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Natural Awakenings South Jersey

Cherry Hill Township Will Monitor Municipal Resource Usage Online

The town council of Cherry Hill township approved the creation of a two-year pilot program that will allow it to track the way municipal resources are used, and in turn, identify ways to cut costs and improve efficiency. The township is collaborating with Indiana-based Sustainability Dashboard Tools Inc. to become the first municipality in the nation to use the web-based data management tool to track the way resources such as electricity, water, fuel and consumables (like office supplies) are used in town hall and other buildings. The dashboard's interactive nature will also give township staff the ability to determine exactly–in some cases, down to the square foot–how much it costs to heat, light and otherwise operate township facilities and how best to cut those expenses. Improvements that have already been instituted will be traceable, and it will be possible to determine when using green products makes the most sense both fiscally and environmentally.

“By understanding how our resources are being utilized, we can more effectively target our reduction efforts and maintain those results,” comments Mayor Chuck Cahn. Through the collaboration with Sustainability Dashboard, the township was able to secure the service, valued at $150,000, for $10,000, an amount that will be funded entirely by grant money from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"It is our belief that the success of this project will become a source of pride for the residents of Cherry Hill and a valuable model that assists and inspires communities across the country," says Steve Ashkin, founder and CEO of Sustainability Dashboard Tools Inc.

For more information, call the Mayor's Office at 856-488-7878, or e-mail the mayor directly at [email protected].
 

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