The Land Conservancy of New Jersey Constructs Alternative Energy System

Thanks to a grant from the F.M. Kirby Foundation, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey has introduced state-of-the-art energy efficient technologies to our Wild Acres headquarters to minimize our carbon footprint. An innovative approach to energy conservation, a geothermal system will be completely installed on the property within the next week and is expected to significantly reduce our dependence on oil for heat in the winter and the amount of energy used to cool the building in the summer. Geothermal systems are 25-50% more energy efficient than conventional HVAC or oil burning heating and cooling systems. Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) use the constant temperature of the earth, approximately 55 degrees, as the exchange medium, versus the outside air temperature. In this way less energy is spent on increasing or decreasing the temperature indoors in order to provide more comfortable levels at any given time of the year.

Following the initial energy audit of the building by Greenliving Solutions of Ridgewood, NJ, we found that our headquarters lacked sufficient insulation. While heating and cooling typically account for 50 to 70% of the energy used in the average American home, inadequate insulation and air leakage often cause a significant loss of heating and cooling and thus waste energy. In the Conservancy’s quest for greater energy savings, we insulated the entire building prior to May 21st, the firstday of geothermal drilling, in order to improve the new system’s efficiency. For three days, from May 12-15, the interior of the building was draped in plastic covers, holes were drilled in the walls, and walls were filled with blown-in insulation consisting of recycled newspaper. All electronic equipment and other supplies were removed from rooms and our staff was displaced around the building—even outside! There were holes, dust, and workers in hazmat suits everywhere!

Together, these changes will result in significant energy savings and minimize The Land Conservancy’s impact on the environment. Check back for updates on our geothermal well construction.

Holes in the office walls

are shown where blown-in

insulation was installed.

New foam insulation is shown on a

wall. This will help to keep our

building airtight.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey’s World Series of Birding Event was a success!

Pictured at the end of their 24 hour trek throughout New Jersey are the members of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey’s World Series of Birding team, the ‘Highlands Hawks’. From left, Dennis Miranda from Vernon and team Captain, Steve Rodan from Cape May, The Land Conservancy’s Stewardship Manager, Dennis Briede of Blairstown & Stephen Kloiber, from Pen Argyl, PA. The team put their skills to the test at the 27th Annual World Series of Birding event. They combed the state with one thing in mind; identifying as many species of birds as possible in a 24-hour period. Considering the fairly large list of competitors the team placed 4th, spotting and identifying 200 birds.

The Conservancy would also like to thank Toyota/Lexus of Parsippany for donating the use of a hybrid SUV for the team to use on their trek.

The event, sponsored yearly by the New Jersey Audubon Society, helps focus attention on New Jersey’s strategic importance to migrating birds and helps organizations like the Conservancy raise money to protect natural habitat. This was the 15th year the Conservancy participated in the event.

As stated by Dennis Briede, ‘We traveled over 700 miles throughout the state, from Vernon in northeastern Sussex County, down through Forsythe Wildlife Refuge in Oceanville and then all the way to Cape May. Considering how breezy it was we still managed to hear or spot a total of 200 species of birds, from the swift peregrine falcon to the tiny ruby-throated hummingbird. About eighty percent of all the birds on the list are heard rather than seen, which means you have to know your bird calls for over 150 species.”

As a result of the record number of birds identified, the team was able to raise over $16,000 through pledges made for each species they spotted. The money raised will be used to help the Conservancy continue its efforts to preserve open space lands and protect water resources in New Jersey.

Founded in 1981, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is a member supported non-profit land trust that has been preserving open space land and protecting water resources in New Jersey for the past 28 years. The Conservancy has preserved more than 16,500 acres of land since 1996 and has helped towns receive more than $192 million in grants to purchase and protect land throughout New Jersey. The Conservancy has worked with 64 municipalities in 13 counties, benefiting millions of residents throughout the state.

You can help The Land Conservancy of New Jersey continue these efforts by making a donation toward our World Series of Birding total and/or becoming a Conservancy member! For more information, to a donation or volunteer, call Barbara McCloskey at (973) 541-1010 x14 or visit the website at www.tlc-nj.org.

Seeking Volunteers for Native Wildflower Garden

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help maintain their native wildflower garden. WildAcres garden is located on a forty four acre preserve, which serves as the Conservancy’s Headquarters and is also a Montville Township park. The garden, established with the help of volunteers has also been certified by the National Wildlife Federation as an official Backyard Wildlife Habitat site.

Volunteers are needed to perform tasks such as weeding the garden beds and paths, pruning of some shrubs and trees, mulching and raking leaves and other general clean up. All tools and supplies will be provided.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is a non profit member supported organization dedicated to preserving and protecting New Jersey’s vital natural lands and water resources. The organization has been working for the past 29 years to inspire and empower individuals and communities to take action to save the land that is so important to our state. The Conservancy has preserved over 16,500 acres of land and helped towns receive $192 million in grants to purchase and protect land throughout New Jersey. The Conservancy has worked with more than 76 municipalities in 13 counties, impacting over half of New Jersey’s counties and benefiting millions of residents throughout the state. The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is the first land trust organization in the state of New Jersey and one of only 93 nationwide to receive accreditation from The Land Trust Accreditation Commission. For more information, to volunteer or make a donation, call Barbara at (973) 541-1010, x14 or visit our website at http://www.tlc-nj.org/

Spring Partners for Parks Season Underway

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey’s Partners for Parks program, which provides community service opportunities for corporations and civic groups, has already begun its15th season with a project at Lorrimer Sanctuary in Bergen County.

With 12 projects already confirmed for this season and more in the planning stages, the focus of Partners for Parks is to tap corporate and civic volunteers to participate in one day community service projects in local parks, improving and maintaining these vital recreational areas while building a corps of advocates for the parks. In collaboration with 102 land managers to date, the program arranges customized projects to enhance federal, state, county, municipal and other non-profit natural areas.

Partners for Parks is a nationally recognized award-winning program which fosters team building and community spirit for volunteers while providing critical public support for parks and open space preservation. The program is unique to New Jersey in offering free stewardship services to federal, state, and municipal parks.

A sampling of project locations scheduled for this spring includes: Morris County - Harding Land Trust & Spring Garden Lake in Florham Park; Somerset County- Cross Estate Gardens, Sherman Hoffman Sanctuary & Wagner Farm; Essex County - Branch Brook Park & Hartshorn Arboretum; Union County - Reeves Reed Arboretum.

The Partners for Parks program is made possible in part thanks to our corporate sponsorships. 2010 sponsors thus far include: BASF, Goldman Sachs & Co., Investors Savings Bank, Merck & Co., Novartis Pharmaceuticals, sanofi-aventis, UPS and Wal-Mart.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is a non profit member supported organization dedicated to preserving and protecting New Jersey’s vital natural lands and water resources. The organization has been working for the past 29 years to inspire and empower individuals and communities to take action to save the land that is so important to our state. The Conservancy has preserved over 16,500 acres of land and helped towns receive $192 million in grants to purchase and protect land throughout New Jersey. The Conservancy has worked with more than 76 municipalities in 13 counties, impacting over half of New Jersey’s counties and benefiting millions of residents throughout the state. The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is the first land trust organization in the state of New Jersey and one of only 93 nationwide to receive accreditation from The Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

For more information, to schedule a Partners for Parks Corporate Volunteer Day or make a donation, call (973) 541-1010, or visit our website at www.tlc-nj.org .

New Web Map Launched!

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey has launched our newly created interactive map on our website - http://www.tlc-nj.org/. The map identifies each of the properties we have helped to permanently protect, from Stokes State Forest in northern Sussex County to the Musconetcong Valley in southern Warren County. Take a tour of the breathtaking lands that the Conservancy has helped to preserve!

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is a non profit member supported organization dedicated to preserving and protecting New Jerseys vital natural lands and water resources. The organization has been working for the past 29 years to inspire and empower individuals and communities to take action to save the land that is so important to our state. The Conservancy has preserved over 16,500 acres of land and helped towns receive $192 million in grants to purchase and protect land throughout New Jersey. The Conservancy has worked with more than 76 municipalities in 13 counties, impacting over half of New Jerseys counties and benefiting millions of residents throughout the state. The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is the first land trust organization in the state of New Jersey and one of only 93 nationwide to receive accreditation from The Land Trust Accreditation Commission. For more information, to volunteer or make a donation, call (973) 541-1010, or visit our website at http://www.tlc-nj.org/.