100

Years

For more than 100 years Beacon has been providing contractors with roofing materials

70%

Of Revenue

is driven by repair and remodel demand

7

Billion Dollars

in 2020 sales

View Our Analysis

The Path to Drawdown: Insulation

Buildings and construction account for about 38% of the total global CO2 emissions and 35% of total energy use. Much of this energy is used to heat and cool a home, but a sizable amount of it (25-60% of that energy) is wasted through air infiltration, or heat escaping from warmer areas to cooler areas.

Better insulation of building envelopes can reduce escaping heat. Insulation is the use of high levels of improved materials in buildings that resist heat flow and regulate indoor temperatures. Ideally, insulation should cover all sides of a building, from the bottom floor, exterior walls, to the roof. Insulation should also be continuous - sealing gaps and cracks is critical to a more thermal resistant building envelope.

Insulation is one of the cheapest and most practical solutions to make buildings more energy efficient, both in new construction and through retrofitting older buildings that are often not well insulated. This also means lower utility bills, keeping out moisture, improving air quality and avoiding GHG emissions associated with energy use.

Project Drawdown estimates that, in 2018, 30% of buildings worldwide were insulated. If existing residential and commercial buildings in temperate and tropical countries install insulation (with low carbon materials) at a rate of 1.6 - 2% every year, between 17 - 19 gigatons of GHG emissions can be avoided by 2050.

What We Want to See Improve

Reduce GHG Emissions

While we acknowledge the sustainability initiatives that Beacon is undertaking, on the whole these initiatives are lukewarm. We want to see real action from Beacon Roofing -- actions that get at the root of today’s biggest environmental challenge of climate change. To that end, we urge Beacon to formulate strategies for aggressively reducing their direct and indirect GHG emissions from their offices, facilities, vehicles, employee commute, etc.

Electrify the Fleet

Beacon uses a fleet of 1,837 trucks, 579 tractors, and 1,232 trailers. To reduce emissions from this fleet, they’ve adopted an On-time and Complete Network strategy, which utilizes trucks from the closest branch to the customer’s delivery address. Through this strategy they aim to reduce the average miles driven by 5-7% annually. While we appreciate the efforts that Beacon is making in this area, we wonder how drastically this strategy will cut the company’s emissions. Instead, we urge Beacon to begin switching to electric vehicles for their fleet within the next few years, with the aim of eventually achieving zero emissions from their fleet.

Disclose GHG Emissions

To allow climate-conscious investors and other stakeholders to hold Beacon accountable, we urge them to track and report their emissions from all sources. Adhering to best-in-class disclosure standards like the SASB and TCFD would enable us to compare Beacon’s emissions and reduction track record with other companies.

Related Insulation Stocks in the Climate Index

View All Climate Index Stocks →

Allocated Company Description

0.61%

Owens Corning (OC)

OC makes insulation, roofing, and fiberglass material for residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Building energy efficiency can reduce emissions

0.54%

Topbuild (BLD)

Topbuild installs insulation of various kinds that prevent heat-loss from buildings. Building energy efficiency is key to reducing emissions

0.24%

Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. (BECN)

Beacon distributes roofing material, insulation, and other products for the construction market. Building energy efficiency is key to cutting emissions

0.24%

Installed Building Products (IBP)

IBP installs various kinds of insulation in residential buildings. Building energy efficiency is key to reducing emissions

0.02%

ReTo Eco-Solutions, Inc. (RETO)

ReTo Eco-Solutions makes eco-friendly construction materials like bricks, pavers and tiles made from reclaimed and recycled materials

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