For 50 years, 2Life Communities, formerly Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly, has been a nonprofit developer, owner and manager of award-winning senior housing. They provide seniors of all backgrounds with exceptional housing where they can live safely and independently. Their communities, located in Eastern Massachusetts, provide a dynamic and caring environment that offers opportunities for successful aging. 2Life enables aging in communities of engagement, connection and purpose by: providing superior housing that is broadly affordable; continually evolving support services to meet the needs of a diverse population as they age; building connections and community within its walls and its surrounding neighborhoods; and promoting aging in community as a first choice.

The Better Buildings Challenge offers 2Life an opportunity to demonstrate the lessons learned from the development of its first “green community,” Shillman House, which showcased several emerging technologies including solar electric and geo-thermal heating and cooling. 2Life is monitoring the performance of these technologies for inclusion in future preservation and new development projects. Also, in ongoing and upcoming renovation projects 2Life is committed to using low flow shower and faucet aerators, low flow toilets, ENERGY STAR® appliances, high efficiency boilers and hot water systems, LED lighting, and energy management systems to help identify additional saving opportunities. 2Life will continue to utilize WegoWise utility tracking software to monitor and compare operations of buildings in the portfolio and to identify anomalies as they occur.