GREEN PROJECT
Greening Highland Park Businesses
Products and Services for Your Green Business
Cleaning/Janitorial Services
Cleaning Products can be among the most hazardous chemicals in an office or business space. Green Seal is an independent, non-profit organization that works to create a cleaning environment by identifying products that are environmentally friendly.
Visit their web site at http://www.greenseal.org/certproducts.htm to find a list of products that are Green Seal Certified. Eco-Products, Inc. is another company that also identifies cleaning and janitorial products which are environmentally friendly.
Visit their web site at http://www.ecoproducts.com/Business/janitorial/jan_janitorial_index.htm to see these products.
Paper and Office Supplies
Paper and office supplies are essential to running any business. Utilizing eco-friendly paper and office supplies are cost effective for your business and are beneficial to you, your customers, and the environment. Eco-Products, Inc has identified various paper and office supplies which are environmentally friendly.
Visit http://www.ecoproducts.com/Business/office/office_index.htm to see these products. In addition, Reactual is an organization of specialists and enthusiasts who research and review products “based on how well they meet consumer needs and benefit the environment.”
Visit their web site at http://www.reactual.com/office_supply.html to see their suggested office supplies.
Sustainable Floor
Whether you want to have classic wooden floors or cover them in a soft carpet, you can make sure your flooring is eco-friendly. Eco-Products, Inc. has identified various flooring that is sustainable and environmentally friend.
Check these products out at http://www.ecoproducts.com/Building/build_flooring/build_index_flooring.htm.
Lighting
Using energy efficient lighting will help save your small business dollars as well as save the environment. Visit http://www.reactual.com/energy-effiicient-lighting.html - led to see Reactual’s suggestions for energy efficient lighting.
Also visit http://www.metaefficient.com/metaefficient/archives/leds/index.html to see various information on LEDs.
Recycling
Recycling is an easy way to help the environment.
Recycling information for Highland Park can be found at http://www.hpboro.com/publicworks/depts_pworks.htm.
Coffee/Food Services
Utilize coffee and food service products that are eco-friendly. Eco-Products, Inc. has identified coffee and food service products that will keep the energy level up at your business without destroying the earth.
Visit http://www.ecoproducts.com/Business/food_services/fs_food_services_index.htm to see these products.
Socially Responsible Investment
Businesses may want to become more aware of the impacts of their investments. The Natural Capital Institute created a report which explains the overall importance and effectiveness of investing in a socially responsible manner.
This report can be viewed at http://www.responsibleinvesting.org/database/WEB-INF/php/reportMain.php.
Mailing and Packaging
Mailing and packing can generate much waste. Eco-Products, Inc. has identified mailing and packing products that are environmentally friendly.
Visit http://www.ecoproducts.com/Business/packaging/packaging_index.htm to see them.
Paint
You can brighten your walls without degrading indoor air quality or the external environment. Eco-Products, Inc. has identified paint products that are environmentally friendly.
Visit http://www.ecoproducts.com/Building/build_paint/build_index_paint.htm to see them.
Heating and Ventilation Services
Repairing or replacing your business’s heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system can save energy and money. ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
Visit their web site at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=business.bus_index to find out how your business can become more energy efficient.
Air Quality
Believe it or not, the indoor air we breathe can be far more seriously polluted than the air outside. The air quality in your place of business can actually be harmful to your health, and that of your customers and coworkers.
See the Environmental and Public Health Section of the Greening Highland Park web site for more information on air quality in area businesses.
Water Quality
Under New Jersey’s Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP), the results of the testing of Highland Park and the surrounding area’s water are scheduled to be released on May 1, 2005. More information can be found at http://www.nj.gov/dep/swap/.
Adding a water filter can improve the taste and color of your water. In 1986, lead-based solder was banned for use in residential water systems. If your building was built prior to 1990, lead-based solder may have been used in your water plumbing. A water test will tell you if you need to get a filter to address a lead problem. You can find water testing labs in the Yellow Pages.
http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply
http://www.nsf.org/consumer/drinking_water/index.asp?program=WaterTre
http://www.purityplanet.com
http://www.waterfiltercomparisons.net/Water_Filter.cfm
http://www.water-filter-guide.net
Transportation
Taking mass transit to work rather than driving can save gas and help alleviate traffic congestion, especially on Raritan Avenue.
• NJ transit buses #810 (M10) and #814 (M14) service Highland Park
http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0810.pdf
http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0814.pdf
• NJ Transit’s Northeast Corridor rail line runs through New Brunswick, just a short walk over the bridge from Highland Park. On NJ Transit’s web site, you can search by your own stops to find the times best for you.
http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/rail/r0070.pdf
http://www.njtransit.com/sf_tr_schedules.shtml
• If you need to drive to work, choosing an efficient vehicle will reduce emissions and save you money. Research information about gas mileage, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution ratings and safety information for new and used cars and trucks, along with the possibility of owning a hybrid vehicle.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hybrid_sbs.shtml
If you live in the area, think about walking or biking to work!!
Other Relevant link-
http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/vbg/
PV and Alternate Providers
• New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program
Traditionally, natural resources have been used to generate electricity. However, as we consume energy at an ever-increasing rate, we must all take responsibility for ensuring the availability of our natural resources to preserve the benefits we enjoy. As long as we use these resources in a smart, efficient way, we will likely have ample supply to sustain future energy needs. Renewable and clean energy generation systems offer you an option to help conserve natural resources by allowing you to generate your own electricity! When you use renewable energy sources you save money, become more self-reliant, and contribute to making our world a cleaner, healthier place.
See http://www.njcep.com/.
• The Source for Renewable Energy
Start here, http://energy.sourceguides.com/index.shtml, with this comprehensive list of alternative energy businesses and buyers’ guide.
Relocating
Visit http://www.greenerbuildings.com/, a new content-rich web site with information and resources on the full spectrum of environmental issues related to buildings and facilities. GreenerBuildings.com is a partnership between the U.S. Green Building Council and the National Environmental Education & Training Foundation's GreenBiz.com. If you are building or remodeling a business, consider building a greener, LEED-certified building. Creating a greener building can result in lower energy costs, better occupant health and worker productivity, and is a great way to form goodwill with your customers and clients. Certifications are available for new construction, existing buildings and remodeling, and interiors.
See http://www.usgbc.org/ for information on certification.
Green Lawn Care
Here’s a list of sites with great tips on how to keep an environmentally-friendly lawn.
• New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station/Rutgers Cooperative Extension
http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/environotes/v01n03.htm#Lawns
http://www.rcre.rutgers.edu/garden/
• Pioneering Thinking
http://www.pioneerthinking.com/lawn.html
• Mountain Lakes Environmental Commission
http://www.mtnlakes.org/~environ/healthylawn.htm
• University of Illinois Extension
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/regions/lawnandgarden/LawnCare.PDF
• Allwoodwork.com
http://www.allwoodwork.com/article/gardening/the_environmentally_friendly_lawn.htm
• Stopwaste.org
http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=408
• EPA’s “Environmental Guidelines for Responsible Lawn Care and Landscaping”
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/grants/lei/draft_guidelines.pdf
