Politics & Government

Get Ready to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Register now for third annual 'Eco-Rally' to be held April 1-15.

Turning off lights. Cycling or walking instead of driving. Using reusable bags. Planting a native garden or tree. Carrying lunch in reusable containers. Buying energy-saving appliances.

These are only some of the steps participants in this year’s “Eco-Rally” can take to save energy and reduce their “carbon footprint.”

“Every little bit we do can make a big difference. It’s relatively easy to do. It doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. The more people do, the bigger impact we can have,” said Carrie Springer, Naturalist.

Find out what's happening in Basking Ridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The third annual “Eco-Rally” is sponsored by the Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center and kicks off Friday, April 1. From April 1-15, individuals, families and work, social or sports groups who register for the event will maintain a daily log, checking off what they are doing to reduce energy usage and promote a greener lifestyle.

Participants will then create a display or poster depicting their contribution to the environment. The projects will be on display April 21-May 1 at the Environmental Education Center, 190 Lord Stirling Road.

Find out what's happening in Basking Ridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The event culminates with an “Eco-Rally” ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1 recognizing teams that have gone “above and beyond the daily log,” Springer explained. In the past, teams were honored for efforts such as collecting juice boxes and donating the proceeds to an environmentally friendly group or organizing a book swap.

“We hope people will continue to think earth-consciously and be aware of the decisions they are making. We want them to take what they’re doing in the Eco-Rally and continue to do it throughout the whole year.” she added.

Previous events have attracted 1,000 participants.

Participation in the “Eco-Rally” is free. Individuals and teams are encouraged to register in advance. For an application or more information, contact Springer at 908-766-2489, Ext. 326 or email cspring@scparks.org.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here