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- Environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies are the future, and companies that are slow to catch on risk more than just the resilience of their business
- Contractors and companies need to be able to demonstrate their own environmental awareness but also understand how their activities are impacting greenhouse gas emissions
- ClearVue (CPV) is leading the construction decarbonisation field by offering a meaningful solution in the ClearVue PV solar glass
- ClearVue’s patented technology found in their glass solar windows not only generate electricity but are also energy efficient blocking heat, UV and IR radiation
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies are the future, and companies that are slow to catch on risk more than just the resilience of their business.
The building and construction industry is one of the bigger global pollution culprits. According to the World Green Building Council, 39 per cent of global emissions and 40 per cent of energy use is generated by the industry.
A report done by the Pacific Real Estate Market Outlook 2022 Australia and New Zealand looks at the industry and its impact on the environment. The report found that occupiers favour real estate that aligns with ESG values, citing buildings with a NABERS energy rating of five or more stars exhibit higher occupancy.
However, it’s not just the operational performance of buildings that needs to be considered. The usage of building materials, including how materials are harvested, their adaptability and ecological impacts, are highly relevant to the overall environmental impact of construction output.
What some construction companies don’t realise, is to build an effective ESG framework, they need to identify and measure factors that their footprint is leaving so that it can improve environmental awareness and encourage more sustainable design and operational choices.
In their framework, they should be challenged to show how it will minimise its use of resources and generation of waste, seek opportunities and embed circular economy concepts within its design solutions.
One such company that is making an impact and setting an example for others to follow is ClearVue Technologies (CPV).
How ClearVue is setting the gold standard
ClearVue is a Perth-based renewable energy company that has integrated ESG policies into its products and technology to create smart, sustainable and energy-efficient building materials.
The company had outlined five major points to achieving its commitment to sustainable solar energy production and lists sustainability as one of its top priorities.
ClearVue is leading the charge against climate change in the building and construction industry, executing its ESG policies and is actively working to be part of the solution for achieving zero net energy, zero net carbon and reducing carbon footprint through its ClearVue PV glass panel technology.
The ClearVue glass panel is created to be efficient, with three to four per cent conversion of radiance to energy, is highly insulating and is energy saving and producing — achieving significant energy cost savings, prevents unwanted solar radiation from entering the building and converting the unwanted radiation into electricity.
How does the ClearVue glass panel work?
ClearVue’s patented technology sits within an activated interlayer between two panes of glass.
When visible light passes through the glass, micro and nano particles interact with ultraviolet (UV) radiation which is down-converted to longer wavelengths and scattered along with Infrared (IR) light to the edges of the glass. The IR is then collected by Photovoltaic (PV) cells and produces electricity.
Not only will it save electricity, but the glass panels also act as insulation to reduce heating and cooling costs and blocks heat and damaging UV and IR radiation.
ClearVue’s PV glass Gen 1 Products are certified in the US, Europe and Australia and is currently the market leader in clear solar glass.
Is there demand for ESG solutions in infrastructure and construction industries?
There definitely is.
There is growing ESG investment opportunities in global growth sectors of smart cities and food security.
Thinktank ‘Architecture 2030’ estimates that by 2060, the world is projected to add 230 billion square metres of buildings or an area equal to the entire current global building stock, the equivalent of adding an entire New York City to the planet every 34 days for the next 40 years.
According to CBRE’s 2021 Global Investor Intentions Survey, 60 per cent of respondents had included ESG criteria as part of their investment strategy with the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific all showing a higher focus on ESG problems than in prior years.
Investors and companies are catching on in the need to create a more sustainable future, and with that comes solid ESG goals and the ability to implement and follow through.
“Consumers love strong ESG,” says CBRE Pacific Senior Director and Head of ESG Su-Fern Tan.
“They see that companies that treat people well, treat the planet well, and have good practices in place, tend to do better.
“If you continue to ignore ESG, it may work in the short-term but not in the long run.
“Everyone wants to invest in the future and money is finally talking”.
It’s not just the individual, financial institutions are looking to ESG performance as a marker of sustainable and resilient businesses, which is in turn informing investment decision-making and lending criteria.
In order not to lose out in potential investors or consumers, contractors will need to ensure their executive team are aware of the environmental and social ramifications of their business and need to demonstrate awareness of and activity on wider issues affecting the industry and delivery of projects to its stakeholders.
Contractors who are unable to demonstrate their ESG strategy may put the sustainability and resilience of their business at risk.
