ESG for Building

Environmental, Social, and Governance strategies have become a moral imperative for companies throughout the economy.

Is your company ready for the escalating wave of consumer demand, investor expectations, and compliance requirements?

Download the ESG Defining Principles today and learn everything you need to know to position your company for success!

Need help crafting your ESG strategy or report? We can help!

01 ESG Defining Principles

A comprehensive set of ESG best practices that has everything you need to create your ESG Report.

02 Consulting Services

Get help crafting your ESG Report, including materiality assessments, strategic business development, report creation, and messaging development.

LEARN MORE

03 COGNITION Smart Data and COGNITION Academy

Tap into the building industry’s most advanced sustainability market intelligence, which provides meaningful, actionable business recommendations.

Take advantage of sustainability training, education, and curriculum development. Explore topics like decarbonization, ESG, electrification, healthy home and more!

LEARN MORE

Why ESG for Building?

Mounting investor interest, exploding consumer demand, and pending compliance requirements are driving exponential ESG growth in the building sector. According to COGNITION Smart Data:

Over 55% of builders report that their lenders require ESG practices to access capital for projects.
Nearly 60% of consumers believe that companies with ESG strategies are more likely to have long-term financial success than those without.
53% of consumers believe that the quality of a company’s products is tied directly to ESG commitments.

ESG will evolve and the nomenclature may change, but there is no doubt that corporate sustainability is here to stay

Why? Because ESG is not just a shrewd business strategy. It is also a reflection of this moment in time. Organizations that have a clear, thorough, authentic, and transparent ESG strategy stand out like a beacon of light in a fractured, confusing world. They offer hope to people amongst the fake news and bedlam. While ESG is not a complete panacea, it is an important spoke in the wheel of creating a world that feels safe and right and good.

Until now, ESG metrics, measurements, programs, and reporting strategies were designed for industries much different than the building sector. That’s why Green Builder Media formed a working group comprised of 65 of the building industry’s brightest minds to create the ESG Defining Principles—for the industry, by the industry.

ESG Defining Principles Overview

The Defining Principles are a roadmap that companies in the North American housing sector can use to craft and implement ESG initiatives and reporting. Chapters include:

Business Case: ESG offers tangible business advantages, such as improved long-term financial performance, strengthened risk management, increased access to capital, and enhanced customer and employee retention.
Environmental: Given the urgency of the climate crisis, ESG offers a pathway to address crucial industry-related environmental concerns.
Social: ESG naturally leads companies to be better corporate citizens, augment diversity and inclusion, and provide accessible, inclusive, and affordable housing options.
Governance: By proactively addressing governance issues, building professionals can minimize risk, maintain a positive reputation, and satisfy investor demand.
Measurement: ESG measurement tools offer building companies a competitive advantage through the transparent quantification of ESG initiatives.
Compliance: Building professionals can stay ahead of the curve by understanding and planning for ESG compliance requirements and evolving regulations.
Innovation: ESG in the building sector is driven by innovative climate-responsive design solutions, green building practices, and climate technologies,
Marketing & Outreach: When it comes to ESG communication, the approach matters just as much as the message itself. With misinformation rampant—and consumer trust at an all-time low—it behooves companies to understand effective ESG messaging.

All the Whys ...

What Can You Expect? Tailored specifically for companies in the North American residential new construction sector, the Defining Principles document leads readers through essential considerations that building professionals should address in their ESG journey. It encompasses baseline reporting metrics in the “E,” S,” and “G” categories, accompanied by recommended tools and calculators for seamless progress monitoring. Moreover, the document delves into the business advantages of ESG adoption, offering insights into investor expectations for ESG reports and providing guidance on meeting basic compliance requirements. Beyond that, the document explores the role of ESG in fostering innovation within the housing sector.

Why This Group? As ESG regulations continue to evolve, it's inevitable that regulatory authorities will establish their own ESG standards for the building industry, even if they lack firsthand experience in the field. That’s why the ESG for Building Working Group set out to proactively recommend best practices that are for the industry written by the industry. This roadmap was crafted by building industry experts so that regulatory authorities can use it to craft standards that are informed and relevant.

Why Now? The simple answer is that the Defining Principles address two pivotal challenges that companies in the building sector encounter on their ESG journey: where to begin and how to proceed. The lack of standardization in ESG often leaves many feeling unsure about the best path forward. The Defining Principles document offers a clear pathway to establish and augment ESG strategies.