New Jersey’s Top Sustainable Schools and Districts Recognized at Awards Ceremony
on Oct 23, 2024
Award recipients from Jackson Township School District, Long Branch Public School District, New Brunswick School District and Westfield Public Schools
Today, Sustainable Jersey for Schools announced the three schools and two school districts that each received a 2024 Sustainable Jersey for Schools Annual Award. Representatives accepted their awards at a luncheon held during New Jersey School Boards Association’s Workshop 2024 in Atlantic City.
In addition to the annual award winners, 165 schools that achieved Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification and 20 schools that earned Digital Schools Star recognition as part of their Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification were recognized (2024 Sustainable Jersey for Schools Certified Schools).
The 2024 Sustainable Jersey for Schools Annual Award recipients are:
2024 SUSTAINABILITY CHAMPION AWARDS
For schools certified with the highest number of points in their category, elementary, middle or high school:
- George L. Catrambone Elementary School, Long Branch Public School District (Monmouth County)
- Paul Robeson Community School for the Arts, New Brunswick School District (Middlesex County)
- New Brunswick High School, New Brunswick School District (Middlesex County)
2024 SUSTAINABILITY MAKES $ENSE AWARD
For a district that has achieved substantial budgetary savings through implementation of Sustainable Jersey for Schools actions:
- Jackson Township School District (Ocean County)
Jackson Township School District completed an Energy Savings Improvement Project (ESIP), investing $28 million in advanced energy-efficient technologies including state-of-the-art boilers, LED lighting, advanced plug load controls, high-efficiency transformers, two combined heat and power (CHP) units, along with the installation of 5.2 megawatts of solar panels. These enhancements reduced annual energy usage from 16 million kWh to 9 million kWh, translating into millions of dollars saved annually. The district also uses geothermal energy at four schools and acquired two electric refuse trucks for recycling, furthering its energy savings.
2024 GREEN TEAM COLLABORATION AWARD
For municipal and school green teams working together to advance sustainability:
- Westfield Public Schools and Westfield Town (Union County)
The Westfield Public Schools and Westfield Town green teams have developed joint educational programs, planned projects, and shared strategies for applying for Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants and certification. Key initiatives include planning a bike oasis at the high school, launching a food waste collection program at Jefferson Elementary, organizing a Stream School Day along the Rahway River, and supporting student-led activities through the Student Auxiliary/Environmental Club, such as a thrift fashion show, native plantings, community cleanups and adopt-a-storm drain.
Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon said, “The founders of Sustainable Jersey for Schools set the goal to ‘achieve a brighter future, one school at a time.’ It’s amazing how far we have come since we first announced this program at Workshop 2014. Congratulations to the special award winners. We thank you for continuing to raise the bar for sustainability excellence in our schools and districts.”
To date, 1,191 of New Jersey’s schools have demonstrated their leadership and commitment to sustainability by registering with the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification program. Award winners are selected from the schools that are certified in the designated award year.