Sustainable Jersey Publications
Sustainable Jersey produces guidebooks, reports, and other publications to keep its programs current with best practices and assess the overall impact of our collective efforts. The publications listed below by topic area may be of interest to district and school administration, staff, students, and others interested in sustainability in general.
Climate Change Education
Report on K-12 Climate Change Education Needs in New Jersey
February 2022
In June 2020, New Jersey became the first state in the U.S. to incorporate K-12 climate change education across content areas when the State Board of Education adopted the 2020 New Jersey Student Learning Standards. In response to the standards change, the New Jersey School Boards Association and Sustainable Jersey convened the Climate Change Education Thought Leader Committee to determine an appropriate plan for implementing these standards statewide. The committee met for several months, working to identify needs related to climate change education. This report summarizes the committee’s 34 recommendations, focusing on the areas of professional learning, curricular resources, community-based climate change education and what boards of education can do to support this process.
Energy
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Procurement Guide
Updated March 2022
The Sustainable Jersey Alternative Fuel Vehicle Procurement Guide provides information and resources for municipalities and school districts looking to add alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) to their fleets. This guide includes strategies for procuring alternative fuel fleet vehicles at the best pricing and with the least amount of staff time spent on procurement logistics. Procurement methods covered in this guide include fleet vehicle leasing; purchasing cooperatives and government purchasing contracts; direct purchase; and service contracting and shared services. The guide also includes information on funding and incentives for alternative fuel vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations.
How to Implement an Energy Savings Improvement Plan: Sustainable Jersey How-To-Guide
August 2019
This guidebook, developed by Sustainable Jersey and sponsored by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, explains the process from beginning to end in straight forward and easy-to-understand language. Case studies of successfully implemented ESIPs are included and an exhaustive list of resources are also provided to guide local government units successfully through the ESIP process.
Food Waste
Reduce, Recover & Recycle Food Waste - Sustainable Jersey Toolkit for PreK-12 Schools
December 2023
This toolkit, produced by Sustainable Jersey and Rutgers Cooperative Extension, provides guidance, resources, and examples for addressing food waste while also promoting healthy food and addressing food insecurity. It covers a range of topics that include: performing waste audits; reducing and recycling organic food waste as well as waste from food packaging and single-use items; recovering uneaten food; training staff on and implementing food service best practices; educating and engaging students; running school-wide campaigns; and using school gardens to promote sustainable food knowledge and behaviors. The toolkit also highlights the Sustainable Jersey for Schools actions that correspond to the food waste reduction practices presented.