ELS
2023-24 Sustainability Report
Uniting People, Places & Purpose
Table of Contents
This report covers Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. and its subsidiaries (referred to herein as the "Company," "we," "us," "our" and "ELS") performance metrics for the year ended December 31, 2023, unless otherwise noted.
This Sustainability Report references the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and Task Force on Climate- related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) frameworks. The disclosure topics are outlined in the GRI, SASBand TCFDindices.
Certain information set forth in this
report contains forward-looking statements. See Forward-LookingStatementsfor more information.
For additional information, please visit the Sustainability sectionof our website. Refer to the 2020 Sustainability Reportfor information on our materiality assessment and stakeholder engagement.
Cover Photo:
Lake Conroe
Willis, TX
A Message From Our CEO
3
Our People: Team Members
35
About ELS
4
Team Member Recruitment
36
ELS At-A-Glance
5
Team Member Engagement
37
Key Highlights
8
Team Member Development
39
Our Places: Environment
9
Health & Safety
40
Sustainable Operations
11
Team Member Wellness & Benefits
41
A Closer Look at Our Places
12
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
43
Energy Management
15
Our Purpose: Governance
44
Waste Management
17
Leadership and Board
45
Water Management
18
Board Diversity
45
Sustainable Communities
20
Sustainability Taskforce and Governance
46
Natural Capital
21
Policies and Procedures
47
Sustainable Collaborations
23
Reporting a Concern
48
Sustainable Diligence
24
Cybersecurity
48
Our People: Residents & Guests
26
Our Nature: Appendix
49
Customer Engagement
27
GRI Index
50
Customer Experience
28
SASB Index
58
Our People: Giving Back
30
TCFD Index
60
Employee Engagement
31
Environmental Management System
66
Community Giving
32
Environmental Metrics Methodology
67
Strategic Sponsorship
33
Environmental Metrics
69
Nonprofit Impact
34
Assurance Statement
71
Forward-Looking Statements
73
2
Snowflower RV Campground
Emigrant Gap, CA
A Message From Our CEO
We are honored to share our 2023-24 Sustainability Report, which demonstrates ELS' longstanding commitment to Our Nature by focusing on Our People, Places and Purpose. Sustainability has always been rooted in our daily operations and business decisions. These decisions create a tangible impact on our communities and the places in which our residents and guests live and recreate.
As a pillar of our environmental sustainability strategy, we are dedicated to reducing our operational impact. We are mindful of the significant scope of our portfolio locally and nationally and understand that sustainable business practices create long-term stakeholder value. In 2023, ELS invested about $24 million in sustainability initiatives, and we've invested over $52 million since 2019. Our on-site solar systems produced over 2 million kilowatt- hours of renewable energy last year.
We know that our customers play an integral role in advancing our sustainability initiatives, which is why we empower customers to make sustainable decisions in their daily lives. By expanding recycling services throughout our portfolio, we increased our waste diversion percentage to 20.4%. We are proud to offer housing options and vacation opportunities with access to some of the country's most beautiful landscapes. Our approximately 10,200 acres of forests sequester about 8,600 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, while our approximately 5,600 acres of wetlands provide critical habitat for wildlife. Also in 2023, we achieved our three-year long commitment to plant 100,000 trees in collaboration with American ForestsTM, positively impacting 187 acres of forest.
Our team members make our operations possible. We care deeply about their wellbeing and the communities they call home. Our team members contributed over 8,500 community impact hours in 2023, spending paid time volunteering with a charitable organization of their choice. Often times, we hear how thankful these organizations are for the meaningful
time and effort our team members donated, as it truly made a difference for their organization.
As we look to the future, we remain focused on reducing emissions from our operations and building upon our achievements. Our long-term approach to climate resiliency contributes to a cleaner environment for our communities, residents and guests for years to come.
We invite you to explore our strategy and dedication to Our Nature.
President and CEO
3
About ELS | Our Places: Environment | Our People: Residents & Guests | Our People: Giving Back | Our People: Team Members | Our Purpose: Governance | Appendix
About
ELS is a leading owner and operator of manufactured home (MH) communities, recreational vehicle (RV) resorts, campgrounds and marinas in North America. We offer beautiful properties in desirable locations, while offering various amenities and services to meet a wide variety of our customers' needs.
Mt. Hood Village Campground
Welches, OR
4
About ELS
ELS' Unique Business Model:
At-A-Glance
ELS owns and operates 451 properties in North America with a focus on high-quality coastal and sunbelt retirement and vacation destinations and urban areas.
California
Properties
Arizona
11% of Total
Florida
10% of Total
Properties
34% of Total
Properties
As of December 31, 2023.
5
About ELS
Manufactured Home (MH) Communities
203
75,000
MH Communities
MH Sites
The MH portfolio focuses on age-qualified communities in retirement
destinations where our residents can be part of an active lifestyle.
Golf Vista Estates
Monee, IL
As of December 31, 2023. Totals may not foot due to rounding.
RV Resorts and Campgrounds
225
90,600
RV Resorts and
Campgrounds
RV Sites
The RV portfolio features resorts and campgrounds spread along the coast and in vacation destinations packed with everything needed for a great getaway:
amenities, fun-filledactivity calendars and a commitment to quality service. Tuxbury Pond Campground South Hampton, NH
Marinas
23
6,900
Marinas
Slips
The high-quality marina portfolio is located primarily along the southeast
coast, ideal for year-round boating which generates stable annual slip revenue.
Palm Beach Gardens Marina
6
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
We understand our role in contributing to a sustainable future. Therefore, we are aligning our actions with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), focusing on the three that are most relevant to our operations.
Our Sustainability Strategy
is in Our Nature: Uniting People, Places & Purpose
We believe that sustainable practices are beneficial for the environment, society, as well as the bottom line. These practices are vital to our overall success and building long-term shareholder value. Mindful of the
Goal
Goal Description
UN SDG 7 aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy by increasing the share of renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, expanding access to modern energy services in developing countries and promoting research in clean energy technologies.
ELS Position
ELS is committed to reducing energy consumption and investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy. ELS is taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint and its impact on the environment.
impact we have locally and nationally, we are committed to incorporating sustainability considerations into
our business.
At ELS, sustainability is at the core of Our Nature by Uniting People, Places & Purpose. As part of this effort, we are adopting industry best practices and established frameworks that will help to inform how we track, improve and communicate our sustainability performance, which is outlined in the GRI, SASBand TCFDindices. The ELS Sustainability Taskforce supports
Goal
Goal Description
UN SDG 11 aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable by promoting integrated urban planning, improving access to affordable and sustainable basic services, protecting cultural and natural heritage and reducing the environmental impact of cities and human settlements.
ELS Position
ELS focuses on operating sustainable communities for guests and residents to enjoy. ELS believes in supporting the communities we operate as well as the greater communities in which we live, work and play.
the Company's ongoing commitment to sustainability and other public policy matters relevant to the Company.
Goal
Goal Description
UN SDG 15 aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
ELS Position
ELS is committed to maintaining biodiversity across its portfolio and creating assets that are connected to their natural and local environments. ELS extends its commitments by collaborating with nonprofit organizations to enhance our positive impact beyond our properties.
7
Key Highlights
We are pleased to share our highlights within this report.
To learn more about each accomplishment, click on the icons below.
ENVIRONMENTAL: How we treat the planet
15%
CO2
100K
Invested about $24 million
Our approximately 10,200
Produced over 2 million
Reduced Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions
Planted 100,000 trees through
in sustainability initiatives
acres of forests sequester
kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable
by 15% from 2019
the American ForestsTM
about 8,600 MT CO2e annually
energy from on-site solar systems
*Based on like-for-like metrics for Core 2018 properties
Resilient Forests program
SOCIAL: How we treat each other
as defined in Environmental Metrics Methodology
4.26
%
8,500 Hours
54
Achieved a 4.26 out
Winner of 2024 MHI Land-Lease
Women in
Team members
of 5 in customer
Community of the Year Awards
volunteered for over 8,500
management
satisfaction surveys
East & West Regions
community impact hours
GOVERNANCE: How we hold ourselves accountable
Receive independent
assurance on
environmental metrics
These frameworks inform how we track, improve and communicate our sustainability performance.
8
About ELS | Our Places: Environment | Our People: Residents & Guests | Our People: Giving Back | Our People: Team Members | Our Purpose: Governance | Appendix
PlacesEnvironment
We are rooted in protecting and enhancing the environments where we live, work and play. We aim to provide these environments for our customers and residents to do the same. Our Nature is reflected in Our Places that demonstrate our environmental commitment within and beyond our property boundaries.
Colorado River
Columbus, TX
9
ELS considers it a great privilege and responsibility to own and operate lifestyle-oriented properties among diverse landscapes and natural habitats and to ensure its properties remain desirable destinations for future generations.
We took the following steps as part of Our Journey in the last year:
Places Environment
Pacific Dunes Ranch Campground
Strengthened Biodiversity Through Innovation: ELS is committed to strengthening biodiversity in our
communities. We planted a Living Wall microforest
at Riverside RV Resort in Arcadia, FL. Approximately 1,550 native trees, shrubs and grasses were planted in a 30,000 square foot area that separates RV sites from the adjacent highway.
Enhanced Positive Impact Through Preservation: ELS' commitment to preserving forested acres across its communities provides a valuable ecological service by sequestering carbon dioxide. The carbon sequestered
in 2023 in our approximately 10,200 forested acres is equivalent to 18% of the emissions1 from our operations.
Continued Investment in Our Communities:
ELS continued efforts in sustainability programs and in 2023 invested about $24 million in projects to drive reductions in energy usage, emissions and water
usage in its communities. For example, ELS' LED retrofit program is expected to save over 20 million kWh annually - enough to power over 1,800 homes for a year.2
Expanded Our Renewable Energy Projects:
ELS organically expanded its solar capacity, and as of
November 2024 has 10 projects under construction. These are projected to produce about 8.5 million kWh of renewable electricity.
Assessed and Addressed Climate-Related Risks and Opportunities:
ELS continues to advance our disclosures of climate- related risks and opportunities by utilizing third-party reporting frameworks in this report, including:
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
Oceano, CA
1Based on assured environmental metrics using US EPA emissions factors.
10
2US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, Kilowatt-hours avoided. (https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator)
Disclaimer
Equity Lifestyle Properties Inc. published this content on November 18, 2024, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on November 18, 2024 at 18:31:00.843.