Health & Wellness Article - August 2009Going green—and making a difference
Whether they realize it or not, when residents move to a Touchmark community, they are making a commitment to conservation of resources. Environmental sustainability is Touchmark’s vision, and the individuals who work and live in the community are the changemakers who contribute to the success of reducing the carbon footprint.
In new construction and renovation projects, environmentally friendly building methods and materials, energy sources, appliances, and furnishings are selected by Touchmark Development & Construction Company, a Touchmark subsidiary that seeks out and works with local “green” architects, developers, and builders whenever possible.
Touchmark at Coffee Creek (Edmond, Oklahoma) has qualified for the EPA’s 
voluntary Green Power Partnership program. The partnership with Edmond Electric to offer “cleaner, greener” wind power to residents significantly reduces the need for fossil fuels. In fact, their current purchase of wind power to the Grandview building is equivalent to removing 121 cars from the road for an entire year or planting 186 acres of trees, according to the EPA.
At Waterford at All Saints (Sioux Falls, South Dakota), Waterford at Harwood Groves (Fargo, North Dakota), and Waterford at Fairway Village (Vancouver, Washington), recent renovations used environmentally friendly paint, carpeting, and other materials as well as energy-efficient fixtures.
Gardeners at Touchmark on West Prospect (Appleton, Wisconsin) teamed up with volunteers for a joint gardening venture this summer. At Waterford on Saddle Drive (Helena, Montana), there is a concerted effort to recycle, headed by individual residents with the support of team members.
Each resident can contribute to the effort to “Go Green” in numerous ways. Some examples are:
- Using and reusing cloth shopping bags
- Contributing no-longer-needed items to charitable organizations to use for fund-raising
- Turning off lights and appliances when not in use
- Turning down the thermostat in winter and up in summer
- Using less water
- Separating recyclables whenever possible
- Taking advantage of community shuttles, buses, and other mass transportation offerings
- Walking and cycling for better health and a healthier environment
- Purchasing recycled products for use in the home
Do you have other ideas for supporting a sustainable environment? Please send them to a Touchmark Executive Director.
© 2008 Touchmark