The Charbonneau Villager Newspaper 2020_April issue_Villager newspaper | Page 12

12 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER
April 2020
SpringRidge at
Charbonneau
By KERRY PHILLIPS
Taking a team
approach to protecting
Mother Nature
A
t SpringRidge at Charbon-
neau, recycling, reusing
and reducing is a commu-
nity-wide effort. In honor
of Earth Day on Wednesday, April
22, residents and staff are working
together to educate older adults
about the role they play in protect-
ing Mother Nature for future genera-
tions.
“It’s very important for my peers to
know they play an important role in
preserving the Earth’s resources,” said
Nancy Kaesler, who has lived at Sprin-
gRidge for nearly a year. “We have a
significant influence in the lives of our
grandchildren and great-grands, and
we can model behaviors that encour-
age them to be good stewards of the
Earth.”
Earth Day brings awareness and ed-
ucation about environmental issues
and provide practical steps each of us
can take in our daily lives to reduce
our carbon footprint.
Nancy, her husband, Walt, and
neighbors Jim and Mary Hulett fully
support Earth Day.
“I’m so pleased that energy efficien-
cy and recycling have become part of
the public’s consciousness,” added
Nancy.
She and Walt were involved in the
first Earth Day celebration in 1970 and
often joke they were environmental-
ists before it became “fashionable.”
Walt was an architect who designed
passive solar-powered homes. They
credit their childhood and playing out-
doors for developing their love of na-
ture and desire to be actively engaged
in preserving Earth’s natural resourc-
es.
“When you look at things on a global
level, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. In-
stead, ask yourself how you can make
COURTESY PHOTO
Nancy and Walt Kaesler credit their childhood playing outdoors for developing their love of nature.
a difference. What can you do today to
impact our planet?” advises Nancy.
“Do what’s right in front of you, even if
you can’t see how it will make a differ-
ence.”
Mary, a former third-grade teacher,
concurs: Figure out the one or two
things you can do today to make our
Earth better.
She believes SpringRidge does a
wonderful job encouraging residents to
begin a greener lifestyle.
“Recycling bins on each floor are
convenient and a great first step,” she
said. “Earth Day is a lovely opportuni-
ty to make us more aware of how we
can honor the Earth. The state of Ore-
gon tends to lead the way in environ-
mentally conscious initiatives and,
SpringRidge can be at the forefront in
raising awareness among seniors.”
SpringRidge has a longstanding
partnership with the Energy Trust of
Oregon, an organization that helps
businesses take advantage of products
which reduce annual costs associated
with utilities, including water and elec-
tricity.
SpringRidge has retrofitted resi-
dences with water-efficient faucets,
showerheads and toilets as well as re-
placed lightbulbs with LED lighting.
Throughout the community, upgrades
have included energy-saving ballasts
and aerators.
“Our ongoing relationship with Ore-
gon Energy Trust helps us to gain an
understanding of how even the small-
est consideration like changing an
aerator on a water faucet can impact
water use,” said Executive Director
Garth Hallman. “The technology relat-
ed to conservation and stewardship of
resources is changing all the time.
SpringRidge is flexible and is always
ready to evaluate opportunities that
allow for the best use of resources.”
The Kaeslers and Huletts are
thrilled about the impact SpringRidge
and their neighbors have already
made, such as creating bird feeders
and houses for mason bees that have
attracted birds and bees which are
keys to the pollination cycle. The cou-
ples are also excited about upcoming
Earth-friendly initiatives and projects.
“The more we learn, the more we
know what needs to be done and how
to do it,” said Mary. “Once you be-
come aware, you’ll realize the power
you have to make a difference.”
Nancy and Mary’s best advice
for Earth Day and beyond:
Q Be mindful of how much water
you use to cook, wash, etc.
Q Avoid buying fruits and vege-
tables that are in plastic bags or
containers. If you do have to buy
them, consider repurposing the bag
or cutting off the top of the contain-
er and using it for storage.
Q Repurpose items such as using
the interior bag in a box of cereal as
a sandwich bag or sewing lunch
totes out of scraps of fabric.
Q Use a steel water bottle that
can be refilled vs. plastic water bot-
tles.
Q Go outside more — you’ll learn
to appreciate nature.
Q Learn from your grandchildren
— they are much more environ-
mentally conscious.
Q Buy in bulk and refill containers.
Q Don’t use more of anything
than you need.
Q Donate vs. trash whenever
you can.