Sustainability in Action

New Providence Borough used a $2,000 Sustainable Jersey Grant funded by the PSEG Foundation to launch the first-ever New Providence Green Challenge—a five-week summer sustainability campaign that energized residents and strengthened community awareness around everyday environmental practices.

Led by Sustainable New Providence and the New Providence Recreation Department, the challenge invited residents to learn about a different sustainability topic each week, complete a hands-on action, and share their experiences for a chance to earn prizes. The response exceeded expectations. More than 200 residents registered to receive the weekly challenges, with many families completing them together. Throughout the summer, participants submitted over 50 emails showcasing best practices, creative approaches, lessons learned, and even the occasional misstep demonstrating genuine engagement and reflection.

New Providence Borough’s promotion efforts amplified the impact, with coverage on TAPinto New Providence, social media, the Borough e-newsletter, email lists, and eye-catching signage displayed in Centennial Park. The weekly challenge posts on social media generated multiple comments and shares. A new Recycle Mascot, created to boost visibility, quickly became a recognizable feature and will return to future sustainability events. The Green Challenge culminated in a celebratory gathering where participants shared stories, connected with neighbors, and received awards for their efforts, reflecting the community enthusiasm.

New Providence Mayor Al Morgan said, “The Green Challenge showed us just how eager our residents are to take meaningful, everyday steps toward sustainability. Seeing families participating together and sharing their successes and even their challenges was incredibly inspiring. This program proved that when we engage our community in interesting, accessible ways, we can build lasting habits that benefit everyone.”

The project also contributed to New Providence Borough achieving silver-level certification in 2025 through points earned for the Green Challenges action, as documented in their certification report. Building on this success, the Borough has already secured an additional $2,000 Sustainable Jersey Grant and plans to expand the program, potentially launching a school-year edition to reach even more families. New Providence shared its experience statewide as a panelist on Sustainable Jersey’s Small Grants, Big Impact session at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference, the Borough is now providing other municipalities with its presentation materials and challenge content. With the 2026 cycle of the Sustainable Jersey Grants funded by the PSEG Foundation currently open—applications due February 13, 2026—New Providence’s model offers an inspiring blueprint for communities looking to launch their own sustainability challenges.

Colonia Middle School transformed an underused outdoor area into a vibrant Therapeutic Horticultural Garden, the centerpiece of the school’s new Sustainability Courtyard. Designed to strengthen teamwork, patience, socialization, and hands-on learning, the garden promotes students’ physical and mental well-being while enhancing attention spans and cognitive development. As the township’s central hub for students with disabilities, the school ensured the space would be fully accessible and thoughtfully planned for diverse physical abilities, sensory needs, and personal preferences. With calming areas and interactive gardening activities, the garden offers a dynamic, inclusive environment.

A $10,000 Sustainable Jersey grant funded by the PSEG Foundation helped Colonia Middle School bring this vision to life. The project transformed the courtyard into an immersive outdoor learning environment featuring a 60-inch waterfall on a custom stone-and-block base, a wildlife-attracting bird feeder, a steel weather vane, battery-powered eco-friendly maintenance tools, shade-providing wind sails, three recycled benches, and new garden beds with native plantings and butterfly habitats. The space also includes a rain garden, greenhouse and student designed mural.

Teachers now have a dedicated outdoor classroom that supports interdisciplinary lessons in biology, environmental science, and nutrition. Students, both general education and those with disabilities, gain regular access to a calming, sensory-rich environment where they can practice teamwork while developing fine and gross motor skills. Local wildlife also benefits from the expanded habitat features. Families and community members were introduced to the courtyard through a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 5, 2025; Back-to-School Night presentations; website and social media posts; and coverage on Greenable Woodbridge and WoodbridgeTV (Ribbon Cutting and Tour Video). Over 600 people have been positively impacted by the project so far.

Principal Joseph Short emphasized the transformational impact of the project, saying, “The Sustainability Courtyard has truly changed the way our students experience school. They now have a peaceful, engaging space where they can learn, reflect, connect with nature, and thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally. This project represents the best of what happens when a school community comes together with a shared vision for student well-being.”

The project also supported Colonia Middle School’s sustainability efforts, helping earn points toward the Outdoor Classroom action and contributing to the school’s bronze certification in 2025. This achievement is part of a districtwide accomplishment: all 24 Woodbridge Township schools were recertified at the bronze-level this year, with 11 earning Digital Schools Stars. Sustainable Jersey for Schools is currently accepting applications for the Sustainable Jersey grant cycle funded by the PSEG Foundation funded, with school applications due March 9, 2026 (learn more).

Since 2018, the Galloway Township Office of Sustainability has hosted free, drive-through paper shredding events that make it easy for its residents to securely dispose of documents while supporting the Township’s sustainability goals. Shredded paper collected at these events is fully recycled—saving energy, conserving natural resources, and reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that come from producing paper with virgin materials.

Over the years, some shredding events have coincided with other green initiatives, such as free tree seedling giveaways and environmental fairs, helping residents connect multiple eco-friendly practices in a single visit. The events have become extremely popular. Residents can stay in their cars as municipal staff and the shredding vendor employees handle the materials. “We estimate several hundred participants each time,” said Melanie Lynch, the Galloway Township Chief Sustainability Officer. “Our vendor says these are among the most well-attended shredding events they’ve ever seen, and we often come close to filling two 10,000-pound trucks.”

In 2024, Galloway’s four events collected 28.86 tons of paper for recycling. In 2025, the Township again offered four events, including one at a new location to better serve residents across town. By making secure disposal simple and recycling automatic, Galloway Township is keeping thousands of pounds of paper out of the waste stream, one of many steps the community is taking to build a cleaner, more sustainable future. Galloway Township is silver-certified with Sustainable Jersey and these paper shedding events earned the township five certification points with the completion of the Sustainable Jersey action: Community Paper Shedding Day.

Montclair Township is seeing good results from its resident-focused energy efficiency campaign delivered through the Sustainable Jersey–PSE&G Energy Efficiency Partnership Program. Working with Sustainable Jersey, PSE&G, and Honeywell, the Township is helping renters and homeowners learn how PSE&G’s free or low-cost programs can cut energy use and lower monthly bills.

Interns from the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies at Montclair State University joined Honeywell outreach staff to canvas neighborhoods and talk with residents about programs such as Whole Home Energy Solutions, Comfort Partners, and Home Weatherization. They also supported outreach at the Montclair Farmers’ Market.

PSE&G-funded outreach materials are strengthening the campaign’s reach, including a mailing to 4,600 households, a residential energy efficiency brochure, and a dedicated webpage: EnergyOutreachNJ.com/Montclair. A new quarterly “welcome letter” for incoming residents will further extend awareness of sustainability and energy-saving opportunities.

Results to date are impressive. As of mid-October 2025, 140 residents have signed up for a free home energy assessment or requested information about available incentives—demonstrating that direct, community-based outreach drives action.

Dr. Lisa Johnson, the environmental coordinator from Montclair’s Office of Sustainability, said, “Since joining the Sustainable Jersey-PSE&G Energy Efficiency Partnership Program, Montclair Township has significantly expanded its efforts to promote energy efficiency across the community. Before this program, we didn’t have any formal outreach initiatives focused on residential energy efficiency. However, after seeing meaningful improvements through municipal upgrades via PSE&G’s Direct Install Program, the Township recognized the importance of extending similar benefits to residents.” Montclair Township is silver certified with Sustainable Jersey and received 20 certification points for completing the action: Residential Energy Efficiency Outreach.

The Sustainable Jersey–PSE&G Partnership Program helps municipalities and schools connect residents and small businesses with high-impact, cost-effective energy efficiency programs. Municipalities served by PSE&G that want to help their community save energy and reduce utility bills can learn more and apply here. Visit EnergyOutreachNJ.com to see participating municipalities.

The Direct Install Program—one of New Jersey’s most popular energy incentive programs for businesses, non-profits, and local governments—is back, now offering a streamlined procurement process specifically for municipalities to make participation easier. Now administered directly by the state’s electric and natural gas utilities, the program covers up to 80% of the cost for energy-saving upgrades such as lighting, HVAC, and refrigeration. Eligible facilities include small and mid-size non-residential buildings with average annual energy demand under 300 kilowatts /40,000 therms.

A major update came in August 2025 when the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, working with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and the utilities, issued Local Finance Notice 2025-11. Communities now have two options: 1) Open Network: The municipality competitively bids and selects its contractor; and 2) Closed Network: The local utility serves as the general contractor and uses pre-selected subcontractors based on standardized pricing.

To help local governments navigate these choices, Sustainable Jersey is rolling out new support. A Direct Install Guide for Municipal Governments and School Districts (add link if have it in time)—including an open network bid template—is being created, and free technical assistance is available to any municipality or district pursuing a Direct Install project. This support includes compiling energy data and guiding teams through procurement requirements. Sustainable Jersey also hosted a webinar (add link if have it in time) on December 3, 2025 to walk through the new process and available resources, ensuring communities can take full advantage of this high-value energy-efficiency program. To learn more, visit: Sustainable Jersey free energy technical assistance for municipalities and school districts.