Examine ways to make recycling more convenient across campuses and enhance existing recycling program for paper, cardboard, metal, glass, and plastic. Seek to recycle a greater % of waste, reducing pickup.

Compost organic waste whenever possible.

Recycle hazardous waste-containing products, such as fluorescent lamps and ballasts, anti-freeze, solvents, batteries, computer monitors, and TV. s.

Create energy databases that document energy use and promote energy conservation projects.

Switch to non/least toxic paint, solvents and cleaning agents.

Promote environmentally friendly product purchasing, i.e., make every effort to buy only products which are durable, reusable, recyclable, made of recycled materials, non-hazardous, energy efficient, sustainably harvested, produced in an environmentally sound manner, etc.

Develop a practice of repairing/refurbishing durable products.

Find effective ways to educate the PHS community about purchasing issues.

Use the LEED - EB (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Existing Buildings) rating tool, or a similar standardized tool, to evaluate the sustainability of the operations and maintenance of existing facilities.

Enable senior management to use comparative analysis of sustainability implications and to support sustainable decision making related to economic, social, and environmental issues.

Manage data effectively related to consumption of energy resources and water usage.

Establish baselines for energy efficiencies and consumption patterns.

Presbyterian Homes rightly prides itself on the integration of its guiding principles founded in the Christian tradition with the care and services provided throughout the organization. This integration as it pertains to stewardship of resources, both human and non-human, are found in the PHS Commitment to Service, practices:

# 23: Practice environmentally sound programs by conserving energy, recycling and properly maintaining buildings and grounds.

# 24: Demonstrate careful use of all resources.

And in Our Promise:

We offer an environment where each person can excel by serving others.

We nurture and maximize individual talents by sharing a spiritual focus and applying the principles of trust, honesty, respect, integrity and commitment.

We celebrate a culture where diversity is valued. PHS encourages principles of stewardship and sustainability to find expression across all levels of services within the organization. Opportunities exist to provide the framework for the engagement of the theological and ethical framing of sustainability principles, as well as the practical working out of this commitment. A vision could be that our staff and residents will be steeped in stewardship ethics and thereby motivated to lead lives that honor these principles.

Energy use and the demand for electricity for lighting homes is directly related to the times when people go to bed at night and rise in the morning. In the average home, 25 percent of electricity is used for lighting and small appliances, such as TVs, VCRs, and stereos. A good percentage of energy consumed by lighting and appliances occurs in the evening when families are home. By moving the clock ahead one hour, the amount of electricity consumed each day decreases.

Now, years later, our society is focusing in on "Going Green" and conserving natural resources, an idea originally stated so long ago. Croixdale as a community has opportunities to look at what we could be doing differently to conserve. From the residents to the staff of our community, we are identifying conservation areas where outcomes are socially just, environmentally responsible and economically sensible. If you are a resident who is interested in participating in a focus group to look at opportunities to conserve, please sign -up at the receptionist desk or call me at 275-4808!

Rene Roeser, Croixdale Campus Administrator