Like many superheroes, Darcie Gorman has an alter ego. But unlike the superheroes of yore, the director of accounting for La Costa Glen Carlsbad does not have to wait till cover of darkness to reveal her super self; she just prefers it that way.
“I love turning off the lights,” she said. “O gosh yes. Just ask my family. Everybody, turn off the lights!”
Gorman is one of the retirement community's eco-crusaders, and is as passionate about recycling and reusing as she is about turning off lights in the name of conservation. Gorman, her partner in eco-crime fighting, Kavin Ward, and their seven-person Green Team have meticulously and enthusiastically established La Costa Glen's 18-month old sustainability effort.
The Green Team's beginnings came about when Gorman's supervisor attended an industry conference where another facility's conservation efforts were profiled. “We were inspired by that to assemble a program here,” Gorman said. “I've always been active in recycling efforts at my children's school so we were excited to put a team together.”
La Costa Glen kicked off the sustainability effort at a company holiday party, where it was well received, not only by employees but by the residents as well. “I was surprised that we started getting emails with suggestions from our residents,” she said.
Efforts include an all-fronts assault on waste, and an all-hands-on-deck approach to recycling and conservation. One unique program encourages employees to bicycle, take the bus, or carpool to work. The community offers a reimbursement program to employees who carpool or ride their bikes to work at least three times per week, and assists employees with the cost to purchase a bus pass each month. Once at work, the employees walk or use three-wheeled bicycles to travel around campus.
La Costa Glen markets its program to employees using e-mail blasts, employee newsletters, department meetings, special events and posters throughout the community. Informational presentations by representatives from SANDAG's RideLink program are also held throughout the year for employees. In addition, the community sponsors “Ride to Work Day,” during which breakfast, giveaways and raffles are provided to those who bike to work.
A broader goal of the Green Team's program is to conserve energy, water, paper, gasoline and other non-renewable resources. The Green Team program is also supported by the community's residents, most of whom are in their 70s and 80s. Many of them remember the strategies they used in their youth during the lean times of the Great Depression.
“The residents are especially good with ideas on how to cut down on water and lighting,” Gorman said. “For them, recycling and conservation have never gone out of style.”
She added that La Costa Glen experiences substantial savings each year as a result of the coordinated waste reduction program, which benefits the residents by helping to control costs.
Daily menus for the dining rooms are posted online instead of being printed, as are the community's newsletters.
“That's my favorite aspect of the effort,” Gorman said. “Our residents respond very well to accessing information online. They are a very computer-savvy group.”
In the offices, computers are turned off at night and print cartridges are recycled and refilled instead of thrown out. The community has also converted to energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs, and LED lighting is being installed throughout the premises.
Styrofoam cups for morning coffee in the community's lounges and Styrofoam containers for meals on the go have been replaced by reusable containers and water bottles. Gorman noted that for some, the Styrofoam cup habit has been a tough one to break. “We are working on that. Some changes take a little more time but we have some ideas. The effort is there,” she said.
Recycling containers for bottles and cans are located throughout the community for both residents and employees. In addition, La Costa Glen's landscaping consultant is reducing the use of pesticides and introducing more drought tolerant planting materials. Moreover, reclaimed water is used to irrigate landscaping, helping La Costa Glen save money and meet its drought reduction quota.
The results of the multi-faceted crusade are as grand as the effort; La Costa Glen was honored with the Environmental Spirit Award at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce's Annual Awards Dinner in February. The community was also given a 2009 Diamond Award by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) for going the extra mile to reduce traffic congestion.
La Costa Glen Carlsbad is a continuing care retirement community offering a comprehensive package of services, amenities and dining; a variety of housing options; and an adjacent Medicare-certified health center staffed with professionals 24 hours a day. For more information, please call 800-333-7550 or 760-710-4200, or visit www.LACOSTAGLEN.com.
“I love turning off the lights,” she said. “O gosh yes. Just ask my family. Everybody, turn off the lights!”
Gorman is one of the retirement community's eco-crusaders, and is as passionate about recycling and reusing as she is about turning off lights in the name of conservation. Gorman, her partner in eco-crime fighting, Kavin Ward, and their seven-person Green Team have meticulously and enthusiastically established La Costa Glen's 18-month old sustainability effort.
The Green Team's beginnings came about when Gorman's supervisor attended an industry conference where another facility's conservation efforts were profiled. “We were inspired by that to assemble a program here,” Gorman said. “I've always been active in recycling efforts at my children's school so we were excited to put a team together.”
La Costa Glen kicked off the sustainability effort at a company holiday party, where it was well received, not only by employees but by the residents as well. “I was surprised that we started getting emails with suggestions from our residents,” she said.
Efforts include an all-fronts assault on waste, and an all-hands-on-deck approach to recycling and conservation. One unique program encourages employees to bicycle, take the bus, or carpool to work. The community offers a reimbursement program to employees who carpool or ride their bikes to work at least three times per week, and assists employees with the cost to purchase a bus pass each month. Once at work, the employees walk or use three-wheeled bicycles to travel around campus.
La Costa Glen markets its program to employees using e-mail blasts, employee newsletters, department meetings, special events and posters throughout the community. Informational presentations by representatives from SANDAG's RideLink program are also held throughout the year for employees. In addition, the community sponsors “Ride to Work Day,” during which breakfast, giveaways and raffles are provided to those who bike to work.
A broader goal of the Green Team's program is to conserve energy, water, paper, gasoline and other non-renewable resources. The Green Team program is also supported by the community's residents, most of whom are in their 70s and 80s. Many of them remember the strategies they used in their youth during the lean times of the Great Depression.
“The residents are especially good with ideas on how to cut down on water and lighting,” Gorman said. “For them, recycling and conservation have never gone out of style.”
She added that La Costa Glen experiences substantial savings each year as a result of the coordinated waste reduction program, which benefits the residents by helping to control costs.
Daily menus for the dining rooms are posted online instead of being printed, as are the community's newsletters.
“That's my favorite aspect of the effort,” Gorman said. “Our residents respond very well to accessing information online. They are a very computer-savvy group.”
In the offices, computers are turned off at night and print cartridges are recycled and refilled instead of thrown out. The community has also converted to energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs, and LED lighting is being installed throughout the premises.
Styrofoam cups for morning coffee in the community's lounges and Styrofoam containers for meals on the go have been replaced by reusable containers and water bottles. Gorman noted that for some, the Styrofoam cup habit has been a tough one to break. “We are working on that. Some changes take a little more time but we have some ideas. The effort is there,” she said.
Recycling containers for bottles and cans are located throughout the community for both residents and employees. In addition, La Costa Glen's landscaping consultant is reducing the use of pesticides and introducing more drought tolerant planting materials. Moreover, reclaimed water is used to irrigate landscaping, helping La Costa Glen save money and meet its drought reduction quota.
The results of the multi-faceted crusade are as grand as the effort; La Costa Glen was honored with the Environmental Spirit Award at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce's Annual Awards Dinner in February. The community was also given a 2009 Diamond Award by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) for going the extra mile to reduce traffic congestion.
La Costa Glen Carlsbad is a continuing care retirement community offering a comprehensive package of services, amenities and dining; a variety of housing options; and an adjacent Medicare-certified health center staffed with professionals 24 hours a day. For more information, please call 800-333-7550 or 760-710-4200, or visit www.LACOSTAGLEN.com.