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Special Systems

Beyond heating, cooling, and building envelopes, every senior living community has special systems that consume energy and contribute to emissions. These include laundries, swimming pools, and lawn care operations. While each is smaller than central boilers or fleets, they matter for two reasons: they are resident-visible and they often represent quick opportunities for improvement. Addressing these areas shows progress, reduces waste, and builds momentum for larger investments.

Laundry Operations

Laundry is a constant need in communities with assisted living or nursing care, and many campuses also provide linens for independent living residents. Laundry equipment can consume significant hot water and energy.

  • Energy intensity: A CDC study of hospital laundries found they consumed 50–75% of a hospital’s hot water and 10–15% of its total energy use. While senior living facilities aren’t hospitals, their laundry needs can be similar.
  • Washers: Commercial washers are rated by Energy Star, which includes both energy and water efficiency. Replacing old washers with high-efficiency electric versions reduces both costs and emissions.
  • Dryers: Heat pump dryers can cut energy use by 30% or more compared with conventional models. Look for versions with refrigerants that have low global warming potential.
  • Process improvements: Some sanitary requirements can now be met with cold-water washing and modern detergents, reducing hot water demand.
  • Heat recovery: Waste heat from hot air and water can sometimes be captured and reused, though commercial adoption is still developing.
  • Peak shifting: Laundries that do not run 24/7 can schedule cycles during off-peak hours, lowering bills and avoiding peak grid emissions.

Swimming Pools

Pools are a valued amenity for older adults, but they come with energy, chemical, and water demands. Heating alone — usually provided by natural gas — can represent a substantial fossil fuel load.

  • Electrification: Heat pump pool heaters are an efficient replacement for gas-fired boilers. While upfront costs are higher, lifetime operating costs are typically lower.
  • Solar thermal: In some settings, roof-mounted solar water heating systems are cost-effective and reliable, especially in sunny climates.
  • Pumps: Circulation pumps often run longer than needed. Variable-speed, Energy Star-rated pumps can provide big savings.
  • Chemicals and air quality: Saltwater pools reduce the need for chlorine, lowering both chemical costs and embodied emissions. Ultraviolet (UV) or ozone treatment can also keep water sanitary with less chemical use.
  • Water loss: Pools lose water through evaporation. Covers, humidity control for indoor pools, and even rainwater collection can help offset these losses.
  • Flexible loads: Pool heating and pumping can often be shifted to off-peak hours, reducing costs and supporting grid stability. California now requires new pools to include load-shifting capability — a sign of changes likely to spread elsewhere.

Lawn and Grounds Equipment

Gas-powered lawn equipment looks small but has outsized environmental impacts. The California Air Resources Board reports that one hour of operation with a commercial leaf blower can produce as much smog-forming pollution as driving a car from Los Angeles to Denver.

  • Electric replacements: Battery-powered trimmers, blowers, and mowers are quieter, cleaner, and cheaper to operate over time.
  • Case study: At Kendal-Crosslands Communities in Pennsylvania, residents calculated that replacing gasoline trimmers and blowers with electric versions cut emissions by 94% and paid back the added cost in just over three years. (View and download the case study here.)
  • Autonomous mowers: Some communities are now testing robotic mowers. These reduce fuel use and free staff time, making the economics even more compelling.
  • Resident impact: Quieter, fume-free equipment improves quality of life for both residents and staff.

Why Special Systems Matter

While these systems may not be the largest part of your carbon footprint, they provide visible wins that residents and staff can see and celebrate. Switching to electric grounds equipment, improving laundry efficiency, or upgrading a pool pump can demonstrate progress, reduce operating costs, and show that the community is serious about sustainability. These smaller steps build credibility and create momentum for the larger infrastructure projects that must follow.

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