Going Green? It’s important to include it in your public relations plan

More and more businesses in thebuilding, design and construction world are embracing sustainability,resilience, carbon reduction and transparency as the movement to fight theeffects of climate change continues to grow.
It is an essential part of many companies’business plans; it should also be an integral part of their PR plan.
Efforts to reduce carbon and otherGHG emissions, processes to reduce waste, healthy workplace initiatives,third-party certifications like GREENGUARD Gold and Red List Free all provide atremendous benefit as more consumers and companies put a premium on workingwith businesses that are committed to working for a healthier future.
Nielson’s report, TheEvolution of the Sustainability Mindset states that only 20 percent of S&P 500 companies had disclosed their environmental, social, and governance information prior to 2013. This number rose to 85 percent in 2018, according to Nielson.
Another Nielson study found that oneof the top four attributes that consumers were willing to pay for is “environmentallyfriendly, ” with 33 percent of respondents saying that meant enough to them topay more for a product.
Many companies in the BD+C sector have incorporated sustainability into their business models as a result of increasing demand for LEED-certification. Nearly half of the surveyed engineers, architects, contractors, owners, and consultants believe that green buildings will make up the majority of their projects in the next three years.
BD+C companies must make sure that they are highlighting their efforts in a B2B and B2C capacity.
B2B might mean a productreformulation that eliminates hazardous chemicals, a new process that produces less waste, or a shift in corporate usage to more renewableenergy. Industry giants such as McCarthy, Wilmott Dixon, and Turner Construction have committed to initiatives such as net-zero energy or reducing greenhouse gasemissions. Some companies are shifting their attention to reduce theirScope3 carbon emissions. This takes into consideration the entire supply chain. It’s important for small suppliers to recognize their efforts.
Here are some ways BD+Ccompanies could highlight their efforts through public relation:
Tell your story. Take a step back and evaluate what your company is doing in sustainability. It could be something small, like a company-wide effort to cutdown on energy use by turning off lights, switching to programmablethermostats, using energy-efficiency lightbulbs, daylighting, etc. It could be a major shift to renewable energy, Ai solar, wind, or biomass,Ai, or a new product that earns LEED points. No matter how big or small the effort, quantify it. It’s easier to tell the story if you have numbers, an equivalent, etc. For example, how many homes could you power in a year with the same amount of energy saved. You can share your success stories and efforts with your customers, partners, and the media by publishing a press release and highlighting the company blog.
You can apply for certifications and awards: Third-party validation is a big help. Look out for award opportunities for sustainability efforts. There are many options, from a building product to a whole building project. There are many options for third-party validation via certifications such as LEED,WELL and Energy Star, Living Building Challenge (BREEAM), GREENGUARD, Declare and others.
Social media sharing: Social media channels are a strategic and effective way to communicate new updates and remind your followers about your green efforts. This communication should not be limited to company channels. Managers and staff should also share announcements from the company on their personal pages in order to increase organic reach. A paid strategy can also be very effective.