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Lutheran Services for the Aging, an AAHSA member, included environmental protections in their recent renovation project. They designed their parking lot around the existing trees on the property to protect the old growth - protecting the environment and adding to the beauty of the campus.
“Environmentalism is part of being a good citizen in the community,” said Lutheran Services President Ted W. Goins Jr. “… We take that responsibility very seriously. We were advised that it would be easier to just cut the trees down, but sometimes the easy solution is not always best.”
Even though they could have saved the money, they opted to help the earth and beautify the campus. What types of things has your organization been doing to protect the environment?
In the limited years that remain, I pledge
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to save from harm this Earth that bears me,
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to cherish the variety of species keeping me company on my short journey,
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to honor those laws of nature making this fragile planet habitable,
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to respect my fellows as members of my larger family,
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and to conserve for the future the resources whose abundance, now waning, has made my life possible.
Reduce, reuse, recycle goes the saying, but what does that mean for aging-services providers? Determining what you can do to fight global climate change while still providing quality care and services can be a challenge.
There are many great resources available to help you on your journey to sustainability. The following are two that I’ve found helpful:
GrayisGreen.org is a Web site run by the residents of Whitney Center, a retirement home in Hamden, Connecticut. They have put together a handbook for aging-services providers, called The Handbook on Conservation for Retirement Communities: a practical guide to the green life. This resource is helpful for providers regardless of where they are in developing their sustainability plan. It contains information on topics ranging from energy saving to gardens, lawns and housekeeping.
Elder-Friendly, Earth-Friendly Design discusses how sustainable building and elder care go hand in hand. This paper divides the benefits of green design into four categories: air and climate, light and views, community and nature, and cost control.
There are more environmental stewardship resources available here.
What are you doing to help curb your organization’s footprint? What resources do you find helpful?
