The recent rain may make some feel blue, but we’re thrilled about a recent “green” recognition.
Jim Glickman recently wrote to say that the “Green Needham Collaborative commends [North Hill] for their outstanding efforts to reduce energy use and for their commitment to a sustainable future for Needham.” He said that our community was one of 28 local community organizations, businesses and houses of worship that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to energy reduction in the past year.
We’re thrilled that our efforts to act as better stewards of our natural resources and campus have been recognized in this way. North Hill’s entire community has been exploring and acting on ideas for green living:
- Our team members have been spotlighted in local and national media for reducing lunchroom waste.
- When residents set their minds to reducing paper waste, they saved the equivalent of 67 adult trees – in just one month!
- Our construction partners in the True North initiative are reducing construction waste and trying to prevent negative impact to our natural surroundings.
- Our design partners in transforming our campus buildings and amenities are incorporating green roofs and other sustainable features.
One of the initiatives that I am most excited about is an innovative partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Boston. As part of our True North initiative, North Hill is completely re-designing apartments, taking them down to the studs and transforming the floor plans and all the finishes. Instead of discarding the kitchen cabinets, sinks and other items, we are donating them to Habitat’s ReStore. Habitat resells these gently used building materials to the public at discounted prices. It’s a wonderful way to reduce waste and help low-income families in the Boston area.
The Green Needham Collaborative is a community-based volunteer organization that’s making a difference in our town. They are wrapping up a 10% Energy Challenge, in which they challenged Needham residents to cut their energy use by 10%. Visit their website for an easy-to-use checklist with ideas for reducing your carbon footprint: http://challenge.greenneedham.org/.
We welcome your ideas for saving energy, reducing waste and leaving this a better world for our grandchildren. Follow this link to share your tips for “green” senior living – you could win a North Hill reusable water bottle!
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