EPA Honours Senior Living Firms for Energy Efficiency
The federal government has recently recognised several companies involved in senior living and care, including those operating, investing, and serving in the industry, for their efforts to improve energy efficiency.
In 2022, Cushman & Wakefield, a commercial real estate services company based in Chicago, and Ventas, a Chicago-based real estate investment trust, were among 15 organisations to receive the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star certification for over 150 commercial, multifamily, or industrial buildings each. Cushman & Wakefield received certification for 194 buildings, while Ventas received certification for 154 buildings.
"These companies are leading the way towards a clean energy future and demonstrating that building efficiency is not only beneficial for the environment but also for our economy," said Michael S. Regan, the EPA Administrator, in a statement. "By certifying the highest number of Energy Star buildings in the previous year, they have made a significant contribution."
To obtain the Energy Star certification from the EPA, a building must first measure its energy performance using the agency's online energy management and tracking tool. Based on the building's performance relative to similar buildings nationwide, it is then given an Energy Star score ranging from 1 to 100. If a building achieves a score of 75 or higher, and its energy data, operating characteristics, and indoor air quality standards are verified by a professional engineer or registered architect, it is awarded the Energy Star certification by the EPA.
According to the EPA, Energy Star certified buildings perform better than 75% of comparable buildings across the country, using an average of 35% less energy and generating 35% fewer carbon dioxide emissions than typical buildings.
As a result of their achievements, Ventas and Cushman & Wakefield have attained Elite status in the EPA's Certification Nation programme, which was launched to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the programme. The programme recognised organisations that certified five or more buildings at some level of the programme.
According to Kelly Meissner, Ventas' Vice President of Corporate ESG & Sustainability, their dedication to environmental responsibility and sustainable returns not only benefits their stockholders and company but also the industry and the planet. She further added that with cutting-edge energy management techniques and sound capital investment, they can enhance their performance while also making significant strides toward their ambitious objective of reaching net-zero operational carbon emissions by 2040. Additionally, Ventas was the sole REIT recognised at the Elite level.
JLL, Hines, The RMR Group, Healthpeak, PGIM Real Estate, Atria Senior Living, and Welltower were among the companies recognised at the Executive level (50 or more buildings certified in 2022) of the Certification Nation programme. Sunrise Senior Living Management, Yardi Energy, and Diversified Healthcare Trust were recognised at the Premier level (15 or more buildings certified), while AlerisLife was recognised at the Member level (five or more buildings certified). The complete lists for the Certification Nation programme can be found on the website.
The EPA recognised 221 companies for their energy efficiency achievements with Energy Star, including over 170 organisations that received the programme's highest honour: Energy Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence. Hines, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield, The RMR Group, Welltower, and Ventas were among the firms honoured as Energy Partners of the Year in the Energy Management category. Yardi Systems was named in the Service and Product Provider category, and Healthpeak Properties was named a Partner of the Year in the Energy Management category. A complete list of Energy Star award winners and their accomplishments can be found on the EPA's website.
Cushman & Wakefield President of Americas Services Marla Maloney said in a statement that the Energy Star designations reflect the company's ongoing efforts to empower clients to achieve increasingly ambitious sustainability targets.
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Source: McKnights
