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Belmar buildings inspected as part of Local Gov’t Energy Audit Program

Birdsall Services Group conducted an Energy Audit in Belmar this past Friday as part of the New Jersey Clean Energy Program’s “Local Government Energy Audit Program.”  Belmar’s Green Team and Environmental Commission selected three buildings for the initial audit: Borough Hall, Taylor Pavilion and Union Fire House. The Green Team had provide three years of baseline energy data and other information to qualify for the state program, which subsidizes 75% of the audit’s cost. Belmar is eligible for the remaining 25% as well as other incentives if the town follows up on any of the recommendations in the audit report, which should be complete next month. The recommendations are expected to improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs. Borough resident Tom Latza, who was recently certified as an Environmental Steward by Rutgers’ Environmental Stewardship program, has volunteered to oversee the audit process in these buildings and work with the engineers.

Belmar Rain Garden makes Rutgers Calendar

Belmar’s Rain Garden is featured as “Miss November” in the Rutgers Water Resources Program Calendar for 2010.

The Belmar rain garden was a collaborative project between the Belmar
Borough Environmental Commission and Master Gardeners from Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County.   The rain garden is situated near the intersection of Eighth Avenue and North Lake Drive
by Silver Lake and is frequented by citizens of the adjacent
community.  The purpose of installing the rain garden was to divert a portion of the runoff from the road into a vegetative system rather than directly into the storm sewer that discharges into Silver Lake.  It is also intended to serve as an example for homeowners in the area to replicate on their own properties.

See more pictures and information  here.

This rain garden manages stormwater from a portion of North Lake Drive.  The
drainage area was estimated by observing the direction of flow over the road and along the curb/gutter system.  It was determined ahead of time that a curb cut would be required.

After obtaining support from Belmar’s Mayor and Council and being awarded a grant from Verizon, the Belmar Environmental
Commission worked alongside the Master Gardeners from Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County to plan and install the rain garden.  The first step of the rain garden installation was to perform the heavy excavation and curb cut.  A small stone-lined ditch was created to connect the curb cut with the rain garden.  A berm was formed on the side of the rain garden closest to the lake.  The final size of the rain garden was 275 square feet in area and 6 inches in depth.  The excavation was generously performed by the the Belmar Borough Public Works Department. Master Gardener  volunteers performed fine excavation by hand, planting, and mulching.  The Belmar Boy Scout Troop also assisted with the rain garden planting.

So if you’re walking around the lake one day, stop by the rain garden and check out the great work done by the volunteers who made this all possible.   Great job everyone and Thanks!

Silver Lake is a haven for winter birds

I have been an amateur bird watcher for over 20 years and I walk my dog near Silver Lake every morning.  Did you know Silver Lake is very attractive habitat for birds, especially in Winter?   I already posted about Atlantic Brant which use the lake and surrounding area, but if you pay attention there are other birds that use the lake all winter for feeding and shelter.

Most mornings the Atlantic Brant, which have spent the night roosting on the water in Shark River Bay, will fly in to Silver Lake in small flocks to bathe in the fresh water that Silver Lake has to offer.  There will sometimes be over 100 birds all thrashing around in the lake to keep their feathers clean.

There is also a small flock of ducks known as Hooded Mergansers that call the Lake their winter home.  These ducks dive in unison to probe the bottom for worms and other invertebrates.  The males have a beautiful white crest that they raise and lower when they are agitated.

Ruddy Ducks are another diving duck that feed in Silver Lake in the same fashion but they are usually in smaller numbers.  American Widgeons feed along the edges of the lake and Northern Shovelers will feed on the surface of the lake.   Occasionally a rarer species like a Canvasback or  a Redhead can be found.   Last winter birders came from all over to find a Drake Eurasian Widgeon that spent the winter here.

And don’t forget the island is a roosting spot for Great Blue Herons and Black Crowned Night Herons.  Look for them every morning sitting in the sun on the Southeast side of the Island.

I’ll post updates on individual species throughout the winter so keep posted, and when you’re walking around the lake pay attention to some of our unusual winter visitors.

Update on the Water Conservation Pilot Program

Belmar is one of five towns chosen to participate in the Water Conservation Pilot Program for New Jersey, a major endeavor coordinated by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program and funded by grants from the NJDEP and the US EPA.  The program aims to reduce water usage by 10% in the five pilot municipalities– Belmar, Egg Harbor, Livingston, Rahway and East Greenwich– through three measures:  Water Conservation in the Classroom; Landscaping for Water Conservation; and Retrofitting Public Buildings for Water Conservation.

To continue the good work done at educational demonstrations in town throughout the past summer, the DEP and Water Resources Program are already organizing more demonstrations for Spring 2010.  The Magical Garden Community garden and E Street playground have been and will continue to be ground zero for these demonstrations.  Over the summer, an audit of the Magical Garden showed that the irrigation system was inefficient and wasteful.  Newly installed sprinkler heads at the site now water the garden using 58% as much water as the old system used.   At the E Street Playground, a Marine and Coastal Agent with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County has assisted in developing a self-guided walking tour through native plantings and installed a rain garden at the playground.  Project leader Elain Rossi-Griffen is currently seeking volunteers to help install porous pavers and apply low maintenance grass seed to the playground’s lawn as a way to demonstrate easy solutions to save water outdoors.  Residents interested in volunteering can call Rossi-Griffin at (732) 932-9800 x 6129.

Though New Jersey receives 44 inches of rainfall each year, population density and a marked jump in the use of potable water for activities like landscaping mean that our state is always at risk of experiencing a water shortage.   Lessons learned from the pilot program will be compiled and distributed to other municipalities throughout the state.

Click here to read more about Rutgers’ Water Resources Program.

Click here to read why Inside New Jersey cited Belmar as a top green town in New Jersey.

Make your home more energy efficient with NJNG’s Savegreen program

To schedule an audit, customers can either call 1(800)-221-0051 or visit savegreenproject.com.  A NJNG representative will  evaluate heating and cooling appliances within your home, check insulation levels and identify air-sealing opportunities, then will provide an assessment with recommended measures that could improve your home’s energy-efficiency by up to 30%.  The results of the Home Energy Audit will determine whether Savegreen participants are eligible for the following incentives*:

Type	Amount	Description
Home Energy Audit	$125 refundable	If you implement any of the Home Energy Audio recommendations (over $2,000), your $125 audit fee will be refunded
WARMAdvantage Rebate	$300	This rebate is available for those who upgrade to a WARMAdvantage qualified furnace or boiler through NJ Clean’s Energy Programx
NJNG Enhanced Rebate	$900	In addition to the WARMAdvantage rebate, if you accept the Home Energy Audit recommendations, you are eligible for an extra NJNG rebate on a WARMAdvantage qualified furnace or boiler.
Seal-Up Savings	Up to $1,000	Based on air-sealing opportunities found during the audit, you may be eligible to receive up to $1,000 of air-sealing work at no cost to you through NJ’s Clean Energy Program.
Federal Tax Credits	Up to $1,500	You may be eligible for up to $1,500 in federal tax credits.  Please visit energystar.gov/taxcredits for details and consult your tax adviser for guidance.
0% Financing		Upon implementation of the audit recommendations, you may be able to finance your home improvements with a fixed-rate 0% annual percentage rate unsecured loan for a term of 10 years (minimum $2,500, maximum $10,000).  No down payment required.  Exclusions may apply.

*information courtesy of the Savegreen project.  Visit the Savegreen website to schedule an audit or to learn more.

Atlantic Brant return to Belmar for the winter.

When we think of snowbirds, we usually think of people fleeing the cold Belmar winters for sunny Florida.   But there is another type of snowbird that calls New Jersey and the Mid- Atlantic its winter home,  a small goose called the Atlantic Brant.  The first flock arrived the other day while I was raking leaves in my yard and for me its a sure sign that winter is here and its time to get ready for  cold weather.

Brant are similar to the Canada Goose but smaller, shorter-necked, and lacking  the conspicuous white cheek patch. They are dark brown above with black head and a white collar on neck.  After nesting in the Arctic during summer, the Brant find the Mid-Atlantic winters just right.   Growing up in Belmar I never saw many Brant around the area but now they are much more abundant.

In the 1930s a disease virtually wiped out eelgrass, until then the favorite food of the Brant, and numbers of this species declined sharply. The survivors switched to the seaweed called sea lettuce. Eelgrass is abundant again in coastal bays, and the numbers of Brant have risen; there are now more than 100,000 wintering on the East Coast, and more than 150,000 on the Pacific Coast. These geese usually spend the winter in very large flocks, feeding on mudflats, constantly uttering their low, muttering calls. All winter long large flocks of noisy Brant will be seen feeding at the marina, on the soccer fields of Maclearie Park, and around Silver and Como Lakes.

Just as the arrival of Brant signals the arrival of cold weather, their departure in the spring means warm weather is sure to follow.

For more information about the Atlantic Brant  go to the NJ Fish and Wildlife website at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/brant03/main.htm

Sea Beach Amaranth Found on Belmar’s Natural Beach

Sea-beach Amaranth was discovered late this summer on the Belmar Natural Beach located between the Belmar Fishing Club and the Shark River Inlet.

Sea-beach Amaranth is an annual plant that exhibits low sprawling growth and small spinach-like leaves, and is restricted to open sandy portions of ocean beaches between the high tide line and the toe of the primary dune.

Its range had extended from Massachusetts to South Carolina.  Although originally described as abundant, the number of populations declined precipitously throughout the Twentieth Century and, following a collection from Ocean County in 1913, vanished from the flora of New Jersey.  Habitat destruction and alteration, incompatible beach grooming practices and recreational activities have all contributed to the decline of this species.  By 1989, the species was restricted to a few populations in North and South Carolina.

In 2000 Sea-beach Amaranth was discovered during piping plover survey activities in Monmouth County.  Theories for the reappearance of Sea-beach Amaranth in the region include transport of seeds through storm events and/or resurfacing of seed from beach fill operations.

To help ensure plant reemergence in previously recorded locations, an area free of disturbance (raking, scraping, vehicle access, etc.) should be established during the growing season (May to December) in all areas of suitable habitat. Symbolic string and post fencing should be installed surrounding all emergent plants, and all public access and beach maintenance activities prohibited within fenced areas.

This plant is visible at the easternmost edge of the First Avenue beach but remember to tread lightly and please leave your dog at home.

October 24 is “Make A Difference Day”- Town Cleanup Event

 

Volunteers are needed to help with Belmar’s “Make-a-Difference-Day” activities, on Saturday, October 24th from 9-12.

Activities include town wide cleanup, a sticker removal project and planting of donated flowers and plants.

Tools and clean up materials will be provided.

Volunteers should meet at 9:00am on the Sixth Avenue side of the Municipal Building, at 601 Main Street.

Please come out and help make a difference.

For more information contact Claire Deicke at 732-681-0522 or email ctd@verizon.net<

Event Date(s) and Time(s):

October 24, 2009 9:00 am to 12:00 pm 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

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Green Team installs seventh anemometer at 10th Avenue

Belmar’s Green team and Sea Girt-based The Big Wind installed a seventh wind speed measuring anemometer on the roof of the 10th Avenue Pavilion as part of an effort to map wind patterns in the Borough.  The anemometers are part of a long range program designed to gather wind data over several seasons from various locations in town to identify optimal locations for future turbines (assuming the success of this pilot program).  The first six anemometer’s were installed at 710 8th Avenue, Belmar Marina, Taylor Pavilion, the Fishing Pier and at two private residences.

Click here to follow The Big Wind blog.

Wind turbine to offset Belmar’s energy costs as part of pilot program

On Tuesday, August 4, 2009, a large packing crate was loaded on an air transport plane in China, bound for Belmar. The crate, which contains a 4kw vertical axis wind turbine manufactured by China’s Urban Green Energy, marks a major step forward in Belmar’s efforts to become a model sustainable community. If all goes as planned, Belmar will soon become the first community in the region to install a small wind vertical axis turbine.

The Big Wind, a Sea Girt-based wind technology company, is working with Belmar’s Green Team and Department of Public Works to scout a location where the turbine will be most effective. The turbine is on loan to the Borough during the period of the pilot project, and will be installed at no cost to Borough taxpayers.

The most likely location is the east side of the Taylor Pavilion, at Fifth and Ocean, where the turbine can take advantage of both the summer onshore winds and the westerly winds that funnel across Silver Lake during the winter months.

The turbine, which features whisper-quiet carbon fiber blades in a design that resembles a sculpture, will be assembled and tested later this month in Belmar, most likely in the Third Avenue garage. Once installed, the turbine will reduce the Borough’s carbon footprint and offset the Borough’s beachfront electricity costs. Whenever the electricity generated by the turbine exceeds the Borough’s needs, the excess electricity will be automatically sold to the grid. (During those times, the Borough’s beachfront electric meter will actually spin backwards!).

The installation will also serve as a laboratory, collecting data on the production and output of energy that can be used for educational purposes, and will help guide the Borough Council in deciding whether and where to pursue to future small wind installations.

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