Seniors Share Their Green Ideas for Redmond

Yesterday, the United Hub gathered with residents at Redmond Senior Housing for a cozy round table chat about the city’s sustainability plan. Fourteen seniors came ready to talk, and the room quickly filled with stories, ideas, and a lot of laughter.

We asked: What would make Redmond greener and better for everyone?

Here’s what came up again and again:

• More green and shady places to walk – Safe paths, benches, and trees so folks can enjoy being outside.

• Recycling that’s easy to do right – Clear signs and better systems in senior housing so nothing gets confusing.

• Smarter energy use – Simple upgrades to buildings and tips that help everyone save power (and money!).

• Community gardens and fresh food – A love for growing, cooking, and sharing food close to home.

Six volunteers helped organize the round table and taught the elders how to use their smart devices to fill out the survey online. There were a lot of communication hurdles for the senior, most of whom knew little English. But they were able to overcome the difficulties with the help of the young volunteers.

One big theme? Everyone wants to stay in the loop. “Just tell us what’s happening and how we can help,” said one participant, and the rest nodded along.

We left the table with a long list of great ideas and even more appreciation for how much wisdom our seniors bring to the future of Redmond. These insights will be shared with the City as they update the Environmental Sustainability Action Plan.

A greener Redmond really does take all of us—and yesterday proved just how ready our seniors are to pitch in!