In-camera double exposure of a new high-rise growing from a green tree

In an age of accelerating competition, it is important to consider how, or if, emerging issues will affect business. Leadership must correctly determine if the issue will be a momentary fad; a threat to the business that could harm it in the short or long term; or an opportunity to be seized to better serve clients and grow the business. 

Building service contractors need to thoroughly consider the issue of sustainability or risk the consequences of making a poor business decision. 

Before defining sustainability, it is important to decide whether or not it is worth the time to really think about this issue. After all, if it is a non-issue, then it doesn’t matter how sustainability is defined.

According to the G&A Institute, in 2011 the percentage of Standard & Poor’s 500 companies that publish sustainability reports was only 20 percent, but by 2017 the percentage increased to 85 percent. This is an enormous change and clearly illustrates that major corporations are embracing this issue. 

According to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), as of 2017, 445 institutions reported on their Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). Their list of participating colleges and universities span the United States and continues to grow as their “customers,” Millennials, are more committed to sustainability than previous generations. 

Other organizations whose members are increasingly focused on sustainability include the Healthy Schools Campaign, Green Sports Alliance, U.S. Green Building Council, Practice Greenhealth, Sustainable Products Leadership Council, Responsible Purchasing Network and others.

Thus, for building service contractors serving large corporations, banks, national retailers, schools and universities, sports facilities, city, county and state governments and the like, sustainability is an issue for consideration as the reporting requirements for these customers will only continue to increase.

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Practical Sustainable Initiatives For BSCs


POSTED ON: 3/13/2019