Long Term Planning: The Campus Sustainability Plan
While this guide focuses on reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, your community may also choose to pursue broader sustainability projects. These efforts, though not always tied directly to emissions, can strengthen community life, support biodiversity, and demonstrate environmental leadership.
Examples include gardens and native plantings, composting programs, recycling initiatives, water conservation, and even creative projects such as beekeeping or arboretum development. These areas are a potential part of a comprehensive sustainability plan, and each is currently being practiced at SSAFE chapter communities. To see which chapters are doing which activities, consult the Cross-Campus Sustainability Chart and related case studies for ideas.
Net Zero Plan Components
For a senior living community aiming to achieve net zero emissions by the year 2050, it is essential to establish a well-structured long-term Net Zero Plan. The fundamental components that should be included in a comprehensive long-term strategy are:
- Current state: a community carbon footprint and basic EUI or GHG intensity metrics.
- Opportunities: an Energy/GHG Audit to identify measures and sizes of impact.
- Fossil-fuel phase-out map: where fossil fuel is used today, how each use will be replaced, and rough timing.
- Schedule: a phased timeline that respects budget cycles and equipment life.
- Financing: estimated capital needs, savings, and funding sources.
- Education and engagement: ongoing communication with residents and staff.
- Governance: a joint committee to track progress and adjust the plan.
Because substantial capital investments will be required, administration engagement must remain central as the plan moves from early actions to long-term commitments. (See Gaining Support from Administration and Staff)
Progress in the first few years will often come from straightforward, lower-cost actions identified by an Energy/GHG Audit. These early steps may not solve everything, but they build visible progress, reduce emissions at relatively low expense, and generate momentum for tackling bigger challenges. This may also be a good time to secure more renewable electricity, since the carbon created by grid electricity is often one of the largest components of a community’s footprint.
It is likely that addressing most Scope 3 emissions (those produced by the community’s suppliers and employees when off-site) will come in later years. Progress in this area may be slower, more complex, and more costly. Achieving results will depend on the depth of commitment to the 2050 goal.
💡 Educational and community-building work done early on will pay off when more difficult choices need to be made to reach net zero.
Setting Priorities
Begin with foundations, then sequence projects for the greatest near-term impact and long-term progress.
Foundations
- Calculate a community carbon footprint.
- Conduct an Energy/GHG Audit or equivalent professional review.
- Create a full inventory of fossil-fuel uses on campus, with likely replacements and rough budgets.
- Establish a joint committee and a simple decision process.
How to Choose What Comes First
- Largest emissions and critical systems: target big, persistent sources such as central heating and hot water.
- End-of-life opportunities: time replacements to avoid reinvesting in fossil systems.
- Readiness and funding: use incentives and budget windows when they are available.
- Comfort, health, and reliability: improvements that reduce risk and improve daily life move the plan forward.
- Equity and resident impact: choose steps that are fair and understandable to the community.
Useful Metrics
If you use Portfolio Manager or similar tools, track Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and GHG emission intensity. Building-level metrics help you see which buildings are priority candidates for upgrades. Pair these metrics with practical realities such as equipment age and construction schedules.
Tracking Progress and Reporting
- Set priorities and milestones: define short, medium, and long-term goals that are specific and measurable.
- Issue annual progress reports: share metrics, completed projects, and next steps.
- Celebrate milestones: publicly thank staff and resident volunteers.
- Reassess every 3 to 5 years: update the roadmap as prices, technologies, and incentives change
- Plan for resiliency: consider how projects improve comfort and safety during outages and extreme weather.
