Guide to sustainable living in Princeton NJ (FALL 2022)

Fall Edition // 2022

Guide to sustainable living in Princeton

Learn how to make your fall season a more sustainable one. This issue includes: Where items collected at S.H.R.E.D. Fest go Princeton's STAR Neighborhoods What does Sustainable Princeton do?

How to handle fall leaves on your lawn sustainably Top 3 sustainable actions to take this fall

www.SustainablePrinceton.org Printed on recycled paper Please share this booklet or recycle when finished

THANK YOU

FOR UPCYCLING

Here's what happens to your items Batteries, cell phones, & printer cartridges are reused or recycled by Wireless Alliance.

Styrofoam packaging is locally converted into picture frames

by Princeton Moulding.

Razors are recycled through Terracycle’s Gillette® Razor Recycling Program.

Cookware, bakeware, & cutlery will be recycled through Terracycle’s Calphalon® Cooking Tools Recycling Program.

Reusable shopping bags that are new or gently used are reused by the Food Insecurity Task Force.

IF YOU LIKE S.H.R.E.D. FEST, CONSIDER DONATING TO SUSTAINABLE PRINCETON

YOUR DONATIONS SUPPORT OUR MISSION

STAR Neighborhoods create change STAR Neighborhoods are groups of neighbors who come together to build a more sustainable, together and resilient community. Each STAR neighborhood chooses activities to strengthen their neighborhood against climate change, reduce its carbon footprint, and inspire others to take action. Neighborhoods earn program credits for their efforts and can achieve certification as a bronze, silver or gold STAR Neighborhood for that calendar year.

Action items are organized within one of six focus areas: People, Energy, Water, Land, Air, and Consumption, each of which has its own goal.

Some activities include: home energy audits, creating neighborhood emergency response plans, and increasing "low mow" zones.

Neighborhoods are welcome to propose other action that meets a focus area goal. Every STAR action is eligible to receive funding from the minigrant program from Sustainable Princeton. Local action to fight climate change can lead to huge impact!

Want to get involved?

There are over 12 registered STAR neighborhoods in Princeton! If your neighborhood isn't registered yet, visit our website below to learn more about how to turn your neighborhood into a STAR neighborhood!

https://www.sustainableprinceton.org/star-neighborhoods

Fall edition // 2022

How does it work?

About Sustainable Princeton Established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2012, we work alongside residents,Vision businesses, nonprofits and local government to make our community more sustainable. We envision Princeton as a model town that examines every action through the lens of sustainability, ensuring a healthy environment, strong economy, and well-being of all community members now and in the future.

Inspire our community to develop and implement solutions that positively impact the environment.

We strive to lead community change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen resilience to the impacts of the changing climate and protect the local ecosystem.

Did you know: Sustainable Princeton will recycle your plastic films, old batteries and reusable shopping bags for FREE? You can bring these items to our office at 1 Monument Drive. Come visit us Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. www.SustainablePrinceton.org

Fall // 2022

Mission

Our impact areas GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION

Facilitate the reduction of energy consumption in the built environment and the switch to sustainable transportation

RESILIENCY AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Prepare ALL community members for the impacts of climate change

PROTECTING THE LOCAL ECOSYSTEM Ensure ALL community members can benefit from a healthy and resilient ecosystem

Capstone projects Princeton's Climate Action Plan completed and adopted by Princeton Council at the July 22, 2019 Council meeting eCommuter Fest - a community event showcasing carbon-free commuting options in Princeton

Changing the Landscape - a program that engages residents and landscapers to adopt practices that protect both the health of workers and the ecosystem.

Sustainable Minds - free TED-talk style educational events. Past topics included stormwater management, community solar and net-zero buildings

www.SustainablePrinceton.org

Booklet 2021 / 2022

STAR Neighborhoods - a program that fosters group action on the neighborhood level

LEAVE. THE. LEAVES. Every fall, leaves pile up in Princeton’s streets, creating safety hazards for bikers, blocking stormwater drains, and feeding unhealthy algae blooms in our waterways. Leaving your leaves on you lawn can do some good for your soil.

Do you use a landscaper? Our website has ideas, as well as a letter in English and Spanish, you can share with your landscaper. The municipality also maintains a list of registered landscapers who use mulch mowers and other sustainable lawn practices.

Pile them up. Rake leaves into a compost pile in a corner of your property. Turn it regularly and add some vegetable scraps, to get rich compost a few months later. Our website has lots of tips for backyard leaf composting.

Mulch leaves with a mower. They will disappear back into the lawn and provide needed nutrients. A mower with a mulching blade is optimal, but most power mowers (electric is best) should do an adequate job.

Rake them aside. Rake leaves into a woodlot, if available, or into an obscured portion of your yard such as behind shrubs.

Spread leaves on the garden. Leave them to hold in moisture and slowly release nutrients.

Use leaves to control weeds. Rake them toward flower beds, the fence line, or other weedy areas.

Create a leaf corral. Build a corral or circle of wire fencing to keep them from blowing around as they decompose.

www.SustainablePrinceton.org/yard/leave-your-leaves/

Booklet 2021 / 2022

So, what should you do with your leaves?

3 sustainable things to do this season

Quick Home Energy Checkup Free service by PSE&G Schedule a free Quick Home Energy Checkup (QHEC) to pinpoint ways your home can save energy and money! A certified energy efficiency professional will perform an in-home assessment.

This service only takes about an hour. Visit www.homeenergy.pseg.com/energycheckup

Sustainable Minds December 6 at 7:30 pm (virtual) Learn about net-zero and climate positive buildings from two leaders in the field: Christina McPike (Director of Energy & Sustainability at WinnCompanies) and Ken Levenson (Executive Director at Passive House). Learn more at SustainablePrinceton.org.

Try the FREE public busses Free and open to the public Princeton Muni Bus and Princeton University's TigerTransit busses are completely free and open to the public. These busses go to a variety of destinations in and around Princeton. Visit transportation.princeton.edu/gettingaround/tigertransit to see the full schedule.

www.SustainablePrinceton.org/transportation/take-public-transportation/

Fall Edition // 2022

Get involved in the fight against climate change Walk or bike as much as you can Opt for public transportation (Princeton University's TigerTransit bus and Princeton Muni Bus are both free and open to the public!)

Schedule a free Quick Home Energy Checkup from PSE&G

Keep in touch with us www.SustainablePrinceton.org info@sustainableprinceton.org 1 Monument Drive Princeton, NJ 08540

Printed on recycled paper Please share this booklet or recycle when finished