| Submission Entry: | 1.) What systemic transformation are you able to report as an ESCO?
- Whilst ESCO projects typically involve achieving greater energy efficiency and water-use optimisation, what have you done to ensure better IEQ, either as a collateral or direct benefit?
- Have you evolved a way of showing fiscal benefits of better IEQ, which in turn, has allowed you to stay true to the ESCO model of making money through savings achieved, and the like, in the case of better IEQ?
- Have you established or strengthened your company policy towards addressing the bigger picture (of helping in the effort to limiting global rise in temperature or improvement in IEQ, etc.) and working in an interconnected manner with other stakeholders?
(188)Answer: At FortyGuard, we have initiated systemic transformations that mirror the goals of an Energy Service Company (ESCO) model by focusing on improving energy efficiency and climate resilience through our AI-driven urban temperature insights. Our technology directly addresses the critical issue of urban heat and indirectly improves Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) by enabling cities and urban planners to design more comfortable, cooler, and healthier outdoor environments, which positively impact surrounding indoor spaces as well.
While ESCOs typically focus on energy and water savings, we ensure better IEQ through our solutions by helping cities reduce urban heat, which contributes to lowering energy consumption in cooling systems and improving air quality. By using precise data and predictive analytics, we empower stakeholders to make informed decisions that not only improve outdoor comfort but also lead to more sustainable, efficient buildings with optimized energy use.
We’ve also demonstrated benefits related to better IEQ, as improved outdoor environments reduce the need for excessive energy consumption inside buildings, leading to operational cost savings. This aligns with the ESCO model of generating savings while providing tangible health and well-being benefits for urban communities.
Finally, our company policies reflect our commitment to addressing the broader challenge of limiting global temperature rise. We collaborate with multiple stakeholders, including city planners, engineers, and government agencies, to ensure a holistic approach to combating climate change while improving the overall urban living environment.
2.) Given that buildings consume 40% of global energy, within which at least 40% is consumed by HVAC systems, how has the goal of 1.5 C additionally impacted your project opportunities? What specific design or equipment/ controls selection retrofits have you incorporated in your projects in order to support the 1.5 goal? (189)Answer: We focus on reducing the energy burden by tackling urban heat islands and promoting energy efficiency through precise temperature intelligence.
By providing hyperlocal temperature data and predictive analytics, we enable urban planners, city managers, and engineers to optimize their cooling systems and reduce the demand on HVAC units. This proactive approach helps align urban environments with the 1.5°C goal by mitigating the heat load on buildings, thus lowering overall energy consumption.
We also collaborate with stakeholders to implement urban cooling strategies, such as retrofitting green spaces and reflective surfaces to reduce heat absorption. These strategies are paired with our real-time temperature data, allowing for better design controls and equipment selection that optimize energy use and support sustainable development goals. In turn, this reduces the strain on HVAC systems and contributes to achieving the 1.5°C target.
3.) What is your ESG and energy-efficiency policy as an ESCO? (190)Answer: Our ESG's move around our mission to mitigate urban heat and enhance climate resilience through data-driven solutions. As a tech-driven company, we focus on sustainability by using AI and machine learning to deliver actionable insights that reduce energy consumption in urban environments.
We focus on providing urban planners, city managers, and engineers with precise, hyperlocal temperature data, enabling them to make informed decisions about cooling strategies and infrastructure designs. By reducing the need for excessive HVAC use, we contribute to lowering energy consumption in cities, aligning with global carbon reduction goals.
We prioritize transparency, ethical practices, and continuous engagement with our stakeholders, ensuring that our products support sustainable urban development. Our solutions help cities and businesses optimize their energy use, promoting environmentally conscious decisions that drive positive social and environmental impact.
4.) In the past one year, how many of the ESCO projects you have worked on, have secured a Green Building certification? And under which rating systems and at what levels of certification? Please highlight also the carbon emission reductions achieved on these projects. (191)Answer: While our solutions do not directly secure Green Building certifications, they support climate resilience and energy efficiency improvements, aligning with sustainability goals set by various certification bodies.
In areas where our technology has been applied, we have seen a reduction in outdoor temperatures by up to 5°C, which indirectly contributes to reducing the energy demand for air conditioning and helps lower carbon emissions.
Our platform’s ability to deliver actionable insights into urban heat mitigation makes it a valuable tool in supporting the development of sustainable, energy-efficient urban projects globally.
5.) Please describe your corporate policies for employee motivation and retention - in terms of rewards, etc.? And what is your retention profile? Clients often insist on specific CVs of the service provider’s team to work on a project. Are you facing this issue as a norm, or are you able to assign a team of your choosing, quality-wise, to a project? Does employee-churn have an impact on satisfying clients’ expectations? (192)Answer: We emphasize continuous learning through workshops, certifications, and mentorship programs, ensuring that employees grow alongside the company. We also recognize and reward high performance through bonuses, public recognition, and career advancement opportunities.
We ensure that the most qualified individuals are allocated to projects based on expertise rather than client-specific demands. This approach minimizes the impact of employee turnover and ensures that client expectations are consistently met.
Employee satisfaction and retention remain essential for delivering consistent results and maintaining trust with our clients.
6.) What management strategies and guidelines have you established to counter payment delays and other such instances, which are affecting your cashflow as an ESCO, and are preventing an ideal building construction eco-system (involving all stakeholders) from forming? What creative strategies are you utilising to circumvent/overcome cash flow challenges? (193)Answer: We adopt a proactive communication strategy, regularly engaging with clients to monitor project progress and address any potential delays in payments early on. This helps us mitigate risks associated with delayed cash flow and ensures smooth operations.
To counter potential payment delays, we employ creative strategies such as offering flexible payment plans or early payment incentives to clients, where feasible. We also structure contracts with milestones tied to payments, allowing for consistent revenue streams as projects progress.
These strategies allow us to maintain financial stability while continuing to deliver high-quality solutions to our clients, despite occasional cash flow challenges common in the ESCO and climate-tech sectors.
7.) How can digitalisation ensure transparency, ensuring timely receivables? What other mechanisms would you recommend to ensure you receive monies owed you? (194)Answer: We provide clear, trackable, and automated payment schedules, which help both our team and clients stay on top of deadlines.
Automated reminders are sent before due dates to reduce delays, and clients can track payment statuses in real time via our digital platform. This system also helps us maintain detailed records of transactions, making it easier to resolve any disputes quickly.
We also adhere to strict contractual agreements that specify penalties for late payments. By combining these digital solutions with strong contractual enforcement, we ensure a more reliable cash flow and timely receipt of payments.
8.) Have you incorporated changes to organisational culture and behaviour that enable a sustainable development approach? Specifically, what measures do you have in place to ensure ethical procurement practices across the entire chain of command and decision-making in your organisation? (195)Answer: Our company is committed to minimizing environmental impact while driving innovation in climate technology, particularly in urban heat mitigation. This commitment is reflected in our ethical procurement practices, which ensure that every decision made across our organization supports sustainable development.
We evaluate vendors based on their carbon footprint, use of eco-friendly materials, and ethical labor practices.
Regular training on ethical procurement and sustainable development keeps our employees aligned with our company-wide sustainability goals, ensuring that our approach to procurement remains ethical, sustainable, and responsible.
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