Cherry Hill Achieves Sustainable Jersey Silver Certification-cnbnews.net
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Cherry Hill has met the rigorous requirements to achieve silver-level certification from Sustainable Jersey, the highest level of recognition from the statewide organization, Mayor Bernie Platt announced Tuesday. Cherry Hill is one of only 96 New Jersey towns that are Sustainable Jersey certified, and one of just eight to reach silver certification.
The Township was first certified by Sustainable Jersey, at the bronze level, in November 2009 – its first year in the program. Township officials accepted the award at the annual Sustainable Jersey luncheon on Tuesday at the New Jersey League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City.
“Cherry Hill was one of the first towns to sign onto the Sustainable Jersey program back in 2008, and today we remain a leader in municipal sustainability by becoming one of just a handful of towns certified at the highest level,” Platt said. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in the last three years, thanks in no small part to the cooperation of our Township employees and citizens like those in Sustainable Cherry Hill, and I look forward to seeing continued progress as we move into the future.”
To become certified at the silver level, the Township completed a rigorous application process, submitting documentation showing it had completed a balance of the required sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 350 points. Additionally, Cherry Hill completed three of seven priority actions: the completion of an energy audit for municipal facilities, a municipal carbon footprint calculation, and a green fleet inventory.
“It’s quite an accomplishment to become Sustainable Jersey certified, especially at the silver level,” said Pam Mount, Chair of the Sustainable Jersey Board of Trustees. “The 2011 certified towns have joined a first-rate group of municipalities that are leading the way with impressive sustainability initiatives in New Jersey while providing a model for towns across the United States.”
Platt noted that, as a silver-certified town, Cherry Hill has excelled in areas such as improving energy efficiency and health and wellness, reducing waste, sustaining local economies, protecting natural resources, and addressing diversity and equity.
“These are exceptional towns with outstanding programs,” said Donna Drewes, co-director of The College of New Jersey’s Municipal Land Use Center. “We’ve been amazed to see how this program has catalyzed community spirit and fostered grassroots leadership, cross-sector creativity and collaboration across New Jersey.”
About Sustainable Jersey
Launched in 2009, Sustainable Jersey is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that supports community efforts to reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and improve environmental equity. It provides tools, training and financial incentives to support and reward communities as they pursue sustainability programs, making New Jersey the first state in the nation to have a comprehensive program for communities that links certification with strong state and private financial incentives, and a fully resourced program of technical support and training. Partners include the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
