Facade & ESG
Measuring Impact through Sustainability Reporting
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Overview
Abstract
In 2023, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) inaugurated the first two global sustainability disclosure standards IFRS S1/S2 to systematize the ESG standards, frameworks, and initiatives across industries and geographies. Publicly listed companies in the U.S. are required by law to disclose sustainability performance including key disclosure metrics such as energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The ESG framework is increasingly becoming a global standard, including in the rapidly developing Asia region. This study explores the implications of ESG reporting on facade practice in five attributes: reporting scope, energy impact, material impact, impact categories, and compliance. A portfolio of a U.S. architect practicing in Greater China was referenced in the case study. Carbon accounting and life cycle assessment were performed to quantify facade impact. The results show that the impacts go beyond greenhouse gas emissions and include natural capital and human health. For a highrise building with facade-associated energy saving 2,950,000 kWh per year, it also reduces greenhouse gas emission of 2.329 x 106 kg CO2-eq, fossil fuel depletion 8.95 x 105 kg oil-eq, particulate matters 1.215 x 103 m2a., and water depletion 1.427 x 106 m3. The challenges and opportunities of applying ESG framework to facade are also discussed from global perspectives.
Authors
Vikki Lew
Project Architect
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Keywords
Paper content
ESG, which stands for environment, social, and governance, is a financial approach linking sustainability goals and implementation in businesses. ESG recognizes that a company’s financial performance depends on the stakeholders
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Acknowledgements
This work was made possible with the Richard Upjohn Research Fellowship from The American Institute of Architects.
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