Connecticut Green Business Awards
The Orchards at Southington
34 Hobart Street
Southington 06489
860-628-5656
southingtonorchards.org
Executive director: Audrey Vinci
Housekeeping supervisor: Kathy Johnson
No. employees: 50
At the Orchards at Southington, an independent and assisted living community, one will find a Housekeeping Supervisor considered a green “guru.”
Kathy Johnson decided to educate herself to gain a better understanding of green practices. “She reviewed numerous products that conform to the Green Seal standard. She wanted products that are made of more natural ingredients, have fewer odors, and are less irritating to her staff and to our residents with lung, pulmonary and compromised immune systems,” explains Executive Director Audrey Vinci.
“Kathy was the one who contributed to the green effort; she’s the one who interviewed different vendors and went over the product information and then made the selections,” Vinci adds.
Johnson’s research led to finding eco-friendly products that she could use in her department, that were efficient, cost effective and would be healthier for the residents and staff. “All of the products we use conform to the Green Seal standard. The green movement then began to grow into the other departments in the community,” says Erika Copes, the Orchards’ director of marketing and business development. “The buy-in of all staff was incredible,” Copes adds.
Among the products now in use are Ramsey Reflecta (a neutral floor cleaner), Ramsey Sky Light (glass cleaner), Ramsey Frequency 256 (disinfectant cleaner and environmentally friendly), to name a few. In the maintenance department all new paint, flooring, carpeting, adhesives andsealant applied inside the building are low VOC (volatile organic compounds) and eco-friendly.
Naturally, the Orchards at Southington also recycles bottles, cans and newspapers. “It really took some coaching and education for the residents to get them to participate in that effort,” Vinci admits.
“The staff at the Orchards has bought into the concept of a green environment and realizes the health benefits,” she adds. “The green effort has moved into every department at the Orchards.”
Says Vinci, “We decided to go green because we decided it was the right thing to do for staff and for residents in the community — to give them a healthier environment.”
No certifications have been attained to date.
“It’s a great marketing tool when on tours to say our staff and residents are working and living in a healthier community,” says Vinci. “Johnson’s mantra is ‘If it’s not safe and environmentally friendly, we don’t use it.’”
The biggest challenge, according to Vinci, was getting “buy-in from the rest of the staff and the other departments — having the supervisors and staff of the other departments buy into it.”
Johnson’s goals are to continue to improve and further implement green initiatives in the community. She is also the co-chair for the Orchards’ green team for other communities within the Central Connecticut Health Alliance.
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