The Board of County Commissioners presented the award during a ceremony Tuesday.
The county recognized the community for 13 specific achievements in energy conservation, water conversation, recycling and other practices.
The Emerald Award program recognizes businesses for voluntary efforts in four areas: waste reduction, recycling, improved operating practices and other green strategies that reduce pollution and waste. Covenant Village was the only business in Plantation and the only retirement community to receive the award.
Among its strategies, Covenant Village replaces old equipment with high-efficiency models, remodels apartments with water-efficient products and uses electric vehicles to transport residents on its 20-acre suburban campus.
Administrators and residents work together to make the community more environmentally friendly. The residents’ landscaping committee, for example, assembled and provided water conversation tips to the 405 retirees living on campus. As a result, water usage decreased 10 percent.
Covenant Village of Florida is part of Covenant Retirement Communities, administered by Covenant Ministries of Benevolence on behalf of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
