Today
Pilgrim Manor continues to move toward Sustainability in big projects, and the day-to-day operations of the facility. Find a few of these projects below.
Leadership Grand Rapids
- Pilgrim Manor recently submitted a project proposal to The Center for Community Leadership for their Leadership Grand Rapids program. The program, designed to grow and enhance leadership skills among Grand Rapids professionals, requires the participants to work on group projects in the community. Pilgrim Manor submitted a project proposal that targets environmental and social sustainability, two key components of the triple bottom line. The project goals are to unite our neighbors on the topic of environmental sustainability and expand our sense of community outside the Pilgrim Manor walls. Our project was selected and will take place over a nine month period with the conclusion of a neighborhood environmental sustainability activity completed. We are thrilled to be working with such great professionals through The Center for Community Leadership.
Storm Water Management Project
- Pilgrim Manor is currently working on a storm water management project in an effort to continue the development of our Environmental Stewardship System. During a heavy rain, the excess will run over manmade surfaces, such as asphalt, picking up contaminants. Often city sewer systems are not equipped to handle surges of excess storm water and therefore overflow into local lakes and rivers. The primary goal of the project is to eliminate Pilgrim Manor’s storm water from entering the city sewers by capturing all of our storm water on site and re-using that water for our grounds irrigation. A few supplementary goals of the project include features such as a nature trail, additional parking spaces and reducing the amount of fertilizers used on our grounds. We will keep you posted on the progression of this exciting project!
Virtually Mercury Free
- Due to the health and environmental risks associated with mercury containing devices and chemicals, Pilgrim Manor has begun the process of phasing out and eliminating all Mercury within our facility. This process includes a mercury audit, proper disposal of Mercury, future purchases of devices and chemicals will be Mercury free as well as continual education in proper handling and safe spill clean-up. Additionally, Mercury spill kits will be located throughout the facility for accidental spills.
Education
- Pilgrim Manor’s staff is forward thinking and willing to learn and embrace our journey in sustainability. Past educational in-services have included topics from biomimicry to mercury safe-handling procedures. With continual sustainability education, we know we are strengthening our social sustainability component.
Metrics
- An essential element of our Environmental Stewardship System is to measure our environmental impacts. Our way to reach that goal is through a metric system. This system will function by tracking all environmental impacts and ultimately, provide us a spring board for change. From this system, we will be able to adequately measure the progression of our Environmental Stewardship System.