Depending on your area, you could use "gray water" to water your plants.
Designing a senior center can be intimidating, but when you are trying to design a "green," sustainable or environmentally friendly one, it can easily be overwhelming. Different ways to approach designing a green senior center will fit different budgets and environmentally friendly beliefs.
Instructions
1. Purchase, rent or build your center. Whichever you decide to do, look for "green" options like energy star appliances, electricity-saving light bulbs, low-pressure toilets--or even composting toilets, if you're daring--and well-sealed windows. Remember: rooms facing the sun save money and energy on light and heating.
2. Install "green" systems. Solar panel prices have gone down considerably since they first became available to the public. Grey water systems use shower, sink, dishwater and sometimes toilet water. Water your garden with gray water, instead of wasting it.
3. Use plants native to your area in the landscaping. Xeriscaping, for example, is a kind of desert landscaping without grass, which requires massive amounts of water. When you use indigenous fauna, your plants are likely to grow better and faster and need less attention, since the location and weather are optimal for them.
4. Make your center self-sustaining. The fewer items you need to bring in from outside, the easier it is to be "green" since you will not have to rely on exterior measures. Consider planting kitchen gardens. If you opt for composting toilets, use the compost in the garden or use a worm bin to compost kitchen scraps. Your clients may even enjoy participating in garden-related activities.
Tags: composting toilets, environmentally friendly, gray water, senior center, your area