Woodbridge Earns Silver Certification With Sustainable Jersey

Woodbridge has reached the highest level of sustainable recognition.

It achieved Silver Certification from Sustainable Jersey, officials announced Tuesday morning.

The Silver Certification means Woodbridge has made significant progress in a number of categories, and is a statewide and national leader in sustainability, according to sustainablejersey.com.
It is among 59 towns that achieved Sustainable Jersey certification this year, Sustainable Jersey representatives announced Tuesday morning.

Towns must show they have reached at least 350 points to be recognized at this level.

Each community must also establish a “Green Team” and select three of the seven priority actions to reach Silver Certification.

Priority actions include energy audits for municipal buildings, a municipal carbon footprint, a sustainable land use pledge, a natural resource inventory, a water conservation ordinance, a fleet inventory, and/or Energy Star Portfolio Manager.

The program’s technical content is developed with the aid of 23 task forces that are made up of state and local officials, experts, non-profit groups and members of the business community. Recommended best practices and actions are vetted with the help of local government officials.

Of the 399 communities that participate in Sustainable Jersey, 137 are now certified.

"This has been a stand-out year.  We are so proud of the significant increase in the number of towns that applied and achieved Sustainable Jersey certification so far this year,” Donna Drewes, who co-directs the organization with Randall Solomon, said in a prepared statement. “Since 2009, when Sustainable Jersey was publicly launched, we have worked with public and private partners to develop local best practices for over 100 sustainability actions, committed over 1.5 million dollars in small grants to 183 community projects in 21 counties, and watched as nearly 400 municipalities pledged to join our movement.”

Highland Park also achieved Silver Certification in Middlesex County. Cranbury reached Bronze status, which means a community has made significant first steps en route to becoming a fully sustainable town.

Mayors from all 59 towns will accept their award at the Sustainable Jersey Annual Awards Luncheon at the New Jersey League of Municipalities’ Conference on Nov. 19.