By David Kilby, Speical Writer
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — A new environmental policy may encourage township employees to turn off unused electronics and adjust thermostats in municipal buildings to help save energy and bring the community one step closer to Sustainable Jersey certification.
The “behavioral policy” is part of the Sustainable New Jersey checklist that could help the township receive more state funding for environmental projects if the requirements are met.
The policy would remind municipal employees to turn lights off when no one is in a room; to turn computers off; to use inkjet instead of laser printers; and to turn down thermostats three degrees in the winter and up three degrees in the summer. These are all practices that can save the township energy and money in the end.
In typical municipal complexes, energy expenditures account for 19 percent of total costs, reads the Sustainable Jersey website, www.sustainablejersey.com.
”Sources of energy usage in such facilities, i.e., lighting, heating (and) cooling, and office equipment account for 80 percent of consumption,” the website reads. “Since the staff has control over energy usage in these categories, significant greenhouse gas reductions and energy savings can be realized through personal behavioral changes.”
The website gives guidelines and requirements for the policy and says the policy, to be drafted by the township, must at least address office equipment, such as computers and printers; lighting; and heating and cooling.
Once the policy is drafted, it must be adopted officially by the Township Committee.
”I just have to prove that it was done within the past 12 months,” said Roger Plew, chairman of the Environmental Commission, explaining that qualifying for Sustainable Jersey certification within a year timeframe makes a municipality qualified for three years.
Committeeman Karl Feltes mentioned he would like to see the name of the policy changed so as not to include the word “behavioral” since he, along with the rest of the committee, deemed it to be a poor word choice for a green initiative.
The inability to actually track the amount of savings also was discussed, especially when the committee considered the unseasonal temperatures the region has experienced in recent years.
”How would we know that we’ve been successful with this policy?” Committeeman John Moynihan asked.
”That’s a tough one,” Mr. Plew replied. “A lot of this stuff we already do. We just don’t have a formal policy. The primary goal is to have something on record.”
The committee is looking to adopt the policy, currently being drafted, at its meeting Jan. 28 provided Sustainable Jersey allows the name of the policy to be changed.
In other news, on Jan. 14, the township also updated its website to include links to the township’s official Facebook and Twitter accounts. The new website also allows residents to pay taxes online.
To visit Bordentown Township’s revamped website, go to www.bordentowntownship.com.

