Eenhoorn Q2 Sustainability Update
At Eenhoorn, we are continually exploring ways to incorporate sustainable practices to align with our Sustainability Initiative. Incorporating sustainability into our everyday operations is a primary focus. Below are a few updates from these past few months.
2023 National Outreach Week
Eenhoorn proudly participates in National Outreach Week to improve the health of our communities and local environment. Every year, Eenhoorn employees devote time to give back to local sustainability-minded organizations for National Outreach Week. This year, between May 15th and 26th, employees volunteered at 11 different organizations throughout the country. This included beach clean-ups in Southern California and Miami Beach, nature trail restoration, and native species planting. In total, 123 employees were able to participate for a total of 399 workday hours! View the 2023 National Outreach Week Impact Report here.
Reducing Dependency On Paper
After months of reassessing our leasing process at conventional and student properties, we were able to identify several processes where paper usage could be greatly reduced. By giving our property managers and leasing staff consistent tools, training, and guidance from the senior management team, we were able to reduce paper usage by 20% in 2023 compared to Q1 and Q2 of 2022 based on company-wide paper purchases. When printing is necessary, we encourage purchases of recycled paper and Forest Stewardship Council approved brands.
Eenhoorn Joins the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum
Eenhoorn is now a member of the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. We are excited for this partnership to lead to increased opportunities to grow Eenhoorn’s Sustainability Initiative. Joining the forum is another important step in Eenhoorn’s commitment to becoming a sustainability leader in the multifamily real estate sector. Eenhoorn joins a community of sustainability-focused businesses and organizations including Amway, Bissell, Blandford Nature Center, Calvin University, Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, Republic Services, and the City of Grand Rapids.
The mission of West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum is “to promote business practices that advance climate leadership, community resilience, social justice and the creation of a circular economy.” The WMSBF is “Michigan’s leading organization for beyond-compliance sustainability practitioners, with a membership program serving our region’s most recognizable brands, largest employers and most innovative entrepreneurs, advocates, and educators.”
Community Garden Initiative Expands
Providing growing space for our residents is an important facet of Eenhoorn’s Sustainability Initiative. We currently have gardens at Arrowhead Apartments, Briarwood Apartments, Pineridge Apartments, Rosewood Villas, Wellington Woods Senior Living, Westfield Club Apartments, Windridge Apartments, and Westminster Meadows Senior Living. This Spring, we expanded our community garden initiative to include Longfellow Lofts in Madison, WI. The new garden space will include several raised beds for resident use, and additional garden beds for grape vines along prebuilt trellises in the courtyard.
