As care homes look to integrate more sustainable practices without compromising their high care standards, Olivia Nolan, business development director at JLA, explains why the right equipment choices can enhance resident wellbeing without hampering efforts to reduce emissions.

Whether it’s a new build or a refurbishment of an existing property, it’s essential that care home projects are not only designed to meet clinical needs, but integrate the principles of respect, comfort and resident autonomy from concept right through to installation.

At the same time, there’s a growing responsibility for contractors to future-proof care facilities in line with sustainability targets, building in systems that can help their clients meet ambitious carbon reduction goals. Sustainability, in other words, can’t be an afterthought.

This is why it’s so important that construction partners look beyond Scope 1 and 2 emissions to Scope 3, covering the indirect supply chain emissions that make up the vast majority of a project’s impact. And it’s why we must look especially closely at the credentials of equipment suppliers whose appliances are likely to shape the carbon output of a home for years to come.

Making sustainability gains through laundry equipment

The laundry room is central to the protection of residents, staff and visitors in any residential care setting, with WRAS-approved washers, infection control innovations and dryers helping to prevent and control illness by meeting strict disinfection standards. By investing in the latest generation of systems and innovations, construction teams can also reduce a home’s water and energy use in the long-term.

Systems like JLA’s OTEX laundry disinfection innovation uses the power of ozone to destroy 99.999% of bacteria and viruses, even at low temperatures, leading to savings of up to 60% energy versus traditional thermal disinfection, and a significant reduction in chemical use. Elsewhere, auto-dosing systems for commercial washing machines ensures the correct amount of detergent, leading to reduced detergent waste.

Greater efficiency in catering settings

State-of-the-art catering equipment is another investment for consistency and sustainability benefits. Whether it’s managing allergens or supporting the texture-modified diets of vulnerable residents, the right equipment will make sure your client’s catering staff can meet every nutritional need.

Worthwhile investments might include energy-efficient combi ovens, which use less energy to produce improved quality meals, at scale, alongside induction hobs and innovative refrigeration units that use far less energy than their legacy alternatives. 

Lifecycle thinking and procurement

Durability is another key part of sustainability. Choosing commercial equipment that’s been engineered to last (as long as it’s serviced regularly) will allow a home to avoid having to upgrade early and produce unnecessary waste, while minimising disruption to essential tasks including linen washing and mealtime prep.

Whole-life costing also shows that investing in higher-quality, energy-saving machines upfront is likely to pay off in the long run, with fewer breakdowns and lower energy bills adding up to a measurable difference.

Designing for the future

At JLA, we’ve spent 50 years working with principal design teams to plan and deliver productive, energy-efficient facilities where staff are given all the tools they need to confidently do their roles. To discuss how we can support with specialist design and your commercial equipment needs – including those in other sectors like education and healthcare – please visit
jla.com/expert-design-and-planning-services

Olivia Nolan has been supporting some of the UKs largest care providers with commercial equipment solutions for over 10 years and is also the sector specialist for care.