Quinn Quarterly Blog – September 2022

October 6, 2022 — As a build-to-rent company with investors and residents relying on us to be good stewards, it is our responsibility to deliver and adhere to environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies. Issues raised by ESG are at the forefront of everyone’s minds, as people are honing in on more ethically and environmentally conscious practices and adopting a more holistic view of their investments and the places they call home.

We take an active approach to sustainable and low-impact homebuilding and operation. By delivering a variety of initiatives through the residential development life cycle – from design, planning, and construction to operation and maintenance – we are constantly focused on the scope of these activities to enhance our impact, both in the short- and long-term. So what exactly does our ESG policy entail and how does it set the pace for the entire build-to-rent industry moving forward? Here’s what we’ve done so far.

Environmental
We favor efficient design approaches, using a range of design and fit-out templates, and specifying sustainable finishes, such as solid surface quartz or granite countertops and tankless water heaters. By selecting durable materials over cheaper alternatives, we are maximizing longevity and minimizing refurbishment costs in the future. In addition, most of our communities include retention ponds and our irrigation systems are fitted with rain sensors to maximize water efficiency and minimize waste. By limiting hard surfaces and providing soft landscape, we’re able to manage stormwater run-off to reduce pollution.

Through a strategic partnership with Palmetto, we are currently in the process of installing solar panels on every house in our 207-home community in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Once complete, the solar panels will offset 1,247 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, making our homes even more desirable and environmentally responsible for today’s residents. We are planning to expand solar initiatives to all existing and future communities. All of our properties are also built to high energy efficiency levels with double glazed windows, high quality insulation and LED lighting.

Our homes are outfitted with top-tier, environmentally friendly technology including electric vehicle charging infrastructure available in every garage; high efficiency Energy Star certified appliances; smart home technology, including wi-fi thermostats, remote light switches, leak sensors, and a video doorbell; and our communities feature sustainable amenities, such as playgrounds, dog parks, and community gardens.

Our team recently engaged with Native, a carbon footprint assessment company who is helping us assess our carbon footprint and offset it by supporting several US based projects , as well as provide recommendations on reducing carbon emissions over time. Given the current state of our environment, it’s imperative that we start reducing our carbon footprint now and pave the way for a better future.

Social
Internally, we are committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) through initiatives such as equalized parental leave, DE&I training for all employees, anonymous surveys to identify issues and emphasized value on employee wellbeing, with practices such as hybrid work and inclusive team building activities. We have several employee benefits including offering a subsidized gym membership, generous paid time off and year-round celebrations for holidays, birthdays and work anniversaries. We play an active role in the community by arranging quarterly volunteering programs with charities chosen by employees.

We also run a charitable matching program, matching 100% of employee contributions up to $500 per employee per year. When hiring new team members, we actively work with professional recruiters to identify a diverse mix of candidates and ensure all voices have a seat at Quinn’s table. We are proud to have several women in leadership positions in roles ranging from operations to accounting to marketing.

Governance
As a way to demonstrate our corporate governance, we have established reporting lines, appointed boards of managers and formed committees to ensure appropriate oversight and accountability of the company’s actions, practices and policies. We have formed an ESG Committee, Investment Committee and Social Committee.

We have also implemented a suite of compliance and governance policies that our staff is required to adhere to. These policies include a Whistleblower Policy, Ethics and Conflicts of Interest Policy, Privacy Policy, and our ESG Policy. Quinn’s ESG Committee is responsible for shaping the strategy and progress on ESG efforts, reviewing the policy on an annual basis, and making changes and improvements as needed.