General Meeting

SSAFE’s General (Committee) Meeting is a popular monthly event featuring distinguished speakers on a wide range of engaging and inspiring topics. Join us each month to hear from thought leaders whose insights inform and energize our shared commitment to sustainability.

🗓️ When & Where: The first Thursday of each month at 11 AM Eastern / 8 AM Pacific on Zoom. See the SSAFE Meeting Calendar to confirm dates and times.

🎟️ Access Level: All SSAFE members, residents of SSAFE chapters, and administration and staff from SSAFE Chapters. Registration with Zoom required to attend.

✍️ Register for all SSAFE General Meetings here.

Greening Our Campuses

The popular Greening Our Campuses Meeting serves as a forum for exploring a wide range of sustainability topics relevant to senior living communities. Attendees can review case studies before publication, learn about emerging initiatives through the Campus Spotlight—which features innovative projects from SSAFE chapters—and enjoy connecting with fellow residents in a collegial and engaging setting.

🗓️ When & Where: The third Thursday of each month at 11 AM Eastern / 8 AM Pacific on Zoom. See the SSAFE Meeting Calendar to confirm dates and times.

🎟️ Access Level: SSAFE members only. No pre-registration required. All SSAFE members will receive an email invitation approximately one week before the meeting and a reminder email the morning of the meeting date.

✍️ If you do not receive an email invitation at least 3 business days before the meeting is scheduled, contact us for assistance.

Advocacy Team

The SSAFE Advocacy Team convenes to identify high-impact action alerts related to federal, state, and local policies and legislation that affect climate change and the environment.

🗓️ When & Where: The newly revitalized Advocacy Team currently meets monthly as members are available. See the SSAFE Meeting Calendar to confirm dates and times.

🎟️ Access Level: SSAFE members only. Roster-only meeting. All SSAFE members are eligible to attend but must request to be added to the roster.

✍️ Contact us for more information and to be added to the meeting roster.

Energy Workgroup

The SSAFE Energy Workgroup is designed to investigate on-campus projects that focus on achieving net-zero emissions. The “rubber meets the road” in this workgroup that has been responsible for producing deliverables such as the SSAFE Energy Audit and Reducing GHG Emissions RFP Templates, Portfolio Manager 101 for Senior Living Communities, the Unit Turnover Guide, the Green Building Certifications Review with more on the way.

🗓️ When & Where: The fourth Thursday of each month at 11 AM Eastern / 8 AM Pacific on Zoom. See the SSAFE Meeting Calendar to confirm dates and times.

🎟️ Access Level: SSAFE members only. Roster-only meeting. All SSAFE members are eligible to attend but must request to be added to the roster.

✍️ Contact us for more information and to be added to the meeting roster.

Task Groups: Members of the Energy Workgroup have formed small member-led task groups which meet as necessary to complete specific projects.

Current Energy & Planning Task Groups:

This task group was formed to assist SSAFE members and their community administrations in identifying and engaging qualified outside contractors to conduct energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction audits. Drawing on real-world experiences from SSAFE chapters, the group created the Energy Audit Request for Proposals (RFP) Template. Building on this foundation, the group then developed a more targeted GHG Emissions Reduction Audit RFP to address the specific requirements of emissions-related assessments. Looking ahead, the group will continue to expand its suite of resources to support communities in pursuing energy and GHG reduction audits—focusing on areas such as contractor selection and the sharing of actual audit results from participating communities.

The Carbon Footprint Task Group was formed to help SSAFE members and their communities understand, measure, and track greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a meaningful and accessible way. As its first completed project, the group developed Portfolio Manager 101 for Senior Living Communities—a practical guide designed to introduce the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Portfolio Manager tool in the context of senior living environments. Looking ahead, the group plans to create a framework for categorizing carbon footprint measurements, including a simple system to indicate which specific data points have been included. This will help support transparency and comparability among communities as they track their progress toward emissions reduction.

This task group was established to help SSAFE chapters and other senior living communities navigate the complex landscape of green building certification programs. Its mission was to provide a clear, critical review of widely available certifications—such as LEED, Energy Star, Green Globes and others—with attention to their relevance, benefits, and limitations in the context of senior living environments. By examining cost, feasibility, and alignment with sustainability goals, the group aimed to equip communities with the information needed to make informed decisions about whether to pursue certification and, if so, which program best fits their circumstances. The resulting review, The Green Building Certifications Review offers a valuable decision-making tool for residents and administrators seeking to advance their environmental commitments through certified building practices.

This task group focuses on advancing energy savings and sustainability in both individual unit upgrades and new construction projects within senior living communities. Its primary accomplishment to date is the creation of the The Unit Turnover Guide—a practical guide that outlines cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible practices that can be implemented during unit turnover. Looking ahead, the group aims to expand its efforts by identifying best practices in sustainable design for new construction and promoting collaboration between residents and administrators to ensure environmental considerations are integrated into long-term planning.

This task group was formed to raise awareness and build understanding of embodied carbon—the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, transportation, installation, and disposal of building materials. Recognizing that embodied carbon is often overlooked in sustainability planning, the group seeks to equip SSAFE chapters and senior living communities with the knowledge needed to make more environmentally responsible choices in both renovations and new construction. The group’s first major accomplishment is an educational video presentation titled “An Introduction to Embodied Carbon in Building Materials for Senior Living Communities,” featuring George Alexander (Kendal at Longwood), Judy David (Kendal at Hanover), and Stu White (Kendal at Hanover). Looking ahead, the group intends to develop additional resources and guidance to support informed decision-making around building material selection and sustainable construction practices.

The Sustainability Planning Task Group was established to support SSAFE chapters and other senior living communities in developing and implementing comprehensive, campus-wide sustainability plans. Its mission is to create clear, practical written guidance that reflects best practices and lessons learned from communities already engaged in this work. The eventual product of the group’s work – a guide to preparing and monitoring implementation of a campus-wide sustainability plan.

The Resident/Management Cooperation Task Group is dedicated to strengthening the working relationship between residents and facility administrators to ensure meaningful resident participation in the development and implementation of sustainability initiatives. Guided by four core principles—promoting productive interactions, uniting resident efforts, adopting a forward-looking perspective, and avoiding public confrontation—the task force explores practical strategies for collaboration, mutual respect, and shared leadership. The task force aims to provide SSAFE chapters with proven practices for fostering trust and cooperation, enabling communities to pursue ambitious climate goals while navigating the operational realities of senior living facilities.

The Project Funding Task Group will explore and identify financial strategies to support the development and implementation of sustainability initiatives across SSAFE chapters. Its goals will include advising on best practices for securing external funding, fostering collaboration between residents and administrators in financial planning, and developing guidance to ensure sustainability projects are both mission-aligned and financially feasible. Once formed, the group will serve as a vital resource for enabling chapters to reach net-zero emissions by investigating and promoting all available funding opportunities for green projects.

Reducing Waste: Plastics & Biodegradables Workgroup

The SSAFE Reducing Waste: Plastics & Biodegradables Workgroup brings members together in a shared effort to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable alternatives across SSAFE communities. Members share best practices, identify actionable strategies, and develop practical resources to help craft a blueprint for cutting plastic waste across our communities.

🗓️ When & Where: Bi-monthly on the first Tuesday of each month at 1 PM Eastern / 10 AM Pacific on Zoom. See the SSAFE Meeting Calendar to confirm dates and times.

🎟️ Access Level: SSAFE members only. Roster-only meeting. All SSAFE members are eligible to attend but must request to be added to the roster.

✍️ Contact us for more information and to be added to the meeting roster.

Sustainable Eating and Food Systems Workgroup

The SSAFE Sustainable Eating and Food Systems Workgroup connects members working to support sustainable eating and food systems across SSAFE chapters. With a focus on local food sourcing and climate-friendly menu options, members share challenges, exchange strategies, and collaborate to develop resources can serve as a road map for others to follow.

🗓️ When & Where: This newly created workgroup is still determining its meeting schedule; the next meeting is on Tuesday, June 17th at 1 PM Eastern / 10 AM Pacific on Zoom. See the SSAFE Meeting Calendar to confirm dates and times.

🎟️ Access Level: SSAFE members only. Roster-only meeting. All SSAFE members are eligible to attend but must request to be added to the roster.

✍️ Contact us for more information and to be added to the meeting roster.