Alder Avenue collects governor's award for environmental education
Last Updated on Monday, February 04, 2013 08:17 pm Written by Staff Reports Thursday, January 31, 2013 02:44 pm
SJTA also wins for innovative technology
The 2012 Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards and the 2011 Clean Water New Jersey award ceremony was held Monday, Jan. 28 at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton and Egg Harbor Township School District and South Jersey Transportation Authority representatives were among the winners.
Alder Avenue Middle School was selected as the winner for the environmental education, an award presented to the educator, student, group of students or class that has planned and implemented a project or program with measurable positive environmental impacts. In its award statement, the governor’s office stated that “The Alder Avenue Middle School demonstrates a strong commitment to healthy, energy-efficient and sustainable school practices that are also part of their curriculum.”
In 2011, the school district embarked on an energy conservation campaign to reduce energy costs and built an energy conservation program that reduces consumption of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and water through changes in organizational and human behavior. As a result, the district achieved a 29 percent cost savings totaling more than $1 million.
The school has integrated studies of the Great Egg Harbor River into its curriculum, established a reforestation replenishment program and implemented a school recycling program. In addition, the school built outdoor classrooms, gardens, and a community teaching garden. The campus also has a small tree farm, organic garden, rain barrels, a pond, and birdhouses built by students.
South Jersey Transportation Authority, or SJTA, won the top prize for innovative technology, an award is presented to a nominee that demonstrates the use or deployment of a new or alternative method, procedure, process, system or facility, which results in greater environmental protection than other technologies in current practice or comparable results at lower costs in terms of energy, natural resources or environmental impacts.
The South Jersey Transportation Authority operates the Atlantic City Expressway and Brigantine Connector, which includes over 182 lane miles. The authority completed an extensive project to map and inspect some 3,100 stormwater structures. The project determined GPS locations for each structure, and incorporated the use of a new computer program to track their maintenance. The authority also purchased new equipment for cleaning these structures. In addition, the authority planted more than 30 acres of wildflowers at various locations and conducted several stormwater outreach programs for local schools and the public.
More coverage:
EHT's Alder Avenue Middle School to receive governor's Environmental Excellence Award
Catawba kids participate in service day
Ribbon cut on community teaching garden
Alder named one of nation's first Green Ribbon Schools
Alder places third in Disney's Planet Challenge
District honored for saving money
School district announces 28 percent reduction in energy use
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