Amana Living Takes 132 Cars off the Road

Amana Living doesn’t just care for WA’s older people, but for the future of our planet too. In just six months, the environmentally conscious organisation has achieved the equivalent of taking 132 cars off the road for a year, or cancelling 328 return flights between Perth and Sydney.

By paying attention to energy use across its 22 sites, Amana Living is set to reduce overall power consumption by at least 8% in 2014/15.

During the last six months of 2014, the organisation prevented 105 tonnes of carbon from reaching the atmosphere. This is equivalent to taking 132 Australian cars off the road for a year. As Aussies are notorious for their gas guzzling vehicles, the equivalent in Europe would be 170 cars.

Another way to look at it is that this level of emission reduction is the same as cancelling 328 Perth-Sydney return flights.

This achievement has been largely due to the installation of LED lighting in high-use areas, an air-conditioner replacement program, and encouraging staff to think about energy use. A poster campaign helps to keep environmental issues in people’s minds and on the agenda at staff meetings.

“The Amana Living ECO Team established a grant scheme for our care centres, which resulted in a switch-over to LED lighting in some high use areas,” said CEO Ray Glickman.

“This is one initiative that has had an enormous impact on our carbon footprint. Seeing our overall power reduction in terms of cars taken off the road or flights cancelled really brings home the importance of what we’re doing here at Amana Living.

“We’re also conscious that when we put fleet cars onto the road, we don’t want to cancel out our good work, so we’ve chosen the hybrid Toyota Prius as our passenger vehicle model and we monitor our emissions.”

Other initiatives include recycling of computer equipment and mobile devices, new software for high level meetings that negates the need to print documents, and a laundry initiative similar to hotels, which avoids washing items such as towels unnecessarily. In 2014, Amana Living engaged Corporate Sustainability Consultant Julian Illich to carry out an audit of eco-activities, and produce a snapshot review and recommendations.

“As a caring organisation, we believe in promoting a healthier environment for future generations by minimising our carbon footprint via waste reduction, energy and water saving, and recycling,” said Mr Glickman.

“We take this commitment very seriously, and where savings are made, we ensure that resources are reinvested for the benefit of our residents and clients.”