Success stories

Walden House

Connect the Dots partnered with Walden House to implement the Green Start Program at its largest adult residential facility which is home to over 110 previously incarcerated men and the 20 staff providing treatment services. Meals are prepared in a commercial-size kitchen and served three times a day with an on-site laundromat.

With a focus on the educational component of the Green Start Program to challenge ingrained habits around waste, and through community meetings and a cooperative effort, Walden House reduced waste output by 36% (diverting 71% from landfills) within two months and pocketed $1,750 each month in savings.

They expect to save:

  • 50,000 pounds of waste from landfills ($21,000) each year;
  • 992,000 gallons of water ($14,000) each year by fixing leaks, installing faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads, and changing habits around water consumption;
  • $450 in free devices, rebates, and incentives;
  • $35,450 in savings for Year One, $175,450 in savings over 5 years.


Compass Community Services (Clara House)

Connect the Dots partnered with Compass Community Services two-year transitional housing facility for 13 families needing more intensive rehabilitative services before living independently, yielded similar results. With a focus on the educational component of the Green Start Program to challenge ingrained habits to create a “culture of conservation” of the residents, and through community meetings and a cooperative effort, they reduced waste generation by 50% (diverting 70% from landfills) within two months and pocketed $230 per month in savings.

They expect to save:

  • $4,620 per year in energy, water, and waste reduction;
  • $1,030 in free devices, rebates, and incentives;
  • $5,650 in total savings for Year One, and $24,130 in total savings over 5 years.
That's a tremendous goal reached, especially considering the amount of people involved and the short timeframe. I am amazed, as in my experience, this much reduction is rarely possible.
~Anita Migliore
10+ year Waste Diversion Specialist


Jordan Apartments

The Green Start Program at the Jordan Apartments, a 55-unit building owned by the Conard House which provides housing and support services for people diagnosed with mental illness, is expected to save:

  • $1,650 per year in water reduction (12% annual saving!) by installing faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads, and toilet upgrades *** ;
  • $6,300 per year in energy reduction (26% savings), with 90% of the project costs paid by incentives;
  • $8,250 by receiving free devices, rebates, and incentives;
  • $16,200 in savings for Year One, $48,000 in savings over 5 years.

*** Encouraged by these savings, the Jordan Apartments has since the Green Start program increased replacements of 45 high-efficiency toilets to raise annual projected savings to $6,000 and to save over 780,000 gallons of water each year. (based on actual data)

Hamilton Family Center

See how Hamilton Family Center saved $24,000 and launched Connect the Dots.