Sustainable Princeton and the Princeton Environmental Commission are seeking nominations of leaders who have embodied sustainable behavior and action in the workplace, at school in the government or at home and whose success stories will help shape the vision for the new Princeton.
”Princeton is entering an exciting new phase in our history,” Mayor-elect Liz Lempert said. “ The Sustainable Princeton Leadership Awards will identify models of sustainable action among residents, businesses, schools and the municipality that will inform the development of our newly consolidated, forward thinking town.”
Sustainable Princeton is a local nonprofit with a vision that everyone in Princeton can live and work in ways that are sustainable, reducing energy use and waste, protecting the natural environment, and meeting human needs fairly and efficiently.
The group is seeking nominations of people, organizations or businesses that are catalysts and models within the community and have preserved and improved Princeton’s natural, social or economic environment. Nominations must be submitted by Friday, Dec. 21. Nomination criteria can be found at Sustainableprinceton.org, or call (609) 924-5366 to request a nomination form by mail. Completed forms can be emailed to: [email protected].
Nominees will have taken steps to:
Protect and improve the natural environment.
Reduce waste and/or increase recycling.
Educate others about sustainable behavior.
Conserve energy; use energy more efficiently; and use alternative energy sources.
Avoid the use of toxic substances.
Meet Princeton’s social needs fairly.
Contribute to the community’s economic well-being.
Examples of specific actions may include:
Lowering carbon emissions by building, renovating or better insulating their homes in an environmentally minded manner.
Reducing solid waste output or increasing recycling efforts; water consumption by using rain barrels or other methods.
Reducing vehicle use through car pools, biking or taking public transportation.
Shopping locally to strengthen the local economy.
Improving the quality of life of the community’s underserved populations and those in need.
The awards will be presented on from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, as an opening to the Princeton Environmental Film Festival at the Princeton Public Library. The awards ceremony and the Film Festival are free and open to the public.
Now in its sixth year, the award program’s previous awardees include:
Four public-spirited gardeners, among them Dorothy Mullen, who founded and maintain an organic vegetable garden at Riverside Elementary School.
Two energy-saving families chosen to represent the many Princeton residents who have switched from fossil fuel to renewable energy for powering their homes.
Camila Telez, the Stuart Country Day School student who started Fair Trade Princeton in 2012.
Janet Pelichero, Princeton Township recycling coordinator who piloted the Curbside Compost Program for the town in 2012.
The Momo Brothers, for their commitment to serving locally grown food in their restaurants.
The Whole Earth Natural Food Store, for its “green” expansion.
