[Princeton, NJ]: On Tuesday, November 18th, at the New Jersey League of Municipalities, the Municipality of Princeton was certified silver by Sustainable Jersey, and the Health Department renewed its prestigious gold star award for the fourth year in a row.
“We’re honored to receive the Gold Star in Health recertification from Sustainable Jersey. This recognition reflects Princeton’s deep commitment to building a healthier, more sustainable community for all. From improving air and water quality to expanding access to wellness resources, affordable housing, and sustainable transportation, our efforts are grounded in equity and long-term impact. We’re proud of the collaborative work across departments and with our residents, including initiatives like our gas-powered leaf blower restrictions and community gardens, to our annual Mayor’s Wellness Campaign activities, that help make Princeton a healthier place to live, work, and thrive,” said Mayor Mark Freda.
“We are honored that Princeton has again been recognized with Sustainable Jersey’s Gold Star in Health for 2025–2028. This recognition reflects the Department of Health and Community Services’ years of collaborative work with partners across the community, each of whom helps us promote health, equity, and well-being every day,” said Deputy Administrator and Health Officer Jeff Grosser. “The Gold Star designation is a validation of Princeton’s commitment to incorporating health into municipal decision-making. For the Department, this recertification reinforces that our policies, programs, and partnerships are making a meaningful impact, from signing the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign pledge each year to creating a local health action plan that addresses emerging population health needs in Princeton. Our community deserves a public health system held to the highest standards, and this recognition inspires us to continue building a healthier, more resilient Princeton for everyone.”
This year, Princeton achieved a record number of points, largely because of several new actions. These include the new Food Scraps program, Witherspoon Street’s safety and pedestrian improvements and rain garden installation, as well as the Environmental Resource Inventory, and improvements to emergency planning and communications. In addition, Sustainable Princeton led energy-efficiency outreach campaigns for residents and businesses and is pursuing community solar for low- to moderate-income residents, both of which add to Princeton’s tally. “It’s exciting to see all the new actions in Princeton, and I eagerly anticipate additional actions in 2026, like the Municipality’s planned acquisition of two new electric passenger shuttles,” noted Jenny Ludmer, Program Manager of Sustainable Princeton.
The Sustainable Jersey certification program is a free, voluntary program that recognizes municipalities across the state of New Jersey for completing sustainable actions. There are two levels of certification: bronze and silver. Silver certification means a municipality has made significant progress in several categories toward sustainability and is a statewide and national leader. The Gold Star in Health is awarded to municipalities that demonstrate how they have effectively incorporated health in municipal decision-making and address social and environmental conditions impacting the health of their communities. Currently, only five municipalities have achieved a Gold Star in Health.
Eighty-three municipalities achieved Sustainable Jersey certification in 2025. Of these, 52 towns earned bronze certification and 31 achieved silver certification—the program’s more advanced level. To become certified, municipalities must complete a range of sustainability actions and document their progress. Bronze-level certification requires a minimum of 150 points, while silver-level certification requires 350 points or more. This year, Princeton’s record 810 points make it the fourth-highest-scoring municipality in the state.
“Princeton continues to set a high standard for what sustainability leadership looks like,” said Randall Solomon, director of Sustainable Jersey. “Earning both silver certification and a Gold Star in Health reflects the town’s innovative, community-wide approach to improving quality of life and promoting long-term well-being.”
To learn more about Princeton’s Sustainable Jersey certification, please view the report.
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About Sustainable Princeton
Founded in 2012, Sustainable Princeton is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire the community to develop and implement solutions that positively impact the environment. We envision Princeton as a model town that examines every action through the lens of sustainability, ensuring a healthy environment, a strong economy, and the well-being of all community members now and in the future. Our office is located at 1 Monument Drive, Princeton, New Jersey. For more information, visit SustainablePrinceton.org
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About Sustainable Jersey
Sustainable Jersey provides tools, training, and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability initiatives. As New Jersey faces challenges such as the climate crisis, a growing equity divide, and environmental pollution, municipalities and schools are taking action to be part of the solution. Sustainable Jersey participants have successfully implemented and documented nearly 30,251 sustainability actions, and the program has provided more than $8.6 million in grants to municipalities, school districts, and schools for community-based projects that create healthy and sustainable communities across the state. www.SustainableJersey.com; www.SustainableJerseySchools.com