Can Sustainability be Measured in a ESG Report?
Measuring Sustainability by ESG?
If you are involved with commercial buildings, in any way, you probably are tuned into the sustainability conversation more than most. There is no question why, as this is one of the fastest evolving of all green marketing targets. ESG is the latest energy Cameleon.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) are printed in bold on commercial balance sheets for investors. This sector of commercial real estate is evolving rapidly in an effort to comply with greater and greater sustainability standards. New technology continues to keep pace by providing better tracking of building performances to meet green standards. Investors simply are not willing to spend on assets that can’t keep up with ESG performance metrics.
Here are several green improvements being made in commercial buildings, ten architecturally amazing commercial green projects around the world, plus a few considerations for how we can measure sustainability.
ESG Goals ( Environmental, Social, Governance)
Tighter Envelope
Sound deadening, thermal and moisture protection, fireproofing, insulation
Waste Management Methods
Recycling practices, incinerators, and on-site repurposing
Wellness
Improved ventilation, less VOC in materials like paint and carpets and chemicals used for cleaning, biophilic designs, and improved acoustics.
Workplace Design
Walkability to resources whether town parks, a rail stop or even a coffee shop. Outdoor spaces for work breaks, on-site lunch, or meetings.
Net Zero Goals
Sharing information on goals and milestones with all who are using the building, and in the community. Inform customers and reward practices of employees and vendors.
LED lighting upgrade from incandescent and fluorescent lighting
Automate Building
Heating and cooling upgraded by zones, dual plumbing system for using greywater and low flow toilets all increase efficiency
Benefits
Attracts clients, happier more stable workforce, increased property value keeps up with carbon standards, and reduces utilities.
Being a leader in social equity of company and community,
9 commercial Buildings that inspire sustainable Design
1. PARKROYAL Collection Pickering (Singapore)
2. Bullitt Center (Seattle, Washington, USA)
3. Eastgate Centre (Harare, Zimbabwe)
4.Bosco Verticale (Milan, Italy)
5. Pixel Building (Melbourne, Australia)
6. CopenHill (Copenhagen, Denmark)
7. Robinson Tower (Singapore)
8. One Angel Square (Manchester, United Kingdom)
9. The Edge (Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Hybrid Office
Office spaces, post-Covid-19 are rethinking the open floor design. Because of increased health concerns for workers, high-end amenities, such as gyms or luxury meeting rooms, are no longer the priority. Now it is minimizing contact with common-use technology (copiers or faxes .ect), ventilation, and even restroom and elevator designs. Workplace flexibility is added to design priorities because more employees are now wanting to work at home. The hybrid office design of today is not only making more space per employee it is also a site to collaborate and keep work-at-home employees connected.
Warehouses
Warehouse space has become more scarce as a result of increased e-commerce.
Locations for the warehouse are not found just in the boondocks off a highway exit anymore. Retailers are demanding parcels fast which means storage is closer to suburban and urban populations.
The Shopping Mall
The traditional interior shopping mall anchored by big-box retailers is continuing to try to find a way to repurpose. During Covid-19 the doom and gloom news stated that 25% of malls would close, today multi-brand spaces are making a comeback. People like to have a place to hang out but will they spend enough of their money to support this kind of overhead positioned on prime real estate?
The jigsaw puzzle of commercial real estate is not easy to put together as the picture is unclear. While we try to retrofit, older buildings to new sustainability compliance or build new ones, the crystal ball can look only so far to the future.
Conclusion: Can We Amortize Sustainability?
With a rapidly growing human population, compliance standards continuing to evolve, and climate change uncertainties how could we build commercial for the long term? Can we measure the number of years invested in a sustainable project? How do you know how long will it remain sustainable? Common sense has survived time quite well, let’s be sure to measure using that too.
Food for thought
The foodie word, Organic, means nearly almost nothing today to a consumer. It has been applied to nearly every product in the marketing of food products. We do not have time left on the clock for creative advertising with the environment. We would be better served to focus on the preservation of nature and our natural resources. You will be amazed at what we can learn from natural systems and how much we overlook. I do not think any term, ESG or otherwise is going to save us or the planet until then we fully comprehend the meaning of sustainability and the true bottom line. Yes, the environment.
With In Green Living, Joni Keefe shares nature-based design choices for urban greenspaces and Interior Design. Her interests follow sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly building products, and the latest trends in green design. She is a published writer with horticultural design work featured in national publications.