In 2023, the Kendal System, guided by a core Quaker value of environmental stewardship, recognized significant advancements in sustainability initiatives. This commitment included concrete actions to immediately reduce the organization’s carbon footprint and foster operational practices that will benefit communities in the long term. The collective effort across the Kendal System is a testament to the belief that environmental care is a shared responsibility that builds resiliency. Kendal’s investment in these areas can inspire those seeking to grow sustainable living within community settings.
Across the country, Kendal Affiliates are engaged in many unique sustainability initiatives tailored to their local needs and conditions. From Lathrop Community’s focus on sustainable landscaping to Kendal at Lexington’s electric vehicles and composting efforts, the attributes of sustainability are woven into each community’s daily operations and long-term planning. From coast to coast, Kendal Affiliates are taking steps to support their local environments. In New York, Kendal on Hudson is developing a comprehensive Sustainability Action Plan to incorporate eco-friendly practices into its physical infrastructure and new campus refresh project. Meanwhile in California, Ensó Village was built from the ground up with a solid commitment to green construction and creating a sustainable community living environment.
Across the Kendal footprint, initiatives are under way to address energy efficiency, waste reduction, use of alternative energy, and the creation of wildlife-friendly habitats. These efforts demonstrate Kendal’s leadership in embedding sustainability into every facet of senior living and aging services operations and philosophy and exemplifies a holistic approach to sustainability. Investment in these areas can also bring quantifiable health benefits and significant cost savings.
Listed below are some examples of how Kendal Affiliates are evolving their commitment to sustainability. A comprehensive list can be found at https://www.kendal.org/about-kendal/kendalvalues/sustainability/
- Barclay Friends in West Chester, Pennsylvania, embraces various programs, from composting kitchen waste to leveraging technology for energy efficiency and supporting local food banks with fresh produce grown on-site.
- Collington in the greater Washington, D.C. area, established a campus sustainability plan, conducted energy audits, and introduced electric vehicle charging stations, representing steps toward a greener future. Furthermore, the accreditation as a Level 1 Arboretum and dedication to native plant species underlines a commitment to preserving biodiversity and educating residents about the importance of environmental care.
- Ensó Village in Healdsburg, California, stands as a beacon of sustainable design and operations, striving for a net-zero carbon footprint. From solar power generation to utilizing municipal geothermal energy, Ensó Village exemplifies forward-thinking in sustainable community living. The commitment to using Red List free building materials further highlights the emphasis on health and environmental safety. Ensó Village will also be growing its own vegetables and herbs for use in the community’s dining programs.
- Kendal at Hanover in New Hampshire illustrates how community engagement and technological advancements can drive sustainability. Energy audits, the community’s Working Environmental Sustainability Team (WEST), and initiatives like LED replacement and composting are a few of the community’s environmental efforts. The focus on native plants and invasive species removal, alongside an impressive adoption of renewable electricity, showcases the multifaceted approach to sustainability. Kendal at Hanover has recently observed “Dark Skies” (low artificial light at night to better view the stars) and supports the local program of the same name.
- Kendal on Hudson in Sleepy Hollow, New York, encourages sustainability by blending progressive environmental stewardship with enriching residents’ lives. Embarking on an ambitious Sustainability Action Plan, while launching composting and recycling programs, the community will incorporate sustainability initiatives into the upcoming Commons Refresh Project. Kendal on Hudson is also a Certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Foundation.
- Kendal at Ithaca in New York introduced expanses of low-mow grass, signaling a move towards greener turf alternatives. The community celebrates Earth Day through tree planting and attentive landscape cultivation. It embraces a wide range of programs to support sustainable goals, which include installing Trex benches earned through recycling plastic film and adding EV charging stations on-site.
- Kendal at Lexington’s picturesque community in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia has championed initiatives such as the Peak Energy Shaving program. Renovation and remodeling initiatives have successfully integrated ecofriendly HVAC systems and insulation into every refurbishment. They are committed to setting a new benchmark for energy efficiency with the addition of charging stations for residents and powering the fleet of electric-powered campus operations vehicles.
- Kendal at Oberlin in Ohio has a comprehensive Campus Sustainability Plan, Master Landscape Plan and energy audit underway. The community transitioned to LED bulbs for community spaces and residences and adopted electric vehicle charging stations to support clean transportation. Geothermal energy provides heat for many cottages while solar arrays will also cover resident parking garages.
- Lathrop Community in Easthampton and Northampton, Massachusetts, has a dedicated Sustainability Committee that targets pivotal areas such as energy, water, waste, and land management. Composting is practiced and celebrated, with bins installed near communal gardens, transforming kitchen scraps into nutrients that can be added to the soil. There is also a robust program that has been focused on the removal of invasive species on the campuses and in the woods surrounding them.
The comprehensive approach Kendal Affiliate communities take represents a dedication to embracing standard practices and setting new benchmarks for sustainability within the senior living field. Through collaborative efforts and a commitment to continuous improvement, Kendal sets an impressive precedent for ecological responsibility and stewardship, which will evolve and, hopefully, inspire and offer the best practices models for other organizations to follow suit.
Please note: Kendal at Home is a Life Plan at Home model that does not operate a campus community.