5 steps to achieving error-free ESG Reporting

Here's how you can simplify the process and ensure compliance with evolving standards:

1. Use automated ESG tools: Save time and reduce errors with platforms like Healthy Workers, which centralize data and align with frameworks like GRESB and the EU taxonomy.
2. Validate your data: Centralize data collection and use advanced validation techniques to prevent mistakes and ensure accuracy.
3. Stay compliant with regulations: Keep up with relevant regulations such as EPBD, SFDR, CSRD and more.
4. Boost energy efficiency: Actions like LED upgrades or settings and HVAC optimization reduce costs and improve reporting metrics.
5. Regularly update strategies: Perform materiality assessments and review risks to align with stakeholder needs and regulatory changes.

Quick tip: Combine automation, validation, compliance, energy monitoring, and regular updates to achieve accurate and stress-free ESG reporting.

How to report automatically and error-free on ESG regulations

Curious about the details of ESG reporting and how to do it fast but reliable? We’re happy to help. We’ll give you insights into each step a bit more in detail below to make sure you comply with ESG data rules in no time.

Tip 1: Use automated ESG reporting tools

Automation is a game-changer for meeting modern ESG reporting needs. It cuts down errors and saves time by automating data entry and calculations. It also delivers real-time insights and supports compliance with the right frameworks. 

For real estate portfolios, it’s crucial to pick tools designed specifically for your needs. You can think of some of the following features that’ll help you with error-free ESG reporting: 

• Centralized data management: Simplifies data collection and workflows across multiple properties.
• Compliance tools: Helps align your reports with the requested standards.
• Real-time insights: Provides instant analytics to support informed decision-making.

To get started, you should evaluate their current reporting methods and pinpoint areas where automation can make the biggest difference. While automation boosts accuracy, it’s equally important to have solid data validation practices in place to ensure error-free results.

 "Healthy Workers' platform is essential for us as sustainability consultants, offering automated ESG reporting and comprehensive sustainability investment analysis, all powered by real-time data." - Jurriën Tourney, Founder, Infinity Monitoring & Consultancy

Tip 2: Implement strong data validation practices

Automated tools can simplify data collection, but ensuring accuracy demands reliable validation practices. With increased investments in ESG data software, you need to focus on maintaining data integrity through effective methods.

Centralize data collection

Using a centralized system for data collection is essential. A single, unified source helps you manage complex portfolio data more efficiently. It also ensures consistency, which is crucial for validation:

Tip 3: Align with sustainability regulations

After validating your data, the next step is to ensure it aligns with regulatory standards. This is crucial for accurate and compliant ESG reporting. Property owners need to stay on top of changing ESG regulations, such as the GRESB, Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and EU Taxonomy, to maintain transparency and meet legal requirements.

Using building optimization platforms that include ESG reporting, can make compliance easier and help manage data more effectively.

When selecting tools, look for features like automated updates, integration with multiple frameworks, and built-in compliance checks. Platforms like Healthy Workers not only automate ESG reporting but also provide real-time building insights. These capabilities ensure your properties stay compliant while simplifying reporting and optimizing energy efficiency across your portfolio.

Because compliance tools are essential, you shouldn’t overlook the importance of improving energy efficiency to boost your ESG performance.

Tip 4: Improve energy efficiency

Upgrading energy efficiency not only cuts down on energy costs but also makes your portfolio more sustainable and makes ESG reporting even easier. By lowering energy use and automating performance tracking, you can ensure accurate and transparent reporting.

Energy efficiency actions for properties

You can take specific steps to boost energy efficiency. For example, switching to LED lighting can cut energy use by up to 90%. You can also optimize HVAC which can cut 15-30% of the total costs. To ensure accurate ESG reporting and enable energy efficiency actions, tracking energy performance is crucial. Tools like Healthy Workers can automate data collection for metrics such as:

• Energy use per square foot
• Building energy intensity
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Utility cost reduction

While improving energy efficiency boosts performance metrics, it’s equally important to regularly update your ESG strategy to keep it aligned with your goals.

“Healthy Workers tracks key indicators like temperature, CO2 levels, and humidity, offering insights that were previously unavailable. We can now monitor each office and optimize technical installations for better energy efficiency and comfort.” - Frederick van Gulik - Sr. Asset Manager, Schroders Capital Netherlands

Tip 5: Regularly update ESG strategies

Improving energy efficiency is a great start, but keeping your ESG strategies up-to-date is just as important. Regular updates help you stay compliant with changing standards and ensure your reporting remains accurate and relevant.

Perform materiality assessments

Materiality assessments help you pinpoint key focus areas, minimize reporting mistakes, and align your ESG efforts with what stakeholders care about most. To make reporting more efficient, prioritize these three areas:

• Financial risks and operational impacts
• Stakeholder priorities and expectations
• Regulatory requirements and compliance standards

By focusing on these dimensions, you can allocate resources where they’ll have the most impact and ensure your reporting is on point.

Review risk and compliance regularly

Frequent reviews of climate risks, energy performance, and compliance are essential for maintaining accurate data. A centralized reporting system can make it easier to track progress and compare your performance with industry benchmarks.

Key areas to keep an eye on include:

• Climate change vulnerability: Understand how your property portfolio could be affected.
• Energy performance: Monitor consumption trends and efficiency gains.
• Regulatory compliance: Stay up-to-date with new sustainability rules.
• Data quality: Check that your ESG metrics are accurate and complete

Achieving accuracy and compliance in ESG reporting

Strong ESG practices not only enhance property value but also boost resilience, making precise reporting a must for long-term success. The four essentials for error-free ESG reporting are: automation, validation, compliance and energy monitoring. 

Getting ESG reporting right means blending the right tech with solid processes. By automating reporting you cut down errors and save time. By centralizing and verifying data you build trust in the data and can act accordingly. Tools also help you to align with regulations to keep you on the right side of the law. 

Last but not least, by monitoring energy performance, you add transparency to operations and can cut energy consumption without making expensive CapEx investments. 

Need some help to get started with ESG-reporting? Do you want to know how to combine ESG-reporting and improve energy efficiency for a positive ROI? At Healthy Workers we combine software with years of expertise to guide you all the way.

Book a free demo and we’ll show you how to create sustainable, healthy, and profitable smart buildings automatically.