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Operational building certifications can boost GRESB sustainability scores
Nareit notes that GRESB scoring relies on validated data from its annual Real Estate Assessment and that operational certification can increase the certified floor-area share used for points.
GRESB, a global ESG assessment and benchmarking system for real assets, uses standardized, validated sustainability data to let investors and real estate managers compare performance and make capital decisions. The GRESB Real Estate Assessment is the annual submission used by real estate companies and funds to report ESG practices and building performance, which are then validated, scored, and benchmarked.
Nareit says GRESB submissions have become expected for many investors, since scores are used to compare managers, support due diligence, and guide how capital is allocated. The outlet adds that organizations seeking score improvements often start by documenting management and governance work, including through third-party certifications.
However, Nareit points to research and advisory commentary that many teams eventually hit diminishing returns on policy and management documentation once governance is mature. CBRE sustainability advisory senior project manager Josh Kiser is quoted saying the biggest opportunity for score movement lies in performance data controlled by property managers.
According to Nareit, data coverage and year-over-year improvement drive most GRESB points, with tenant spaces often representing a major share of building energy use but also the most common blind spot. The article also highlights that utilities may report at the meter level, and tenant-level measurement can be harder to capture without mechanisms such as green lease clauses or submetering.