This is a guest post by Crosslands resident Allen Prindle.

Many residents of Kendal-Crosslands Communities (KCC) joined together at Crosslands, or watched remotely, on November 7 to learn more about sustainability.   

KCC has many potential sources for sustainability suggestions. We can learn much by hearing about the sustainability practices of other CCRC communities.  Members of SSAFE (Senior Stewards Acting For the Environment) at KCC seek to learn from other SSAFE members.  There are currently 14 member communities of SSAFE, including Crosslands and Kendal at Longwood.  Crosslands and Kendal at Longwood each have about 100 SSAFE members.

We can also learn much about sustainability practices from local colleges and universities, including Quaker-based Swarthmore College. Swarthmore’s ambitious sustainability program was the meeting’s main topic; but first, Seth Beaver commented on KCC’s situation.  

Sustainability at KCC

Seth Beaver, VP of Community Operations at KCC, spoke about sustainability at KCC during the November 7 Sustainability Event.    Seth referred to the recent Energy Audit at Crosslands Community Center and many energy efficiency efforts by the residents and staff.  He also mentioned solar projects at Crosslands in 2023, and future solar arrays at Kendal Health Center.   

Seth highlighted two current efforts that have a sustainability focus.  He said a policy related to purchasing will be created soon with both a sustainability and DEIB focus.  This will include reviewing from whom KCC purchases supplies and how those supplies were made. 

The other effort he highlighted was the creation of a sustainability plan for KCC that will be included in the ongoing Strategic Plan being drafted by the Strategic Planning Committee of the KCC Board.  An outside consultant has been hired to assist with preparing this Strategic Plan. 

A sustainability advisor from Winter Associates has been serving KCC for recent construction projects.  They will be working with Seth and others to create a plan for the entire 500-acre campus.  This plan will advise on choosing investments with the “biggest bang for the buck.” Seth also acknowledged planning by residents to coordinate environmental committee efforts.   

Sustainability at Swarthmore College

The focus of the Sustainability Event was a presentation about sustainability efforts at a local Quaker-based college.  The speaker was Melanie Patapis, Climate Action Manager in the Office of Sustainability at Swarthmore College.   

Ms. Patapis noted that Swarthmore College started to plan for Zero Emissions and Zero Waste in 2010, and in 2015 set out to reach that goal by 2035.  This is their “To Zero by Thirty-Five” program. This is an aggressive goal, and they committed to be combustion-free for heat and cooling, and to use 100% renewable electricity.  They planned for energy efficiency across their entire campus, and to install a new geoexchange system to completely replace the gas-fueled steam plant.  The college has begun to install heat exchangers in the lower level of their new dining center with one loop to ground-based wells, and one loop to campus buildings.  They also planned to replace the over- 100-year-old underground piping.  They have developed methods to measure emissions, including Scope 1 (fuel used on campus), Scope 2 (electricity used on campus generated elsewhere), and Scope 3 (indirect emissions from campus activities). 

Swarthmore College has several solar arrays on campus, including the new dining center.  They have recently joined with other colleges to invest in a new solar facility in KY. The renewable electricity generated there will offset the remaining grid electricity used on campus.  They have upgraded many of their campus buildings for energy efficiency with insulation and improved windows, and to be compatible with the new heating and cooling system.

An additional approach toward zero emissions was to create an internal carbon pricing scheme to give incentives to each Department on campus to be more energy efficient, and to fund some energy efficiency projects. 

She spoke briefly about Zero Waste by adding composting and recycling.  They purchase supplies that can be recycled or composted.  They have several green roofs.  Their campus is the home of Scott Arboretum. 

Zero Emissions Goals

In his introduction of Ms. Patapis, Allen Prindle noted how challenging the zero emissions by 2035 goal is.  The 2015 Paris Climate Agreement has a goal of zero by 2050, as is the goal set by SSAFE.  The Energy Committees at Crosslands and at Kendal at Longwood also have adopted the zero by 2050 goal.  Penn State University has a goal of zero emissions by 2035.  University of Penn has a goal of zero by 2042.  The State of PA and Chester County have a goal of 80% less emissions by 2050. 

KCC is working to address sustainability issues with actions by residents, by the KCC Board, and by the administration.  This event on November 7 was a chance for residents to learn more about sustainability practices to benefit future residents and future generations.  If you would like to watch the program again or for the first time, click here to connect to the video recording. 

Allen Prindle, Crosslands Energy Committee

Homecoming visitors tour Swarthmore’s new geoexchange facility. [Photo: Swarthmore College]