Landis Homes reported findings on softening water that demonstrate a reduction in their carbon footprint over 15,000 pounds of CO2 annually.  An automatic brine delivery system uses bulk salt to eliminate the need for dried bagged salt.  The use of the AUTOBrine® system from Cope Salt of Lancaster allows Landis Homes to avoid sending 2,890 plastic bags to the landfill each year as well as pallets and stretchwrap.  Because the salt is purchased as loose salt, the energy used to dry the salt, bag the salt, and to manufacture the bags normally required for transporting is eliminated, thereby assisting efforts in reducing the environmental impact of activities such as softening water.

In addition, Landis has experienced no employee injuries related to handling salt since installing the system.

Other Living Green initiatives at Landis Homes include LEED Gold construction, Green Power, rainwater harvesting, stream and floodplain restoration.

By ROCHELLE A. SHENK Correspondent for Lancaster Newspapers

April 10, 2013

 Landis Homes plans to commemorate Earth Day on Monday, April 22, by showcasing a recently completed floodplain restoration project on its campus at 1001 E. Oregon Road, Lititz.

The event will include a car show, from 1 to 3 p.m., featuring electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt and PPL's demonstration vehicle.

Also featured will be a "Healthy Wetlands" presentation at 2 p.m. in a tent at the edge of the newly restored .....Continue reading

Click here for 3-minute video.
Landis Homes hosted the Land Studies “Lititz Area Healthy Watersheds Tour” in December 2012. Tour participants visited the Landis Homes streambed restoration project and enjoyed brunch on campus provided by the Dining Services team in the Azalea Room.

February 2013

Landis Homes was one of several Central PA retirement communities featured in B Magazine's Spring 2013 issue for active commitments to eco-friendly practices.  Click here to download PDF of article.

January 2013

Beginning January 2013 Landis Homes is playing a role in supporting renewable energy by purchasing “Green Power” for 10% of electricity used on the campus through January 2015. Green power is electricity produced from renewable sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact small hydroelectric sources.

Buying green power is one way of investing in the future development of renewable energy sources and making a commitment to support more sustainable sources of power. Read more

October 2012

Landis Homes recently celebrated the LEED® Gold certification received for its new expansion on the south part of its 114-acre campus.  Established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. There are currently only a handful of LEED Gold structures in Lancaster County.  Read more.

October 2012

In August earthmoving equipment started removing sediments and fill that built-up over many years in the stream and floodplain that runs through campus. 

As earthmoving finishes in October the planting of trees, shrubs and plugs of grasses, rushes and sedges begins. There will be 51 native species trees, 675 shrubs and 25,600 plugs planted, some this Fall, others in the Spring of 2013. Partners on the project include LandStudies of Lititz, design and construction management, B. R. Kreider of Manheim, excavation, and RGS Associates of Brownstown, land planning.   Read full story.

Originally published August 27, 2012
By TIM MEKEEL, Lancaster Newspapers Business Editor

The South Campus of Landis Homes has won LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, it was announced last week.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status marks a project as a top “green” project, in design, construction and operation.

Continue Reading

Originally Published Jul 26, 2012
By ROCHELLE A. SHENK
Correspondent, Lancaster Newspapers 

Motorists driving along Oregon Road near Landis Homes and residents at the retirement community will be noticing some changes late next week as a project to restore the floodplain of Kurtz Run gets underway.

Perhaps the most visible part of the project aimed to improve water quality will be the removal of a farm pond in the meadow near the bridge.

Read More

For more information, call 717-569-3271, Ext. 3052.

May 2012

This summer, the Landis Homes Grounds team will mow a 5-foot wide grass strip from the edge of campus to the neighboring Harvest Lane Farm stand.  Several cottage residents requested this way to walk to the farmstand as a way to reduce vehicle use.  Thanks to these residents for helping us to think GREEN!

The grass lawn strip is safer than walking along Oregon Road, but it is not a gravel or paved path, and is not designed for use by scooters or wheelchairs.

February 12, 2012
New Looks and Tastes in Retirement Dining
This article appeared in Lancaster Newspaper Progress 2012

By Rochelle A. Shenk , Special Features Writer
Lancaster Sunday News

Dining and meal service are an integral part of our society. Many holiday traditions focus on family dining. Restaurants offer diversity informal from cafés and bistros, casual yet elegant, and fine dining.
The numerous retirement communities throughout the county all have their own dining venues and options — some formal, others more casual. Landis Homes, Lititz, recently revamped its dining services.

“Being ‘green’ goes hand-in-hand with being good stewards of our natural resources.  Every opportunity we see, we try to think ‘green’.”

Read Full Article

October 2011

At the Leading Age annual meeting in Washington DC, the Landis Homes hybrid homes received a citation in building architectural design presented by the American Institute of Architects.  Winners are spotlighted in the 2011 Trends in Design publication.  

Link to it at Trends in Design. 

Nationally, hybrid homes continue to be viewed as a leading edge housing type with a bright future.

July 2011

Landis Homes is pleased to be added to the list of companies recognized by Pennsylvania Power and Light Company as a smart energy user.  Find out more at their website:  PPL Honor Roll

May 2011

Landis Homes Retirement Community recently opened two Rainwater Car Wash stations for use by all residents.  The two stations, located in a parking area, use water collected from the roofs of the two new hybrid homes. 

A rainwater eco-friendly car wash is one of the best types of car washes because it contains fewer harmful chemicals or sediments that come from public water sources. 

The water is stored in underground tanks, then used to wash cars and water plants.  It is good for the earth as it saves drinking water by using non-potable water for washing cars.  

Director of Maintenance Craig Sensenig, pictured, is washing a Landis Homes vehicle with the new system.  The hybrid homes, which are going for a LEED certification for environmentally sustainable design, are just one part of the green program at Landis Homes. 

By Jessica Pavelko, CSA

Lancaster County Magazine
April 2011

Going “green” seems to be everywhere these days. Words such as “sustainable,” “organic” and “hybrid” have become part of our vocabulary. While it may be overwhelming at times, our actions do have some impact on the planet, so why not make good, conscious decisions? For the generation that grew up in the Great Depression, recycling was a way of life that was born out of necessity. As a result, recycling and other earth-friendly practices became life-long habits for today’s seniors.

Download full article - Article featuring Landis Homes efforts to go green.

February 2011

Landis Homes has completed the first phase of an estimated $50 million three-phase expansion project on the south side of the retirement community’s campus.  Linford Good, vice president of planning and marketing, said that not only does the project include a new type of housing for the community, spacious hybrid homes that combine the best features of apartment and cottage living, but it also has a number of “green” features.  Read More...

The theme of the issue is Psalm 24: 1
"The earth belongs to the Lord, and everything in it --  the world and all its people."

Link to Annual Report 2010

May 2010

When Landis Homes Retirement Community, 1001 E. Oregon Road, Lititz, introduced hybrid homes last fall, the groundbreaking was an outward expression of the "green" attitude that is pervasive throughout the community's daily operations. Landis Homes is also currently taking steps to serve healthier, locally grown foods; improve recycling efforts; and reduce waste. Read more...

April 2010

In late 2008 Compass Group, the parent company of Morrison Senior Living which manages Dining Services at Landis Homes, initiated the 360 Degree Sustainable Excellence Program of Corporate Social Responsibility.  That program’s core philosophy is to “achieve commercial success in a way that honors ethical values and respects people, communities and the natural environment.” Read more...

January 2010

Two Landis Homes team members, Linford Good and Chris Kennel, recently received Green Advantage® Certification following a training session and preparation for taking a qualifying exam.  Green Advantage's mission is to certify building organizations and practitioners nationally and internationally. Read more...

December 2009

Earth moving equipment and drilling rigs cover the site of new residential living homes.  Storm water controls, roads and building pads have been formed.  Storm water, sewer and water lines have been installed and wells for geothermal heating and cooling drilled.  Benchmark Construction Company, Brownstown, is overseeing the work. Read more...