If you’ve been thinking about going green at your Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), there’s no time like the present. As new technologies unlock eco-conscious advances and public support for climate-focused efforts grows, you stand to gain a lot.
First and foremost, of course, are the environmental benefits of green initiatives. But the perks for your RCFE don’t stop there. Before we explore a few ideas for going green at your assisted-living facility, let’s talk about the benefits those initiatives can return for you.
Improved Health for Residents and Staff
Choosing materials and systems that are environmentally friendly limits how much you’re exposing your team and your residents to toxicity.
A lot of traditional building materials contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde, for example. Opting for eco-conscious materials when you’re making improvements to your facility means lowering the amount of those substances potentially leaching into the air and onto the people there.
Similarly, choosing green cleaning products reduces your residents’ and teams’ exposure to harmful chemicals.
When thinking about going green, you might want to get literal, too. Planting trees and other foliage doesn’t just beautify your space. Green spaces are directly linked to improved mental health benefits.
Cost Savings
Choosing energy-efficient electrical systems and implementing water conservation efforts can bring your utility bills down. Even at a residential level, people who make energy-conscious savings often see their electrical bill get slashed by 20%. Scale that up to apply to an RCFE and the savings can grow.
If your facility handles its own laundry services, for example, an ENERGY STAR-certified washer and dryer can help you use 25% less energy and 33% less water per load. Since you’re likely running laundry virtually all day, those savings rack up and up.
A Reputation Boost
When you decide to implement green initiatives, don’t keep them to yourself. Being eco-conscious presents a marketing opportunity for your RCFE.
In fact, you may want to look into any seal or certification your municipality offers to green businesses. If you can secure that badge of honor, it can help you stand out to families looking for a healthy, sustainable place for their elderly loved ones to live.
Your website is another great place to highlight your green efforts. You may even create a separate page to outline everything you’re doing to lower your facility’s environmental impact while supporting your residents’ health.
Green Initiatives for RCFEs To Explore
One of the easiest ways to improve environmental friendliness at your facility arises whenever you need to replace something. If your HVAC system breaks, you might explore installing a new solar-assisted one. If a toilet stops functioning, swap it out for a low-flow option. When you need to replace the oven in a residents’ quarters, choose an ENERGY STAR-rated one.
Beyond greening your replacement efforts, there are a handful of other low-lift ways you can improve your facility’s eco-friendliness:
- Install faucet aerators
- Choose green cleaning products
- Plant trees and native plants at your facility
- Buy LED light bulbs
- Install smart thermostats
- Avoiding single-use plastic (like disposable water bottles)
It can also be helpful to train your residents on changes they can make themselves, like turning off the tap while they brush their teeth and turning off the lights when they leave the room.
All the while, energy efficient changes can help to reduce your risk. LED bulbs don’t run hot, for example, lowering the likelihood of a fire. If you do implement green initiatives, talk with us to see if they might help to lower your insurance premium. Contact our InsureMyRCFE team at (805) 413-5668.
