Dear Editor:
Practically speaking, having smoothly paved roads in Hoboken is not something to complain about, but the stewards of our great City of Hoboken and County of Hudson, who commissioned the work, missed an opportunity to Go Green in the Mile Square City. During the past few weeks as our roads got ripped up and repaved, I kept thinking about a product that I came across while attending last year’s Green Buildings Expo in New York City: GreenPatch, an eco-friendly cold asphalt.
GreenPatch contains none of the petroleum-based softeners found in conventional cold asphalt that emit toxins into the air and pose potential threats to our health and the environment. The use of conventional cold asphalt causes the release or off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, which contributes to respiratory problems, soil and groundwater contamination, and smog. In short, it’s not good to be breathing in or using, especially when there is an alternative that equally performs and is safe, cost competitive and sustainable.
Eco-friendly asphalt contains ZERO VOCs and is manufactured using 70 per cent less fuel than the conventional mix, which makes it less expensive to produce and energy efficient. And, its softener is biodegradable derived from renewable and sustainable sources. By the way, it is also approved by the New York State Department of Transportation and used by towns, cities, universities, farms and utility companies across the country, including New York City, Mount Vernon, N.Y. and Con Edison.
I think we can do a better job of being green, especially in a city like Hoboken with leadership and community focused on kids, open space, bike lanes and smart growth. Moreover, recent laws in New Jersey and EPA regulations at the federal level require that we take a closer look at VOC emitting materials. Moving forward, the City of Hoboken’s roads will certainly need repairs and maintenance and I hope we seize the opportunity to Go Green by using eco-friendly asphalt. Thank you to all my friends who provided me with constructive feedback and contributed to this commentary.
Sincerely,
Rick Stempler
Hoboken