More Input Needed on Energy Survey
A larger set of data is needed before EPA scientists can effectively expand the Energy Star rating system to senior living communities. Your help is needed! The survey deadline has been extended to February 1, 2010. After the February 1 deadline, there will be no more extensions—so please take a few minutes to complete the survey if you haven’t already, using the links below.
ALFA, in conjunction with other organizations with senior living
constituents, issued the first-ever energy survey of senior living
communities in November of last year. The purpose of the survey is to
obtain detailed national benchmarking information on energy
consumption, costs, fuel sources, and services that drive energy use in
senior living communities.
Results of the survey will be
delivered to the EPA so that ALFA, supporting organizations, and EPA researchers can work together to develop an Energy Star rating system
for senior living communities. This senior living Energy Star rating
system will be similar to the rating systems already developed for
hospitals and medical offices.
Expanding the Energy Star rating
system to include senior living communities will be a valuable benefit
to maintenance managers and other operational professionals, who will
then be able to develop a better understanding of their energy usage
and track and evaluate the effectiveness of their operations. Top
energy-saving communities could even receive special recognition from
the EPA for environmental leadership.
The 2009 Senior Care Energy Survey
Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), in conjunction
with AAHSA, ASHA and NCAL, is issuing our first ever energy survey of
senior care communities. The purpose of this survey is to obtain
detailed national benchmarking information on energy consumption,
costs, fuel sources, and services that drive energy use in senior care
communities. We will use the survey findings to benefit our members by
helping you to reduce energy costs, improve your operating margin, and
protect the environment.
We will also share the anonymous results of this survey with
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and work with them with
the goal of creating an ENERGY STAR® rating system for senior care
communities, just as they have done for other building types like
hospitals and medical offices. The success of our efforts will largely
depend upon our member’s response rate so please set aside some time to
complete this important survey! We believe expanding the ENERGY STAR
rating system to include senior care communities would greatly benefit
providers by giving maintenance managers a better understanding of
their energy use and the ability to track and evaluate the
effectiveness of operations and technical conservation strategies. Top
energy saving communities could even become recognized by the EPA for
environmental leadership. The success of this effort will largely
depend upon our community’s response rate so please set aside some time
to complete this important survey!
The PDF Version of the survey can be used for
individual community responses, whereas the Excel Version can be used
to provide data for more than one community at a time.
All survey data submitted will remain confidential.
The deadline for completing this survey is February 1st, 2010. Submit this survey by emailing it to ENERGYSTARHealthcare@icfi.com.
ENERGY STAR Overview
ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program helping to save money and
protect our environment through energy-efficient products and
practices. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy
in 2008 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those
from 29 million cars – all while saving $19 billion on their utility
bills. The ENERGY STAR is recognized by more than 75 percent of the
American public as the symbol for energy efficiency and environmental
excellence.
ENERGY STAR currently enjoys the partnership of hundreds of
healthcare organizations of varying sizes and types, and helps these
organizations to establish and refine their energy management programs.
Organizations work with ENERGY STAR to manage energy, promote energy
awareness to their communities, differentiate themselves as
environmental leaders, and build the energy component of their
sustainability efforts. To learn more about ENERGY STAR for Healthcare,
please visit www.energystar.gov/healthcare.
Energy Benchmarking Using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
You can’t manage what you don’t measure.
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is an online
tool that allows all buildings – including healthcare spaces such as
senior care communities – to track and assess energy and water
consumption and greenhouse gas emissions within individual buildings as
well as across a portfolio.
Enter energy consumption and cost data into your Portfolio
Manager account to benchmark building energy performance, identify
strategic opportunities for savings, set investment priorities, assess
energy management goals over time, and verify results.
Get started by creating your own Portfolio Manager account at
www.energystar.gov/istar/pmpam/. Click on
“Register” next to “New User”. Also, view a step-by-step training on
how to enter your senior care facility into Portfolio
Manager:
ENERGY STAR Trainings, Tools, and Resources
Below are select ENERGY STAR offerings which can help to
senior care communities to strengthen energy management within their
community.
ENERGY STAR Senior Care Webinar Series
This Webinar series is intended for representatives –
including executives, community level directors, facility managers, and
individuals tasked with community management or sustainability
initiatives – of companies that own or manage senior care buildings.
Sessions overview financial, social, and environmental benefits of
reducing energy use and ENERGY STAR technical tools, communications
strategies, and ENERGY STAR partner-proven best practices that can help
along the way. Viewers can also learn more about efforts under way to
develop an Energy Performance Rating for Senior Care buildings.
View
the following recorded sessions:
ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy
Management
EPA offers a proven strategy for
superior energy management with tools and resources to help each step
of the way. Based on the successful practices of ENERGY STAR partners,
these guidelines for energy management can
assist your senior care community in improving its energy and financial
performance while distinguishing your organization as an environmental
leader.
ENERGY STAR Qualified
Products
ENERGY STAR qualified product models use less energy,
save money and help protect the environment. EPA has created resources
to assist procurement officials in making smart
purchasing decisions. Take advantage of online trainings to understand
the full range of purchasing opportunities. Review case studies and the
key benefits of purchasing ENERGY STAR-qualified products.
Promoting Energy Efficiency
Show your employees and residents how your facility has taken
steps toward reducing your environmental footprint through energy
efficiency, and encourage them to become champions for energy
conservation. Here are some ideas:
Please visit www.energystar.gov to
learn more about ENERGY STAR offerings for your
organization.
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