ESG creates value and equity for companies that are focused on sustainability, decarbonization, and social responsibility.
ESG, or Environmental, Social, and Governance, encompasses a set of environmental standards that companies can adopt to reduce emissions and prove their energy-saving improvements to investors.
Companies that prioritize ESG disclosures can set themselves apart from their competition and can help accelerate their long-term growth and operating efficiencies.
How does ESG create value?
ESG disclosures offer companies many benefits. Companies with a strong corporate culture and social equity outperform the market and attract investors, delivering a higher valuation.
A solid ESG strategy creates competitive advantage, lowers investment risk, and delivers societal benefits that matter to investors and employees. Publishing a sustainable business plan and reporting on progress will attract investor dollars, avoid problems with government compliance, and more.
1. Attract Investor Capital
Having a long-term strategic emissions plan is a necessity if you’re looking to attract investors who favor companies that set ESG goals and disclose improvements. A growing segment of investors screen companies according to their energy policies and commitment to net zero operations.
Companies today need to be able to prove their energy usage and improvement efforts. This includes benchmarking, tracking changes over time, and providing real data that can demonstrate a positive ROI.
Investors are more likely to buy into a company that can present accurate data on the impact of previous energy improvements, along with a plan for future decarbonization efforts.
Investors will believe in your vision and trust your projections if you can tell your story with actionable data.
2. Get Ahead of Future Legal and Regulatory Guidelines
Although there are currently no standard ESG reporting guidelines, the SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) has published their draft regulation which is expected to take effect in 2023 and 2024.
Compliance with the SEC draft puts your company in a strong position for when the ESG regulations kick in. ESG planning allows you to be prepared now so you aren’t faced with red-tape issues in the future.
A sustainable business model put in place today can help you avoid future operating disruptions that can occur when reacting to changes in energy availability, industry regulations, and investor demands.
Accurate reporting is a crucial part of achieving future government compliance. Ensure that you’re prepared with audit-ready data now by incorporating ESG software into your current technology stack.
3. Higher Productivity and Lower Operating Costs
Investors are attracted by candid, accurate ESG reporting for a good reason. Companies with a strong commitment to improving their ESG score produce higher earnings and less investment risk.
When a company is focused on its emission output, it will naturally discover, optimize, and reduce energy consumption. This will result in higher efficiency and lower operating costs.
With operations being optimized, employee pride results in a more productive and efficient workforce.
4. Establish Your Business as a Sustainable Company
ESG creates value for your company by establishing your business as a sustainable company. A corporate culture centered on creating a low-carbon future encourages the community to stand behind your vision and efforts.
Society as a whole is aware of industrial and commercial building impacts on the environment. Buildings emit 40% of man’s greenhouse gas emissions. The public cares about what companies are doing to minimize these impacts and will often make decisions based on a company’s sustainability.
Companies with a strong energy and carbon reduction commitment can also expect to attract and retain top talent in the workforce. Employees will be more committed and engaged knowing they are a part of a rewarding and equitable work environment.
5. Calculate ROI on Emissions Improvements
Reducing carbon emissions is not enough on its own. Companies need to be able to prove the ROI of their energy improvement upgrades with accurate data so they can financially justify the investment in their upgrades.
ESG Software can help a company create value by setting ESG benchmarks, normalizing for weather conditions, and tracking emissions improvements over time to report ROI to investors and justify additional capital that will be repaid through lower utility expenses.
In addition to determining financial ROI, proper ESG reporting can project a carbon reduction commitment to the government and public which helps build a deeper level of equity.
6. Reduced Energy Footprint
Lowering carbon emissions is a natural part of reducing your overall energy footprint.
A focus on ESG strategy not only saves your company time and money, it also supports your commitment to clean operations, decreased carbon emissions, and net zero goals.
Accurately tracking energy usage is even more important when reporting on Scopes 1, 2, and 3 carbon emissions. One building’s data can be handled on a spreadsheet; whereas a portfolio is much easier to manage with ESG software.
Once you develop ESG benchmarks, you have a clear path to create and track measurable goals to reduce your energy usage and have insight into how quickly you’re achieving these goals.
7. Establish Your Business as an Energy Leader of the Future
Innovative leaders don’t just follow business trends, they take an active role in molding the future of their industry. While carbon emission reductions and net zero goals aren’t new, official ESG standards are not yet established.
Getting started early with ESG compliance projects your role as a leader. It builds brand equity.
Creating a company culture that includes a focus on decarbonization that’s supported with data is stronger than one forced to play catch up with upcoming regulations.
How can ESG Software create value for your company?
ESG is an ongoing disclosure that requires you to set achievable goals and continually monitor and improve your energy efficiency. Additionally, you need to be ready at all times for an audit with accurate data you can trust.
EnergyPrint ESG software provides you with all the actionable insights you need to put your company at the forefront of net zero energy emissions and position yourself in prime position for investor buy-in. If you’re ready to make an ESG investment decision, schedule a call to learn more about EnergyPrint’s ESG data software and how it can help you prove yourself as a sustainable company to the government, investors, and the public.