The Road Well Traveled: An Employee Perspective

When I joined Bridge House back in September 2021, my knowledge of the ESG industry was limited, to say the least. After nearly three years as an ESG professional, I’ve gained an unexpected amount of experience; however, the industry is constantly in flux and there is still plenty to learn. Now that my exposure to the ESG world has grown, I wanted to share my journey, my humble opinion on the industry, an overview of how I help my clients drive value creation, some key insights that I envision the industry trending towards soon, and the motivation behind my mindset.

Trust the Process

I was blessed to grow up with the San Bernardino mountains of Southern California as my backyard. When the weather was warm, we played at the nearby lake all day. When the weather was cold, we played at the nearby ski resort all day long. There wasn’t much else to do except get into trouble. I understood the impacts of climate change at a young age when the snow slowly stopped falling and the ski season began starting later and ending earlier.

After graduating high school, I got the opportunity to attend the University of California, Santa Barbara where pioneers of the environmental movement had developed a world class environmental studies program. During my time at UCSB, I was lucky enough to study abroad in Belize where we backpacked throughout the country and immersed ourselves in its diverse ecosystems while learning how climate change was impacting Belize. After graduating from UCSB with a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Studies, I relocated to Los Angeles. Getting my career off the ground was a whirlwind.

I began doing door to door sales for a solar startup before transitioning to working as a Home Energy Rating Systems technician. I then got involved in environmental remediation before deciding to continue my education. While working full time, I remotely pursued a Master’s of Science in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins. In the midst of pursuing my studies, I pivoted to join an energy efficiency firm. After graduating from Johns Hopkins, I finally found the perfect fit with Bridge House Advisors where I could apply my diverse background to the ever-evolving ESG industry. Even though it took getting chased by dogs, working in sweltering attics in the peak summer heat, living out of hotel rooms (sometimes shared), and spending long hours commuting in Los Angeles traffic, I wouldn’t change a thing about my career path. Each experience taught me something new about myself and the environmental industry, helped shape the individual I am today, and prepared me for my role with Bridge House.

ESG in my Own Words

ESG is not a silver bullet that will solve all of humanity’s troubles. Rather, ESG is an indicator of responsible business, a fundamental risk management tool, and an instrument of value creation. Analyzing a company’s ESG performance empowers the business to understand the risks and opportunities of its operations which can be utilized to improve its position while simultaneously reducing its risk exposure.

Regulatory systems in North America and the E.U. are mature enough that it is relatively uncommon to find large scale operating risks such as hazardous pollution or forced/child labor which are key topics of concern that are assessed during an ESG review. However, ESG risks and opportunities extend beyond these critical issues to include operational aspects that are traditionally managed throughout an investment lifecycle yet may not always fall under the umbrella of an ESG topic. For instance, predictive maintenance schedules, closed-loop water systems, and improved health and safety measures not only bolster a company’s narrative but also positively impact its bottom line. Additionally, addressing local market and industry-wide pay gaps can help improve a company’s overall competitiveness and reputation.

Furthermore, it’s important to not only identify ESG risks and opportunities but also to ensure that comprehensive management systems are in place to mitigate or eliminate these risks and create accreditive value.

My Role in Driving Value Creation

Energy efficiency solutions often require capital investments into new technologies. At Bridge House, we recognize the importance of incorporating these new technologies where applicable; however, our team creates value for our clients by analyzing the performance spread of energy intensity (i.e., kWh/sq ft, kWh/ton of product, MMBTU/$M revenue, etc.) across their portfolio of facilities. Identifying the leaders and laggards within the facility portfolio guides us towards identifying no-cost and low-cost operational improvements developed to drive cost savings while simultaneously reducing energy consumption and decreasing carbon emissions.

My Future Perspective

The influence of ESG is beginning to take many shapes and forms across our economy. Although I don’t see the acronym ESG sticking around for the long haul, its impact will likely resonant in the following ways in the near future:

• • Carbon accounting and emissions reductions will become industry standard and embedded into every business’ risk management systems.
  • Clean energy will surpass fossil fuels in our global energy mix, but energy prices will rise as infrastructure upgrades are passed to consumers.
  • The coverage of carbon markets and emissions trading systems will increase as countries rely on legislative frameworks to decrease emissions.
  • The overwhelming majority of the population will have been personally negatively impacted by the effects of climate change and the conversation surrounding the issue will evolve from controversy to action.
  • Mandates will be enacted to protect consumers from greenwashing.
  • Climate change is likely to create supply chain disruptions similar to those experienced during COVID-19.

My Motivation

While my interest in the natural environment eventually developed into a passion for studies, I now find myself invested in an opportunity to shape the way businesses operate. The underlying inspiration behind my work week is the ability to create a better world for my two daughters. If the two of them can grow up in a world with cleaner air and water, pursue careers without a gender wage gap, and have access to responsibly sourced and produced goods and services, then my career will have been undoubtedly worth it.  

Bryan Rodriguez
ESG Consultant

brodriguez@bridgehouseadvisors.com
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