green31.net

A nice way to get involved around the community is to actually sponsor, volunteer, or become a member of a worthwhile cause.  Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) have worked in the Hopewell-Pennington community to conserve open space since 1987.  It has been able to thwart mining companies and major highways from ruining the local landscape. 

FoHVOS is putting together its first ever Eat Locally Tour on September 14^th, from 2-6 pm.  The tour starts in the Hopewell Valley Vineyard where registered guests are welcomed to hop aboard a bus and visit three local food producers.  Throughout the tour, guests will get an informative narration of the area and benefits of eating locally grown food.   You must register, however. 

Even if you cannot make it to the September 14^th date, there are many ways to get involved with FoHVOS.  Besides sponsorship, donations, and membership, FoHVOS offers a wide variety of volunteer work such as Clean Up Days, marketing and outreach event work.

If you are interested, visit www.fohvos.org. 

West Windsor Environmental Fair, Sept. 20, 2008 10-3, Alexander Road entrance to the Princeton Junction Train station.

From the http://www.greeningwestwindsor.com/ website:

The West Windsor Environmental Commission, West Windsor Farmers’ Market and FOWWOS (Friends of West Windsor Open Space) will host an Environmental Education Fair at which local citizens, governmental agencies, corporate exhibitors and regional businesses will come together to illustrate and celebrate opportunities to make West Windsor, Mercer County, the State and indeed the world more environmentally sustainable.

 

Opportunities will be provided for individual exhibitors to demonstrate and describe their particular approach to curb adverse climate change, to reduce greenhouse gases, to minimize solid waste and to limit the negative environmental impact of people’s every-day life.

West Windsor Township has been recognized as an environmental leader in New Jersey. In 2002, it was selected as the first NJ Green Town USA by the NJ Environmental Lobby. It has joined with other municipalities in embracing sustainability as a guiding principle for development and in providing the local community with advice on how to reduce their environmental “footprint.”

 

With a theme of “Greening West  Windsor” (GroWW), the Fair seeks participation from the broadest possible range of corporations, small businesses, non-profit organizations and educational agencies.

From the BOOST mailing list

Save This Date: Saturday, September 13 2008
Our Green Future: Healthy Homes and Families for Sustainability  Made Simple, Part One of a Series…. 
 
 
     “Typically my talks are very technical, involving percentages, actual material assemblies, detailed building system configurations, review of lists and checklists, etc… For BOOST I was able to bring my ‘lesson’ to the level in which the greatest good can come, changing the way in which people can live healthier lives RIGHT NOW…” says Anastasia Harrison, AIA, LEED, IAQA and the first licensed architect in the State of NJ to earn an Indoor Air Quality Environmentalist Certification.

     We are Building Open Opportunity Structures Together, also known as BOOST, and we invite you to join Anastasia Harrison of Wesketch Architecture, Barbara Stange of Simply Natural Living, and our growing network of Eco-community builders on Saturday, September 13 - from 3pm until…. - in Trenton’s beautiful West Ward.
 
     This evening will be full of fun, food, good drink, and everyone will share experiences, understandings, and dialogues around the issue of sustainability and what everyday people can do to improve our quality of living while decreasing our negative impacts on the natural environment.  
 
     Live music, great food fare, like-minded individuals, and a scenic lawn party will be the backdrop for Anastasia Harrison’s “Our Green Future: Healthy Homes and Families for Sustainability Made Simple”, a talk designed to increase our collective appetites for collectively addressing some of the most pressing issues facing the human family.
 
      So, please save this date, Saturday - September 13 -  on your calendars and we will be launching our official invitation with all the details in mid-August.
 
Sincerely, 
 
Tim Razzaq, Founder and Executive Director
Building Open Opportunity Structures Together (BOOST)
Voice: (206) 202-2883
Vision: www.gss-set.blogspot.com
Velocity: gsssetcentral@yahoo.com

Date: TBD - Either August 16 or 18, 2008
Place: TBD - Somewhere in Lawrence Township
Admission: Free

For more information see: Sustainable Lawrence.

12 Dartmouth students, 1 veggie oil powered bus, 13,000 sustainable miles, all for a greener tomorrow!

In its fourth summer on the road, the Big Green Bus educates Americans about climate change and it’s relationship to energy issues, as well as alternative energy. The students promote the adoption of lifestyle choices that conserve energy and take us farther down the path toward sustainability.

As they travel 13,000 miles around the country through 36 states, the students aim to spark a dialogue about sustainable living, the viability of alternative energy sources, and tangible solutions to local and global energy issues with those we meet along the way.

The ultimate goal of the Big Green Bus is both simple and transformative. Through education and example, the students hope to inspire Americans to reconsider their relationship to the planet and with each other to become more environmentally responsible citizens at home, at work, and in the voting booth.

Come on out and meet these students and learn a little too!

•  Learn how we can can adopt sustainable practices to reduce our energy consumption
•  See real world examples of businesses and individuals that currently use alternative fuels and operate in an environmentally-friendly manner
•  Check out the technology that drives the bus: Solar Panels, Inverter, Biodiesel Engine & Filters, Deep Cycle Batteries, and a few surprises that make it fun to ride in (like the energy star compliant flat screen TV and Computers).
   

Outreach and public education are vital parts of the Draft Energy Master Plan process. The kind of changes we need to make to address climate change and New Jersey’s energy challenges will only happen if there is a genuine shift in consciousness. How will we do this? What are the key audiences and what is the best way to reach them?  These are the questions the Education and Outreach Working Group will address.The kickoff meeting of the E/O Working Group is 8:30 a.m.-1p.m. on Tuesday, July 22 at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.  Directions.

The meeting will be facilitated by Lance Miller, Chief of Policy and Planning at the NJBPU, members of the Energy Master Plan team, and John Weingart, Associate Director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics.

Space is limited. RSVP via email to Victoria Fisher, Outreach Manager, NJBPU, the Energy Master Plan mailbox, or by calling (973)648-4361.

July 17, 2 p.m. Tohill Auditorium, Bunce Hall, Rowan University, Glassboro. (Hearing reconvenes at 6 p.m. and continues until all comments are heard.)
Note on parking and travel to Rowan: Route 322 through campus is closed for sewer maintenance. Park in Lot A. Map. 
Directions: From NJ Turnpike and Route 55, take Rt 322 East towards Glassboro. At Bowe Blvd, traffic is being detoured off Rt 322 around Rowan’s campus. Use entrance to Rowan’s campus located on Bowe Blvd.  Turn right into the campus, then first right onto curved roadway that leads to Lot A. Signs will direct participants from Lot A to Towhill Auditorium. 

Deadline for submittal of comments: Friday, July 25, 2008.
Written comments may be submitted electronically in MS WORD format (or format that can be converted to WORD). Include “Draft EMP Comments” in subject line.

October 17, 2008
Jersey City, New Jersey

This year’s conference will be held at the Jersey City Hyatt and will highlight the cleantech industry as well as investment and financing strategies that will help drive economic growth, create new jobs, and help protect the environment.  Click here for more information and to register.  Exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities are available also - contact NJ-SMART for more information or request information by email at info@njcleanenergy.com.

September 9-10, 2008
Atlantic City, NJ

This two-day educational conference will explore building science principles for high performance, energy-efficient new and existing homes, specifically designed for New Jersey and the region.  Targeted to contractors, builders or those interested in gaining knowledge to help lower energy costs in residential dwellings.

For more information, or to register on-line, visit www.affordablecomfort.org

August 17, 2008
FIrstEnergy Park, Lakewood, NJ

This is a festival type event prior to the Lakewood BlueClaws vs Charleston RiverDogs baseball game.  It will offer green company displays, free ice cream and rides for the kids.  Presented by New Jersey Natural Gas and Renewal by Anderson.  Start time 2:30pm

Sponsored by the NJ Regional Clean Energy program  

The Borough of Pennington Environmental Commission will be meeting on July 21.  All Meetings will be held from 8:00 pm at 12 North Main Street unless otherwise noted