Doing Well by Doing Good: Ameresco’s First Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Report
George Sakellaris is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Framingham-based Ameresco. Originally published on LinkedIn.
I have long believed that Ameresco is doing well because we are doing good. This notion motivates me daily, and I am humbled that it inspires many of our employees too. Ameresco’s vision is to Energize a Sustainable World, and, core to Ameresco’s culture and business are our guiding values: C.A.R.I.N.G. about our customers, our environment, our communities, our people, and our business.
These values have been tested in a year marked with unrivaled global challenges — from the public health crisis and economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, to civil unrest stemming from prejudice and racial injustice — but steadfastly remain our guiding principals. What cannot and should not be lost in all of this is the tremendous opportunity, and responsibility, for us to work together in an effort to reduce emissions and limit the effects of climate change.
Our company’s strengths are on full display in 2020 as we responded to the pandemic by ensuring the health and safety of our employees. We implemented a seamless transition to full remote operations for many months, and, while following all CDC guidelines, continued front-line work at our essential facilities. I cannot thank our employees enough for their dedication throughout these unprecedented challenges. Our culture has held strong and we are moving full steam ahead — raising full year guidance for 2020 while staying resilient and nimble in executing on projects and goals.
Last year, Ameresco’s customer projects and owned renewable energy assets delivered a carbon reduction of approximately 11.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide — equivalent to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from more than 27.7 billion miles driven by passenger vehicles. As a long-term trusted sustainability partner, we are committed to making a meaningful impact on a low carbon future and doing our part to ensure future generations will be able to enjoy this world to its fullest.
Today we released Ameresco’s first Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report. We are proud to detail many of Ameresco’s initiatives and impact aligned with our mission to lead the quest in creating a more sustainable world. I hope you enjoy reading our 2020 report’s highlights and examples of how ESG is engrained in our culture – delivering energy savings and green energy generation for our clients, and setting the pace for the industry; cultivating a culture that embraces diversity and inclusion, employee well-being, community engagement; embracing governance pillars such as health and safety, cyber security, and corporate responsibility. Our financial performance is backed by a strong leadership team and a dedicated workforce executing in key ESG areas each and every day.
As a pioneer in the energy industry for the last 20 years, Ameresco has maintained a relentless focus on the environment. By driving energy savings and renewable solutions, I hope that we have created a path for customers, partners and people to follow. While being proud of what we have accomplished so far, I am both humbled and yet excited for what is to come. I am more confident than ever that our continued drive and determination will one day make our goals for carbon neutrality and a cleaner, greener planet a reality.
Read Ameresco’s 2020 ESG Report, here: http://www.ameresco.com/esg.