Save Money, Share Your Success, and Inspire Others

Summerhill Communications 2022

Business Information
Name of Organization: 
Summerhill Communications
Organization Type: 
Professional Services
Business Description: 
desktop communication services - writing, editing, design, project management
Contact Person: 
Kathleen Caccavale
Title: 
Owner
Business Location: 
SummerHill Communications
82 Central Ave.
07940 Madison , NJ
United States
40° 45' 43.5744" N, 74° 24' 39.2616" W
See map: Google Maps
Phone: 
973-966-7884
Email: 
sc@sumcom.org
Number of Employees: 
1
Website: 
www.sumcom.org
Renewal Date: 
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Management and Leadership
Identify Sustainability Leader
Description of Action: 
Kathleen Caccavale has worked with environmental organizations with website development, publication layout and design for organizations such as ANEJC, the NJ Highlands Coalition, Chatham Township Environmental Commission, South Jersey Bayshore Coalition, as well as writing Open Space, Farmland Preservation and Trail Plans and Environmental Resource Inventories for municipalities and counties and project managing Sustainable Jersey certification submissions for Springfield and Lincoln Park as part of her work as a planning consultant for The Land Conservancy of NJ. On a volunteer basis, she has been involved with the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee since 2013 and has served as its chair since 201, leading a team of dedicated volunteers (appointed by the mayor) to championship status three times.
Upload Document(PDF Only): 
PDF icon Sustainable Madison ScreenshotsRan.pdf
Annual Environmental Goals
Description of Action: 
Summerhill Communications is a home-based office, so it benefits from energy-efficient improvements, such as insulating the attic several years ago, installing LED lights in the office, garage and other areas of the home. There is a room air-conditioner that I run only when absolutely needed for the computers. Yard maintenance is accomplished with electric equipment. A significant portion of the yard on the property is native plant garden or no-mow meadow. I do not water the yard/lawn. Most significantly, in fall 2021, I installed solar panels on the roof and a solar battery backup system to protect against power outages. I am researching electric cars and looking forward the federal and state rebates that will be available in 2023 for this and other energy efficiency and electrification opportunities, such as replacing the gas water heater with an electric option.
Develop Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Plan
Description of Action: 
As a one-person operation, I provide the same items for business use as for personal use. I have been purchasing 100% recycled paper for office use for several years now. I don't use paper towels or paper napkins, but rather cloth. I use reusable bags to transport both business and personal items and reuse file folders until they disintegrate - at which time I can recycle them at the town's recycling depot or curbside along with other recyclables. I dispose of electronics through the recycling outlets at a computer store in town and/or the recycling depot, where we can now also recycled clean styrofoam.
Provide Environmentally Preferable Products Services
Description of Action: 
As a one-person operation, I provide the same items for business use as for personal use. I have been purchasing 100% recycled paper for office use for several years now. I don't use paper towels or paper napkins, but rather cloth. I use reusable bags to transport both business and personal items and reuse file folders until they disintegrate - at which time I can recycle them at the town's recycling depot or curbside along with other recyclables. I dispose of electronics through the recycling outlets at a computer store in town and/or the recycling depot, where we can now also recycled clean styrofoam.
Waste
Waste Reduction
Description of Action: 
use of cloth instead of paper towels and napkins reduces waste.
Waste Reuse
Description of Action: 
paper is reused to make notes; eventually recycled; compost is used to amend soil
Waste Recycling
Description of Action: 
Light bulbs, toner cartridges, no longer used electronics, clean styrofoam, paper are all recycled at the town recyling depot, a computer store, Staple or Home Depot, as appropriate. Bottles, cans and plastics 1,2&5 are recycled through the town's curbside recycling program or at its recycling depot.
Food Waste
Description of Action: 
Food waste consumed during business operations take the same path as home food waste, whatever is compostable is composted on site.
Energy
Energy Efficiency
Description of Action: 
have replaced incandescent and CFL bulbs with more efficient LED bulbs in office and throughout rest of home, including garage. Insulated attic several years ago.
Renewable Energy
Description of Action: 
Installed solar panels and a solar backup battery in September 2021. The largest electric bill over the course of the year was $1.34. I currently have a -$331 credit with the town's electric utility. See August 2022 report from SunPower, the provider of my equipment. I don't know how to calculate kWh, therms or money saved since the energy used is comparable, it's just net renewable, even though overnight the system may draw from the grid the net effect is negative. There were only a few days when the system used more energy than it produced, but it will take years before I see net energy savings. I see monthly savings on my electric bill but I still had to pay for the system. Federal tax credit and TRECs help offset that in addition to the monthly electric bill savings.
Money Saved: 
331
Upload Document (PDF Only): 
PDF icon 2202-08-ResiMonthlyPerformanceReport.pdf
Transportation
Employee Commute
Description of Action: 
Since the start of my business in 1993, I have used a room in my house as my office. My only "commute" is the occasional bike ride before work! Also, because I live in a town with a walkable downtown, I often walk or ride my bike to do errands, including business errands, such as at Staples.
Transportation Other
Description of Action: 
I prefer to get around locally via bike or walking. When a train trip works I will choose that over driving a gas vehicle.
Water
Water Conservation
Description of Action: 
I do not water the lawn of the property. Our Borough Administrator did some calculations recently and showed that the annual bill for a house like mine with 2 adults w/out irrigation system was $274.48 in 2021. For a house with 2 adults and an irrigation system, the bill was $1,870.81. The difference in the amount of water used was 8,813 vs. 54,700. The overall savings is 45,887 gallons and $1,596. The portion of this that can be ascribed to the business is roughly 12.5% or $200 and 5,736 gallons
Gallons Saved: 
5,736
Money Saved: 
200
Stormwater Management and Site Design
Description of Action: 
I have a rain barrel that I am anxious to install! a native plant garden and other vegetation in the yard helps to asborb rainfall.
Environmental & Community Restoration
Environmental Success
Description of Action: 
As Chair of the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee, I have led a team of dedicated volunteers who have helped the town certify at the silver level with Sustainable Jersey and be named champion with the most points for a mid-population community three times, most recently in 2021. I have been involved with the committee since 2013, and since that time we have certified at the silver level each year we applied. I am also involved, through The Land Conservancy of NJ, in the NJ Highlands Cluster of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative, which seeks to protect and restore the waters of streams that flow to the Delaware River. I also take the lead on maintaining three rain gardens at Madison's Recreation and Conservation Complex and my business financially supports the town's May Day, where volunteers help to weed, mulch and clean up vegetated areas in the downtown and on municipal properties throughout town.
Environmental & Community Restoration Other
Description of Action: 
I am a member of the Friends of the Drew Forest nonprofit dedicated to outreach and education about the value of 53 acres of forest restoration area on the Drew University campus. This is in support of Madison's resolution to preserve those acres through a fair-market conservation sale rather than see them sold for high density development.
Industry-Specific
Industry Specific Practices
Description of Action: 
The trend to online everything, digital everything has changed the way we work. My business has evolved from hard copy, paper layouts, color-separated proofs, and files on disks to almost completely virtual. Gone are the days when I drove halfway to meet a client who handed me a disk with the content of the next newsletter for me to design and layout. Gone are the days when I need to drive to a client in person rather than communicate electronically. Zoom has been a big bonus effect of the pandemic as well, allowing online meetings to take the place of in-person meetings, saving time and gas.
Emergency Preparedness
Be Prepared for Emergencies
Description of Action: 
My town offers an alert system that advises of emergency situations. I subscribe to that service. The installation of a solar backup battery ensures that I can stay operational even in the event of a power failure.
Community
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Description of Action: 
I have a BIOX reactor that uses a unique technology to pull pollutants out of the air to create a cleaner indoor environment.
Support Community Initiatives
Description of Action: 
Serving as the chair of the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee, maintaining municipal rain gardens, attending Council meetings and supporting Council initiatives, financially supporting town events like May Day and holiday funds that support people in need, attending Borough events such downtown concerts and the farmers market all support community initiatives
Adopt a Cause or Project in your Community
Description of Action: 
Two causes, many projects: Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee & Friends of the Drew Forest. Many projects: Working with volunteers and town officials and staff to document sustainable actions that are happening or to develop sustainable actions that can happen. Looking to 2023, my focus is on working with the Health Department and Board of Health to initiate and/or document health actions for the next Sustainable Jersey cycle. Considering this summer's heat and dryness, I am hopeful the time is right for the town to introduce a water conservation ordinance. I have worked on many other categories of actions over the past several years and am continually finding new possiblities to explore.
Sustainable Jersey
Description of Action: 
As Chair of the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee since 2019 and a member since 2013, I am proud of the town's and committees success story. Since 2019 our committee of volunteers has taken on the somewhat daunting task of certifying annual for Sustainable Jersey and are proud of our three champion years. I was named Sustainability Hero for November 2021. See attached pdf.
Upload Document(PDF Only): 
PDF icon 2021_November_Sustainability_Hero_final2.pdf
Shop Local
Description of Action: 
My business does not participate in Buy Local campaigns since my product is not tangible item for purchase. But I do focus on buying local whenever possible, and have been involved in updating the Support Local Business and Buy Local actions for Sustainable Jersey.
Finished Application: 
1
required_descriptions: 
5
Member Since: 
Thursday, October 6, 2022

Register Your
Business

Whether you’re just getting started in greening your facility or are looking to push your environmental program to the next level or beyond towards the leadership level, join the New Jersey Sustainable Business Registry to demonstrate your commitment to a strong, proactive approach to environmental management.

Register
 Join us on Twitter!  

© Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved.