Kendal Corporation Commitment to Sustainability
At the Kendal Corporation, our affiliated senior living communities have a history of prioritizing sustainability in design and operations. This commitment to environmentally conscious approaches reflects Kendal’s Quaker roots. In alignment with our Quaker-inspired values, we believe human beings are stewards of the earth and should protect and preserve it for future generations. As environmental threats to the planet become more visible and increase in depth and breadth, the pursuit of sustainable initiatives has evolved into a moral and imperative action for the organization. Kendal’s commitment to combating climate change recognizes the collective effort of many individuals and organizations. When we all take small steps to change the here and the now, we can ultimately design a better world for our children and grandchildren.
Green Senior Living
From everyday initiatives such as composting and tree planting programs, to foundational choices such as the use of energy-efficient lighting in residences or clean water management techniques, Kendal practices its dedication to enviornmentalism.
Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in a wide variety of programs found at Kendal affiliates across the country.
While the operational aspects of these programs are managed by the professional staffs at each Kendal affiliate, residents are the biggest champions and drivers of Kendal’s sustainability efforts. Kendal residents are committed to protecting the environment and are motivated to find new ways to reduce the carbon footprint of their homes and their community. Committees of residents steer their community’s sustainability efforts by focusing on various areas, including the buildings and grounds, energy efficiency, climate change, water management and recycling.
Following are highlights of recent sustainability programs and activities across the Kendal system:
Kendal-Crosslands Communities (PA)
- Residents formed an Energy Committee on each campus and set goals to reduce their carbon footprint by 50% by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
- A sustainability consultant is helping to develop a master plan and is part of the design team to ensure focus on incorporating sustainability initiatives into future projects.
- Kendal-Crosslands is finalizing plans on new residential living homes on the Crosslands campus, including four duplexes and a building with ten apartments. This project’s design is planned to be zero energy ready with the ability to add solar panels in the near future.
- A group of cottages built in 2012 are LEED-certified and includes geothermal heating/cooling.
- As homes become available, Kendal-Crosslands improves their energy efficiency through better air sealing, added insulation, and highly efficient heat pumps.
- A resident group has been working on an indoor hydroponic garden to supply the dining hall with greens. Using locally grown greens will avoid the carbon-related issues of fertilizer/pesticide manufacturing, harvesting, transportation, and refrigeration.
- Residents equipped two cottages with monitoring equipment to measure all electricity usage. The data will help determine where to focus energy-saving efforts.
- A resident group analyzed the energy efficiency of the community’s lawn care equipment. Switching from gas to electric versions of equipment significantly reduced energy usage/carbon footprint while also reducing noise.
- As electric cars become more common on retirement community campuses, Kendal-Crosslands installed four new charging ports on each campus.
- Along with the regular collection of recyclables, the Kendal-Crosslands Culinary Services Department recycles fryer oil. Residents have also initiated recycling programs for plastic bags and several varieties of plastics.
- Kendal-Crosslands makes all vehicle purchases through a sustainability lens. Many of the fleet vehicles are electric and Kendal-Crosslands currently has two hybrid vehicles.
- Kendal-Crosslands purchases voluntary PA Tier II Renewable Energy Credits for 100% of the campus’s anticipated load.
Collington (MD)
- As part of a campus-wide Master Planning Process, Collington has incorporated sustainability into its design and operations. In addition to working with an architect with extensive experience in environmentally-friendly design, the community has contracted with a sustainability consultant to provide guidance throughout the process.
- Collington has recently been approved as a Level 1 arboretum. This first step is part of a process of building upon the extensive trails and walking paths throughout the 125-acre campus.
Kendal at Hanover (NH)
- The community is undergoing a multi-year redevelopment project that has included sustainability goals and operational improvements related to energy efficiencies.
- Kendal at Hanover procures 100% Green Power for electricity using Renewable Energy Credits.
- Integrated pest management and sustainable lawn care approaches are utilized across the campus.
- Residents instituted an active recycling program.
- Food waste and other appropriate materials are composted for use around the campus.
- The community achieves energy efficiency via sub-metering, equipment monitoring, a sophisticated Building Management System, and an Energy Dashboard.
Kendal on Hudson (NY)
- A one-megawatt generator supports the entire community in the event of power outages.
- Charging stations for electric vehicles will be installed in the near future.
- The community installed new berms to reduce and redirect water runoff in an effort to conserve water.
- The community is working to switch to LED lighting and is exploring the use of solar energy.
Kendal at Ithaca (NY)
- The community has a tree replacement program underway led by a Cornell University professor focusing on the best trees for a changing climate.
- All energy will soon be supplied from wind sources.
- Kendal at Ithaca is working with the NYS Energy Resource Development Agency on a sustainability initiative focused on the health center and community center.
Kendal at Lexington (VA)
- The
Environment and Sustainability Committee have focused on:
- Improving recycling effectiveness.
- Exploring solar panels for installation when roofs need replacement.
- Looking at the Wildscapes Program of the National Wildlife Federation.
- The community’s tree planting program works with a local school and nature center to plant trees around campus and so far has planted 100 trees.
- Residents are constantly looking for ways to raise awareness at the campus about energy usage.
Kendal at Oberlin (OH)
- Kendal at Oberlin is working on a project that will include a solar array on new garages as they are built and a walking trail connecting the campus to a nearby local walking trail.
- The community has pursued the installation of a solar array to support charging stations for electric vehicles.
- The Dark Sky Committee has developed a new outdoor lighting plan that will focus on reducing lighting across the campus and the migration to LED lighting.
Enso Village (CA)
- Kendal’s newest affiliate has set very high goals related to sustainability, including becoming one of the first life plan communities in the nation to achieve zero net carbon usage in its early years of operations. The community will be all-electric with a significant amount of power generated by solar panels.
- The planning and financing of Enso Village had a sustainability focus in that preconstruction capital has been provided by an impact investor whose approach to the provision of capital is balanced between return on investment and the achievement of measurable societal and environmental goals.
- Enso Village is being constructed with environmentally friendly building materials.
- The community will incorporate “car barns,” an automated car racking system that safely accommodates staff and resident cars. This innovation will reduce construction costs, use land more efficiently and reduce the carbon footprint of the project.
- Other sustainable design approaches include electric charging stations for resident cars, car share/ride share options, and integration with regional bike trails.
- Throughout its planning and design process, the project has adhered to LEED gold, CalGreen and Title 24 guidelines, which set extremely high environmental standards.
