Kelly Meissner, director of sustainability at Ventas, Inc. (NYSE: VTR), joined REIT.com for a video interview at NAREIT’s 2017 Leader in the Light Working Forum at the Hilton Austin in Austin, Texas.
Meissner discussed how the various components of Ventas’ overall approach to sustainability work together to advance the company’s strategic goals.
She noted that Ventas’ environmental and social governance (ESG) efforts “both leverage and support our superior properties platform and people and ultimately support our primary goal of driving consistent, superior shareholder returns.”
Meissner also commented on the wellness benefits of LED lighting. By positively impacting melatonin levels in the body, LED lighting promotes wakefulness during the day and sleep at night, which is particularly well-suited to Ventas’ seniors housing properties.
In addition, LED lighting allows operators to control the intensity and type of light, she said, which minimizes trips and falls by elderly residents.
Meissner added that she is currently focused on aggregating utility data onto a central software platform that will provide better visibility into energy, water and waste consumption. “This will give us a more robust view of our portfolio’s environmental impact,” she said.