Green & Sustainability Initiatives

Discover Environmentally Friendly Senior Living with Foulkeways

Green and Sustainability Initiatives make a difference when living in a Senior Living Community. We appreciate our remarkable surroundings and continue to dedicate our efforts to achieving carbon neutrality and environmentally friendly senior living. At Foulkeways, we are committed to creating green initiatives in senior living by caring for the environment in our community that so many residents call ‘home.’

Composting at Foulkeways

Foulkeways Green and Sustainability Initiatives

Foulkeways Electric Car Charging Stations

Foulkeways Energy Efficient Appliances

Foukeways Forest Restoration Project

Foulkeways Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems

Foulkeways Aggressive Recycling Program

Foulkeways Solar Panel Roofs

Foulkeways Uses Environmentally Friendly Products and Services

Below please find additional information about our ‘green’ and sustainability initiatives. 

Geothermal Heating and Cooling

Foulkeways at Gwynedd uses geothermal systems to heat and cool apartments efficiently in the community. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source since it uses the heat within the earth. Energy is derived from the earth’s constant temperature to generate heat or AC for the home. Heat is transferred from the ground (or water) into buildings during the winter. The process reverses during the summer. Geothermal systems are considered the most efficient heating and cooling systems. It provides a comfortable home while also being cost-effective. It also reduces air pollution and water consumption and improves indoor air quality.

Solar Panel Roofs

Placing solar panels on the roofs at Foulkeways provides cost savings while reducing the carbon footprint. Solar panels directly harness the sun’s radiation. It converts the energy into usable power. They can generate electricity without air or carbon pollution which benefits the environment. Additionally, if there is a power outage in the neighborhood the lights will remain on due to the solar panels. Solar panels also require minimal maintenance.

Composting

As a steward of our land at Foulkeways, our composting initiative gives back to the environment. The nutrient-rich compost fertilizes our plants. The composting has benefited plant health and soil structure, drainage, aeration, and moisture retention. Greater environmental benefits include mitigating the effects of droughts and improving stormwater management.

Composting Containers

Made of 100% compostable natural fibers, these durable and heavyweight boxes are eco-friendly and break down naturally within a few months.

Green Initiatives and Energy Efficiency

The benefits of energy efficiency are apparent at Foulkeways and have resulted in many environmental, economic, and community benefits.

LEED-Approved, Energy-Efficient Appliances

We install in all of our apartments LEED-certified, energy-efficient appliances. Being LEED-approved means a more efficient, healthier, safer, more comfortable home.  Using these appliances supports a more sustainable lifestyle by reducing the overall environmental impact of everyday activities. This aligns with broader efforts to promote sustainability and responsible consumption.

LED Lighting

Throughout campus, we use energy-efficient LED lights. They are energy efficient, durable, and produce fine light quality. LED lights consume significantly less energy than traditional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. They convert a higher percentage of energy into light rather than heat, making them much more efficient.

Low-Flush Toilets

We have installed low-flush toilets throughout campus. These high-efficiency toilets use less water than standard toilets, saving water and energy. By using less water, low-flush toilets help reduce the strain on local water supplies and wastewater treatment facilities. This can lead to less energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions associated with water processing and sewage treatment.

Electric Car Charging Stations

In addition to providing efficiency in the home environment, Foulkeways has installed  x number of  electric car charging stations throughout the community. Electric car charging stations offer convenience and flexibility, reduce environmental pollution, and lower energy costs. By supporting the use of EVs, charging stations contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, as EVs produce no tailpipe emissions.

Recycling Program

Our aggressive recycling program is designed to eliminate waste and pollution at Foulkeways. Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, decreasing the pollution they cause. It also helps conserve natural resources by reusing materials, which reduces the need for raw material extraction and processing. We promote sustainable waste management practices in an effort to conserve natural resources and save energy.

Forest Restoration Project

Foulkeways has invested in a multi-year Forest Restoration Project to remove non-native invasive plants, trees, and shrubs within the community. The project addresses deer browsing due to development in Montgomery County and other outlying counties.

Existing diseased trees affected by pests, such as Ash borers and bacteria, including oak leaf scorch, are being identified and cared for. Foulkeways has consulted with John Rockwell Hosbach, Jr. of Rockwell Associates in Ridley Park to identify concerns about campus trees and landscape. Mr. Hosbach is a highly effective Registered Consulting Arborist, Certified Arborist, and Landscape Consultant with over twenty-two years of experience diagnosing and evaluating woody plants.

The residents of Foulkeways value being a part of a healthy community. This community includes our animals, especially the bugs, birds, and other creatures that carry the good stuff around. This problem is separate from the losses caused by the emerald Ash Borer and Oak leaf Scorch. The invasives are from a mono-culture that deprives the trees of water and nutrients, prevents sunlight from reaching the forest floor, and also prevents succession growth of the existing species.

Click here to see additional photos and read more about the Forest Restoration Project.