Actions

Sustainable Jersey actions are designed with flexibility to meet the varying needs of all municipalities. Actions are organized within action categories. Each action description below outlines steps for completion, certification points, resources, and municipal spotlights. Review the requirements to earn Bronze or Silver certification here. Many actions have variable points, which means there are several ways to complete the action based on the work done. Access your municipality's application for certification through the Municipal Dashboard.

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Search Actions

Animals in the Community
- Animals in the Community Education
  
  10 Points
- Companion Animal Management Pledge
  
  5 Points
- Companion Animal Management Plan
  
  10 Points
- Enhanced Licensing Compliance
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 10
- Pledge Supporting NJ Wildlife Action Plan
  
  10 Points
- Wildlife Interaction Plan
  
  10 Points
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Arts & Creative Culture
- Establish a Creative Team
  
  10 Points
- Creative Assets Inventory
  
  10 Points
- Creative Placemaking Plan
  
  10 Points
- Municipal Commitments to Support Arts and Creative Culture
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Utilizing Your Creative Assets
  
  10 Points
  - This action has variable points: 10, 20, 30
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Brownfields
- Brownfields Inventory & Prioritization
  
  10 Points
  - This action has variable points: 10, 15
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Brownfields Reuse Planning
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 10, 15
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Brownfields Marketing
  
  10 Points
- Brownfields Assessment & Investigation
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5 — 30
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Community Partnership & Outreach
- Create Green Team
  
  10 Points
  
  Required for all certification levels
  - Competitive funding available
- Community Education and Outreach
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 10, 15, 20
  - Competitive funding available
- Green Challenges
  
  10 Points
- Green Fairs
  - Hold a Green Fair
    
    10 Points
  - "Green" Your Green Fair
    
    10 Points
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Diversity & Equity
- Diversity on Boards & Commissions
  
  10 Points
  
  Priority for all certification levels
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Environmental Justice in Planning & Zoning
  
  10 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Lead Education and Outreach Programs
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 10, 15
  - Competitive funding available
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Emergency Management & Resiliency
- Climate Adaptation: Flooding Risk
  
  20 Points
  
  Priority for all certification levels
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Coastal Vulnerability Assessment
  
  20 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Extreme Temperature Event Plan
  
  10 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Heat Island Assessment
  
  10 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Community Wildfire Protection Plans
  
  10 Points
- Firewise Community
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 10, 15
  - Competitive funding available
- Ready Set GO! Fire Company
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 10, 15
- Wildfire Safety Council
  
  10 Points
- Emergency Communications Planning
  
  15 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Vulnerable Populations Identification for Emergencies
  
  10 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Energy
- Municipal Energy Initiatives
  - Energy Efficiency for Municipal Facilities
    
    5 Points
    
    Priority for all certification levels
    - This action has variable points: 5 — 50
    - Non-competitive funding available
  - Energy Tracking and Management
    
    10 Points
    
    Priority for all certification levels
    - This action has variable points: 10, 20
  - Buy Electricity From A Renewable Source
    
    10 Points
  - Municipal Onsite Solar System
    
    5 Points
    - This action has variable points: 5 — 45
    - Non-competitive funding available
  - Municipal Geothermal Energy System
    
    10 Points
    - Non-competitive funding available
  - Municipal Wind Energy System
    
    10 Points
    - Non-competitive funding available
- Community Energy Initiatives
  - Renewable Government Energy Aggregation
    
    5 Points
    - This action has variable points: 5, 25, 35, 50
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Commercial Energy Efficiency Outreach
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 20
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Residential Energy Efficiency Outreach
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 20
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Make Your Town Solar Friendly
    
    15 Points
    - This action has variable points: 15, 30
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Municipally Supported Community Solar
    
    15 Points
    - This action has variable points: 15, 25
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Solar Outreach
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 15
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Wind Ordinance
    
    10 Points
    - Submissions for this action do not expire
    - Non-competitive funding available
- Transportation Initiatives
  - Electric Vehicle Community Outreach
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 15
  - Fleet Inventory
    
    10 Points
    
    Priority for all certification levels
  - Meet Target for Green Fleets
    
    30 Points
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Purchase Alternative Fuel Vehicles
    
    5 Points
    - This action has variable points: 5, 10, 15
  - Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
    
    15 Points
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Make Your Town Electric Vehicle Friendly
    
    15 Points
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Food
- Farmland Preservation
  - Farmland Preservation Plans
    
    10 Points
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Food Security
  - Community Food Pantry/Bank & Soup Kitchen
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 15
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Community Gardens
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 15, 20
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Expanded Supplemental Food Programs
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 20
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Promoting Safe Food Donation for Food Security
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 15
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Support Local Food
  - Buy Fresh Buy Local Programs
    
    10 Points
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Farmers Markets
    
    10 Points
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Making Farmers Markets Accessible
    
    5 Points
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Green Design
- Green Building Policy/Resolution
  
  5 Points
- Green Building Training
  
  5 Points
- Green Design Commercial and Residential Buildings
  - Create a Green Development Checklist
    
    10 Points
  - Green Building Education
    
    5 Points
- Green Design Municipal Buildings
  - New Construction
    
    20 Points
  - Upgrade/Retrofit-Light Pollution
    
    10 Points
  - Upgrade/Retrofit-Water Conservation
    
    10 Points
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Health & Wellness
- Anti-Idling Education & Enforcement Program
  
  10 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Best Practices for Local Boards of Health
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 10
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Building Healthier Communities
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25
  - Competitive funding available
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Integrating Health Into Municipal Decision Making
  
  10 Points
  - This action has variable points: 10, 15, 20, 25
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Local Health Assessment and Action Plan
  
  25 Points
  - This action has variable points: 25, 40
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Safe Routes to School
  
  10 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Tobacco Free Community
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Lead & Healthy Homes
  - Comprehensive Lead Strategy
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 15
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Healthy Homes Inspection & Training
    
    5 Points
    - This action has variable points: 5 — 30
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Lead and Housing Hazard Data-Sharing
    
    10 Points
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Lead Blood Screening Campaign
    
    5 Points
    - This action has variable points: 5, 10, 15, 20
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Private Well Outreach and Testing
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 15, 20, 25
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Removing Lead in Drinking Water
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 20, 30, 40
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Innovative Projects
- Innovative Community Project 1
  
  10 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Innovative Community Project 2
  
  10 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Innovative Community Project 3
  
  10 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Land Use & Transportation
- Sustainable Land Use Pledge
  
  10 Points
  
  Priority for all certification levels
- Build-Out Analysis
  
  10 Points
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Audits
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 10
- Bicycle and/or Pedestrian Improvement Projects
  
  10 Points
  - This action has variable points: 10, 15, 20, 25
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Bicycle and or Pedestrian Plan
  
  10 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Community Design for All Ages
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Complete and Green Streets for All Policy
  
  10 Points
  - This action has variable points: 10, 15, 20, 25, 30
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Effective Parking Management
  
  10 Points
- Green Infrastructure Planning
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 10, 20
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Green Infrastructure Implementation
  
  10 Points
  - This action has variable points: 10, 15, 20
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Enhanced Stormwater Management Control Ordinance
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 15, 25, 35
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Green Building and Environmental Sustainability Element
  
  10 Points
- Historic Preservation Element
  
  10 Points
- Smart Workplaces
  
  5 Points
  - This action has variable points: 5, 10
- Transit-Oriented Development Supportive Zoning
  
  20 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Local Economies
- Green Business Recognition Program
  
  10 Points
  
  Priority for all certification levels
  - This action has variable points: 10, 20
- Green Jobs/Economic Development
  
  10 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Buy Local Programs
  - Buy Local Campaign
    
    10 Points
  - Support Local Businesses
    
    10 Points
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Natural Resources
- Natural Resource Inventory
  
  20 Points
  
  Priority for all certification levels
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Environmental Commission
  
  10 Points
- Environmental Commission Site Plan Review
  
  10 Points
- Municipal Water Story
  
  20 Points
  
  Priority for all certification levels
  - This action has variable points: 20, 25
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Open Space Plans
  
  10 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Water Conservation Education Program
  
  10 Points
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Water Conservation Ordinance
  
  20 Points
  
  Priority for all certification levels
  - Submissions for this action do not expire
  - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Caring for Conservation Easements
  - Easement Inventory and Outreach
    
    10 Points
  - Easement Inspections and Evaluations
    
    15 Points
- Natural Resource Protection Ordinances
  - Clustering Ordinance
    
    10 Points
    - Submissions for this action do not expire
  - Environmental Assessment Ordinance
    
    10 Points
    - Submissions for this action do not expire
  - Habitat Conservation Ordinance
    
    10 Points
    - Submissions for this action do not expire
  - Tree Protection Ordinance
    
    10 Points
    - Submissions for this action do not expire
- Tree & Woodlands Management
  - Community Forestry Management Plan and NJUCF Accreditation
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 20
    - Competitive funding available
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Tree Hazard Inventory
    
    10 Points
    - Competitive funding available
  - Tree Maintenance Programs
    
    10 Points
    - Competitive funding available
  - Tree Planting Programs
    
    10 Points
    - Competitive funding available
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Operations & Maintenance
- Green Purchasing Program
  - Adopt a Green Purchasing Policy by Ordinance
    
    10 Points
    - Submissions for this action do not expire
  - Adopt a Green Purchasing Policy by Resolution
    
    5 Points
  - Green Cleaning Products
    
    10 Points
  - Green Maintenance Equipment and Materials
    
    10 Points
  - Recycled Paper
    
    10 Points
- Grounds & Maintenance
  - Green Grounds & Maintenance Policy
    
    10 Points
  - Efficient Landscape Design
    
    10 Points
  - Integrated Pest Management
    
    10 Points
  - Minimize Water Consumption
    
    10 Points
  - Recycled Materials and Composting
    
    10 Points
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Public Information & Engagement
- Communications
  - Municipal Communications Strategy
    
    10 Points
- Citizen Engagement
  - Improve Public Engagement in Municipal Government
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 15
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Improve Public Engagement in Planning and Zoning
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 15
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Online Municipal Public Service Systems
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 15
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
- Access to Public Information
  - Digitizing Public Information
    
    10 Points
  - Open Data Inventory and Management
    
    10 Points
    - This action has variable points: 10, 15
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Sustainability & Climate Planning
- Municipal Carbon Footprint
  
  10 Points
  
  Priority for all certification levels
- Community Carbon Footprint
  
  10 Points
  - Competitive funding available
- Climate Action Plan
  
  10 Points
  - Competitive funding available
- Community Asset Mapping
  
  10 Points
- Community Visioning
  
  10 Points
- Community Sustainability Plan
  - Vision Statement and Goals
    
    5 Points
  - Indicators and Targets
    
    10 Points
  - Action Plans
    
    10 Points
No actions in this category match the search criteria.
Waste Management
- Prescription Drug Safety and Disposal
  
  10 Points
  
  Priority for all certification levels
- Recycling and Waste Reduction Education and Compliance
  
  15 Points
  
  Priority for all certification levels
  - This action has variable points: 15, 20
- Recycling
  - Commercial & Institutional Recycling
    
    10 Points
  - Community Paper Shredding Day
    
    5 Points
    - Non-competitive funding available
  - Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling
    
    5 Points
    - This action has variable points: 5, 10, 15
    - Non-competitive funding available
  - Food Waste
    
    10 Points
    - Non-competitive funding available
  - Household Hazardous Waste
    
    5 Points
    - This action has variable points: 5, 10, 15
    - This action counts towards a Gold Star
  - Non-Mandated Materials Recycling
    
    5 Points
    - This action has variable points: 5 — 60
  - Recycling Depot
    
    10 Points
    - Non-competitive funding available
- Waste Reduction
  - Backyard Composting Program
    
    5 Points
    - Non-competitive funding available
  - EPA WasteWise Partner
    
    5 Points
    - Non-competitive funding available
  - Grass - Cut It and Leave It Program
    
    5 Points
    - Non-competitive funding available
  - Materials Reuse Program
    
    10 Points
    - Non-competitive funding available
  - Pay-As-You-Throw Program
    
    10 Points
    - Non-competitive funding available
  - Reusable Bag Education Program
    
    5 Points
  - Waste Audit of Municipal Buildings or Schools
    
    10 Points
    - Non-competitive funding available
No actions in this category match the search criteria.