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www.CTGreenGuide.com FALL 2016 • CONNECTICUT GREEN GUIDE 13 At Orchards at Southington, staff, residents pitch in A t The Orchards at Southington, a 90-unit assist- ed-living community owned by Hartford Health- Care, staff latched onto green ideals almost a decade ago. The effort started modestly with decisions to pur- chase environmentally friendly cleaning and pest-con- trol products and the phasing out of styrofoam dish- ware, but things have evolved from there. Guided by a staff-led "green committee," The Orchards put recycling bins in its six laundry rooms for residents and its kitchen for staff. The nonprofit facility estimates it has recycled approximately 85,000 bottles and cans, as well as countless amounts of paper, plastic, cardboard and other materials. Those efforts are part of The Orchards' commitments as a participant in the Environmental Protection Agency's WasteWise program. It also follows the practices of the EPA's Food Recovery Challenge, which promotes waste reduction through composting, donating food to the hungry and other strategies. Another green investment at The Orchards was the installation of low-flow toilets, which save more than two quarts of water with each flush, adding up to thou- sands of gallons saved per year. The Orchards has also reduced the amount of soap and paper towels its resi- dents and staff consume by installing motion-sensing dispensers that dole out measured amounts. The assisted-living community has also looked outside of its own walls, partnering several years ago with the nonprof- it American Forests, which promotes forest conservation. Under the arrangement with the "Come Grow With Us" program, The Orchards purchases a tree for ev- ery new resident and staff member. American Forests plants the trees in areas of the country that need resto- ration. New residents and staff then receive a certificate with their name on it. The Orchards estimates that it has purchased at least 400 trees so far. The Orchards at Southington PROJECT ELEMENTS: Facility-wide; energy & climate change; water; material management; innovation START DATE: Jan. 2007 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: Ongoing The Serenity Garden is just one green aspect of The Orchards at Southington. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED CATEGORY: Business GreenCircle Sustainability Awards 2016