Welcome to the Old Bridge Economic Development Corporation's Green Business Resource Center. This website is designed to assist businesses who want to go green and save money by incorporating environmentally friendly business practices through energy conservation, waste reduction, and pollution prevention.

The links below will provide local businesses with information on implementing green practices, as well as online resources and financial incentives. 

Your participation in this initiative is important and will support sustainability efforts already underway in Old Bridge.  In addition, businesses who implement one or more of the following "actions" will be featured on the Green Business Resource website and will have an opportunity to receive an award at the Township's first annual Green Business Recognition Program Award Ceremony scheduled for the spring of 2010.  Be sure to register your green business on the website registration form.

Actions for Greening Your Business (Source: Sustainable Jersey)

Waste Management
	• Reduce waste generated
	• Reduce product packaging
	• Reduce paper use
	• Increase recycling
	• Purchase recycled materials
	• Manufacture or sell recycled products
	• Compost food scraps and yard waste
Energy Use
	• Purchase electricity generated from renewable sources
	• Invest in on-site solar or wind energy
	• Install a geothermal heating and cooling system
	• Conduct an energy audit
	• Install energy efficient light bulbs and appliances
	• Earn the ENERGY STAR for a commercial or industrial facility
Water Conservation
	• Install low flow toilets and aerators for faucets and shower heads
	• Use native, drought tolerant plants to reduce landscape watering
	• Serve drinking water only by request
	• Recycle grey water
Green Building and Landscaping
	• Install a green roof
	• Implement sustainable landscaping practices
	• Construct a rain garden
	• Use no or low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) paints and sustainable building materials
	• Achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification or other green building standards for a commercial or industrial facility
Transportation
	• Outline a trip reduction strategy
	• Facilitate employee participation in carpools or vanpools
	• Subsidize public transit for employees
	• Offer bicycle parking, lockers, and showers
	• Purchase hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicles
	• Offer telecommuting or compressed work weeks
Transportation
	• Outline a trip reduction strategy
Pollution Reduction
	• Eliminate the use of toxic chemicals in production process
	• Use green cleaning supplies
Purchase green products
	• Produce or sell environmentally friendly items
Social Responsibility
	• Offer employee welfare and benefit programs
	• Produce or sell environmentally friendly items
	• Ensure equitable hiring practices
	• Pay living wages
	• Offer affordable housing
	• Sell healthy foods
	• Participate in corporate philanthropy
	• Allow employees on-the-clock participation in community service
Commitment to Local Economy
	• Purchase products from local suppliers
	• Offer job training or apprenticeships for local residents
	• Hire workers from local colleges and training programs
	• Mentor local entrepreneurs and new businesses

For further reading, please visit these links:

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority offers a low-interest loan fund for sustainable business projects. Click HERE for more information.

Fairleigh Dickenson University's Institute for Sustainable Enterprise also provides funding, click HERE for more information.

Click HERE for NJ Department of Evironmental Protection Stewardship Links

Union County, NJ Green Connection information can be found by clicking HERE

Business Recycling in Middlesex County information can be found by clicking HERE

To contact the Executive Director, please click HERE