-hogging, polluting trucks to pick up.
• Anti-Idling Ordinance – copies the NJ state laws restricting vehicle idling to less than 3 minutes and sets penalties of $100-$2,500 (with a few exceptions for emergency vehicles, etc.).
• Water Conservation Ordinance (draft) – encourages protection and conservation of water, limits residents and businesses from watering more than 2 days per week (except for new plantings and other exclusions), and establishes procedures for water/drought emergencies.

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 and focuses on energy conservation and respect for the environment.

• See exhibits from over 40 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

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

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