Sustainable Jersey – Adeline Bash – 2020

Goals

Sustainable Jersey is a statewide non-profit and sustainability certification program that works with New Jersey municipalities, school districts, and non-profits to promote and implement sustainability initiatives in the state. The program provides a framework for sustainability initiatives proven to reduce carbon emissions, cut energy costs, and improve climate change resiliency. The program then awards participants with a Sustainable Jersey certification for completing sustainability and energy efficiency projects. 

Sustainable Jersey enlisted EDF Climate Corps fellow Addie Bash to consult Freehold Borough, Mountain Lakes Borough, and Henry Hudson School District on energy tracking and energy efficiency projects.

Solutions

Addie gathered and analyzed years of utility data for all three clients, and established systems for long-term energy tracking through Energy Star Portfolio Manager. She coordinated applications for state and utility incentive programs to identify and fund efficiency measures in a total of 11 buildings, and recommended additional future efficiency projects. She also partnered with the Mountain Lakes community Green Team to develop a Residential Energy Efficiency outreach campaign to promote rebates and financing options available to homeowners through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program and New Jersey Natural Gas.

Impact

Addie’s applications for state and utility incentive programs are expected to save her clients more than $300,000 in energy projects costs. If completed, efficiency projects are projected to cut energy cost by a total of around $70,000 annually, and save approximately 450,000 lbs. of CO2 every year.