Gloucester Township Is Going Green

You may have seen the solar panels around town.

You may have heard the buzz on the streets, or talk among your friends and neighbors, or this may all be news to you.

It’s true—Gloucester Township is going "green." Our town is on track to become a fully certified Sustainable Jersey community.

So, what does all of this mean? 

According to the Sustainable Jersey website, the certification program is for municipalities in New Jersey that want to go green, save money and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term.

What does that really mean for Gloucester Township?

If you ask Councilwoman Michelle Gentek, she will tell you that it is a process by which municipalities must establish a “Green Team” and then complete and implement a series of environmental actions.

These actions include a long list of green challenges. Gentek is making quick work of these tasks. The township already has its "Green Team" in place, meeting monthly to discuss the tasks at hand.

When all is said and done, the township is poised to sit at the forefront of green communities in the state. 

Inspired in part by ideas contained in Mayor David Mayer’s campaign platform for a more sustainable community, Gentek took the ball and ran with it.

“This program is the whole package,” Gentek said, adding that going green in Gloucester Township is “about mind, body, spirit and environment.”

It starts with the desire to change; to create a better, healthier, cleaner community. Factoring in that the green initiatives help promote local businesses, and trim energy costs communitywide, it seems like a good idea.

So, what can we expect to see as a result of this “total package” approach to making the township a greener community? 

There are several changes taking place in the community to help with the green initiatives. From the traffic lights around town being outfitted with more efficient LED lights, to solar panels being placed on all the municipal buildings, it’s easy to see that Gloucester Township is serious about moving forward with this program.

Funded by a federal energy grant, the green push is a promising way to cut energy costs in the township. 

Another step is the newly enhanced recycling depot. Residents can look in the Gloucester Township newsletter for tips on more efficient recycling, and a list of all the items that can now be recycled.  

According to the mayor, these environmentally friendly policies are not only good for the health and well being of the community, but also save taxpayer dollars.

All of this, according to Gentek, creates a very positive image for our community. She hopes that one day soon, other communities will be looking to Gloucester Township as an example of a “model community.” 

Gentek and other "Green Team" members will be out and about throughout the community in the coming weeks and months, discussing the green initiatives with residents. The team believes that it is crucial to have community support and participation to make this work.

“Community involvement is needed to help us become a sustainable certified community,” Gentek said.

The "Green Team" will host its next public meeting on May 11 at 6:00 p.m. at the municipal complex's Senior/Community Center. Its members will explain the program and answer questions from community members.

The team will also be asking residents to sign a "Green Pledge." The pledge consists of a few simple things that we can all do to help move the community toward sustainability, while saving costs. The pledge includes easy tasks such as setting your thermostat 2 degrees higher in the summer and 2 degrees lower in the winter.

Another item asks that you replace the five most used lightbulbs in your home with energy saving CFC bulbs. 

You can view the full pledge on Sustainable Gloucester Township’s link from the township’s official website.

Stay tuned for more on the certification process, new plans, and community updates from the Mayor’s Office and the "Green Team."

And be sure to join us here every other Saturday for our new “Going Green” column. We will offer truly easy tips to help every resident go green in your home, workplace and community.

Editor's note: Check back the morning of Saturday, April 30, for Michelle's first "Going Green" column, which will feature simple tips for you to help the environment. The column will appear every other Saturday.