• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.801-824
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• 2022

Recently, United Nations found that 38% of global carbon emissions are generated in the building sector, surpassing other industries (32%) and transportation (23%), and ESG is actively used as a way to reduce carbon emissions in the building sector, led by overseas advanced countries. In Korea, as the National Pension Service announced "Consider ESG with more than 50% of investment assets" this year, the move to introduce ESG in the building sector is accelerating, centering on construction companies and asset management companies. However, as the domestic ESG evaluation system is still mainly focused on corporate governance and social responsibility, interest in the environmental sector is lagging behind that of advanced countries. As ESG in the building sector is expected to grow rapidly over the next 10 years, I would like to suggest the following development directions. The first is the expansion of the incentive system. In order for the government to successfully implement policies related to ESG in the building sector, incentive system such as tax reduction and building standards should be expanded further than now in addition to negative systems such as rent restrictions and punishment taxes due to regulatory violations. Second, standardized ESG standards are established. Rather than creating an independent Korean ESG standard that is far from global standards, it is necessary to organize the common parts of global standards and evaluation methods and create and provide guidelines in the form of standard textbooks that can be used equally by all stakeholders. Third, it is an effort to link ESG in the building sector with Digital Transformation(DX). This is because actual energy savings and carbon emission reduction can be realized only when the operation method of the building sector, which is operated mainly by manpower, is digitalized and converted to an intelligent way.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.785-796
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• 2023

The adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance(ESG) practices in domestic construction firms is predominantly driven by major corporations. These companies not only publish reports on their ESG management but also engage in a meticulous process of identifying key issues and setting priorities. This process entails an in-depth evaluation of the severity of various issues and the gathering of insights from experts in the field. Interestingly, a comparative analysis of ESG assessments for construction companies, both domestically and internationally, reveals significant discrepancies in outcomes. These differences stem from the varied evaluation methodologies and criteria employed by different assessing bodies. Addressing this gap, our study proposes a suite of strategies aimed at bolstering ESG management within the construction sector. We advocate for enhanced policy support and financial backing, especially targeting small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs) to facilitate their engagement in ESG practices. A critical step forward involves the standardization and transparent disclosure of ESG evaluation criteria, tailored to reflect the unique aspects of the construction industry. Moreover, the standardization and publication of ESG assessments for subcontractors are essential, equipping them with the necessary tools for effective ESG management and evaluation. Given the global nature of construction projects, particularly those commissioned by the European Union in regions like Africa and East Asia, adherence to ESG standards is imperative. Our long-term vision includes the development of a comprehensive database detailing ESG regulations and their impacts, segmented by region and country. This repository will serve as a valuable resource for companies venturing into international construction projects.

• The Journal of Economics, Marketing and Management
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.23-34
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• 2023

Purpose: This study conducted an empirical study to identify the current status of real estate managers' ESG awareness and to derive recommendations for improvement. Research design, data and methodology: A survey was conducted among those who actually manage real estate assets regardless of region. Descriptive statistical analysis, paired sample t-test, and IPA analysis were conducted using SPSS 27.0 statistical package. Results: The results of the t-test showed that respondents perceived their on-site management achievements to be lower than their perceived importance in all areas of ESG. In the IPA matrix, the mean of achievement is higher than 3, which is moderate. Environment (E) was found to be relatively low in importance. In the Social (S) aspect, the achievement level was low compared to its importance, and Governance (G) was found to be low in importance. Conclusions: Based on the analysis, it seems that policies are needed to emphasize the importance of environmental issues such as greenhouse gas reduction in the environment (E) sector and to strengthen realistic achievement in the social (S) and governance (G) sectors.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2022.06a
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• pp.1009-1016
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• 2022

As environmental concerns grow, people are becoming more aware of energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and sustainable development. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is currently the most widely recognized building environment assessment method connected to energy and the environment worldwide. This study explores trends for six factors (energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, sustainable sites, water efficiency, and innovation in design) to assess four levels of LEED certification (Platinum, gold, silver, and certified) using 11,209 LEED projects in the United States. The study analyzes trends using scores of percentages of maximum points by certification level, ownership type, space type, and climate zones. With the interest in the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principle on the rise, this study contributes to a better understanding of the trends and future of LEED certification in the built environment sector.