Industry Insights

Unlock asset-level scoring insights with GRESB’s new Score Contribution dashboard  

The case for clean energy: Incentives & opportunities for on-site renewables | The Pulse by GRESB

New ESPM to GRESB toolkit: A partnership between GRESB & Abisko 

Transforming sustainability reporting: A look at the ESPM to GRESB toolkit | The Pulse by GRESB

What will Local Law 97 mean for residential real estate in NYC?

The road travelled: Building GRESB’s Real Estate Standards | The Pulse by GRESB

From risk to resilience: Managing climate risk in residential assets

Leveraging Life Cycle Assessments for sustainable design and material choices

Energy controls in residential real estate: the real impact

Why residents stay longer in green communities: New data reveals the secret

From tenant surveys to success: Data-driven decisions in Commercial Real Estate | The Pulse by GRESB

Pioneering sustainable urban development: White Peak’s commitment to biodiversity in China

Like WhitePeak, more than 2,200 real estate managers and REITs are relying on GRESB for trusted insights, actionable data, and a competitive edge.

Scoring insights: A series unpacking the role of GRESB Scores

#1 Why GRESB Scores?

#2 Value beyond GRESB Scores

#3 What does a GRESB Score mean?

#4 What does “comparable” mean?

#5 Why can GRESB Scores be hard to predict?

Figure 1. An illustration for the static relationship between energy efficiency design goals and LEED points (LEED Credit Library). Figure 2. Trends in Boston Marathon winning times between 1897-2018 (Source: Adrian Hanft, Boston’s Evolution: 1897–2018).

Building a long-term portfolio strategy with asset-level data

The future of commercial real estate is sustainable: Reflections on the post-election era

Has ESG become too big for sustainability reporting? | The Pulse by GRESB

Reflecting on 2024: Advancing the GRESB Foundation’s Mission

Community solar is the fastest growing segment of the US solar market. Is it right for your properties?

Net-zero targets for infrastructure assets: Starting with transparency

What 2024 can teach us to improve 2025

Insights from the GRESB & IWBI Social Sustainability Roundtable series

What is embodied carbon in the real estate sector and why does it matter?

Source: WorldGBC Source: The Institute of Structural Engineers Regional breakdown of embodied carbon Sectoral breakdown of embodied carbon

The GRESB Standards part 2: How they evolve and what’s in store for 2025 | The Pulse by GRESB

The GRESB Standards part 1: How they evolve and what’s in store for 2025 | The Pulse by GRESB

Decarbonizing commercial real estate portfolios in the US: A practical guide

Thinking outside the (operational) box: The missing piece of embodied carbon

Establishing an embodied carbon strategy in the EU market

REAL Benchmarks: Eastnine Client Story

“We acquired a property last year in a new market, Poland. And, still at this point, I have not been able to find any dataset on real energy performance for that market… I was quite excited to get hold of that data and see our standing with that benchmark.”

Embodied carbon in focus: Navigating investor and industry expectations

Solve the climate risk puzzle with Conservice  

ANREV & GRESB on the influence of ESG on Asia Pacific Real Estate Fund Performance

The rise of sustainable building ordinances: Benchmarking, audits and retro-commissioning, and building performance standards

Learn more about the National BPS Coalition. Sources: New York10 11 12, Boston13 14 15, Denver16 17 18 Sources: 19 20 21 Sources: New York22 23 24 25 26, Boston5 13 27 28, Denver9 29 30

Confronting embodied carbon’s data problem: How do we know where we stand?

2024 GRESB Global Results: Driving sustainable market change

Decarbonization & the need for quality asset-reporting data

GRESB Results Consultation: Turning data into ESG excellence | The Pulse by GRESB

Automated demand management: Your next-gen operational efficiency strategy

Starting at the bottom: the GRESB origin story | The Pulse by GRESB

The synergy between building electrification and smart grid innovation

The essential guide to electrifying your existing building

Brown to Green: Measuring the impact of sustainable improvements in real estate investments | The Pulse by GRESB

Finding the opportunity in nature impacts disclosure

Elevating ESG performance in the Philippines: NEO’s sustainability journey

Like NEO, more than 2,200 real estate managers and REITs are relying on GRESB for trusted insights, actionable data, and a competitive edge.

Correct and conquer: Updates to the GRESB Assessment Correction service | The Pulse by GRESB

Leveraging technology to improve ESG performance & Impact investment decisions

The accreditation edge: GRESB AP explained | The Pulse by GRESB

Elevate people within your sustainability reporting

Another step towards green transition: EU’s deforestation regulation

Biodiversity and decarbonization: A symbiotic relationship in the built environment

To peer or not to peer: That is your question | The Pulse by GRESB

The real-world parallel of “The Matrix”: loss of biodiversity

How to develop an impactful ESG strategy in 5 steps

Hidden in plain sight: understanding embodied carbon for real estate | The Pulse by GRESB

Biodiversity Net Gain comes into force – what does it mean for you?

Driving demand: An integrated solution to boost TOD infrastructure and real estate

Integrating social value in the life sciences sector: A success story

Under the hood: recent improvements to the GRESB user experience | The Pulse by GRESB

Building certifications: How to impose an expiration date

Discover how GRESB’s 2024 Real Estate Standard amendments impact the relevance of green building certifications over time, covering design, operational, and interior certifications, and their effect on GRESB assessment scoring.

Unlocking social impact: the key to affordable rental housing with lease insurance

Corporate America’s DEI dilemma: Balancing legal risks and diversity commitments

The S in ESG

Diving into GEM: The methodology behind REAL | The Pulse by GRESB

The price of connection: Resident engagement and social value

Navigating regulatory compliance and alignment in real estate

Power play: Europe’s energy transition and ownership structures | The Pulse by GRESB

What is the EPBD and how will it affect construction and real estate?

Navigating nationwide building performance standards

Navigating the path to net-zero buildings: Regulations, investor expectations, and real estate’s opportunities

Raising the standards: Building certifications and the GRESB Real Estate Standards | The Pulse by GRESB

A convincing case for investment managers to apply the ESG lens

The interplay between GRESB and IFRS S2 in real estate sustainability 

As stakeholders demand for standardized, transparent reporting to understand company sustainability performance increases, global frameworks such as the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and GRESB are leading the way.

Navigating climate standards in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia

The impact of green building certifications on GRESB Ratings for in-use buildings

Perspectives from Infrastructure Investor Global Summit | The Pulse by GRESB

Why certify: Uncovering the true value of building certifications

Fostering infrastructure sustainability: abrdn’s stewardship in ESG reporting and asset management

Like Abrdn, more than 800 infrastructure fund and asset managers are relying on GRESB for trusted insights, actionable data, and a competitive edge.

Embracing responsible business practices with GRESB

URBICSA’s journey to ESG integration with GRESB 

The importance of EU Taxonomy alignment for your assets

Building for the future: How certifications embrace change to remain relevant

REAL talk: A deep dive into REAL Benchmarks | The Pulse by GRESB

ESG to fruition: The role of the property manager in carrying out owners’ ESG goals

Building for tomorrow: Dynamic materiality in infrastructure development | The Pulse by GRESB

Can we make tenant data collection easier?

Bridging the ESG data gap: Empowering emerging markets for sustainable infrastructure development

Navigating the evolving ESG data landscape: Challenges, trends, and solutions

The very real price of quality data in multi-tenant real estate

Road to ’24: What’s left to prepare for GRESB participation? | The Pulse by GRESB

The power of water use visibility and real-time data

Unlocking potential: The rise of value-added and opportunistic funds in the GRESB Real Estate Benchmark

Top 5 reasons to join GRESB in 2024

How submeters can unlock your data and boost your coverage

Revolutionizing waste management: Sino Land’s circular innovation in Hong Kong

Like Sino Land, more than 2,200 real estate managers and REITs are relying on GRESB for trusted insights, actionable data, and a competitive edge.

Evolution towards performance | The Pulse by GRESB

We’ve broken the 1.5°C ‘barrier’: Are 1.5°C targets still meaningful?

Infrastructure in development: Navigating infrastructure investments towards sustainability goals

Why carbon insurance: Decarbonization meets risk management

Navigating a changing market

What’s up with residential real estate? | The Pulse by GRESB

Incentives and implementation: How to finance and fulfill high-performance multifamily objectives

Sustainable improvers: The future of social housing?

All new homes are net-zero carbon, affordable to heat, adapted to soaring temperatures and water shortages, and support the modernization of our electricity grid as it decarbonizes with renewable energy.

Navigating a changing market

How to prepare for a successful reporting period

A step-by-step guide to successfully completing your GRESB Assessment Table of contents: 1. Review our core Assessment documents Over the years, GRESB has developed a wealth of resources meant to support all entities in their reporting efforts to our Assessments, most of which are updated on a yearly basis. In the spirit of transparency and […]

Building Tomorrow: Introducing the GRESB Infrastructure Development Asset Assessment 

GRESB first-year participant interview: DTCP

A critical time for decarbonization: Bridging opportunities and challenges

The complexity of defining and measuring social value 

Myths about data and estimation for GRESB and decarbonization planning

The role of data, coverage, and estimation in decarbonizing real estate

From compliance to leadership: Vivenio’s ESG journey with GRESB

Like Vivenio, more than 2,200 real estate managers and REITs are relying on GRESB for trusted insights, actionable data, and a competitive edge.

A time of change

Reflections on 2023 and a look ahead to 2024

The rising focus on water scarcity

How to engage tenants to share utilities data

2023 GRESB Regional Insights Singapore event – Infrastructure in Asia

Navigating sustainable financing in commercial real estate debt

The transition risks of climate change for corporate real estate: Compliance and litigation

Recent study shows REITs surpass private real estate on sustainability measures

The brick and mortar of tackling climate risk for the built sector

In late July, the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a stern warning that “the era of global boiling has arrived.”

The role of commercial real estate in catalyzing the low-carbon grid transformation 

You will not be starting from zero when navigating climate risk for your organization

New GCBA sustainable finance guide published

Green infrastructure: A strategic investment for climate resilience

Navigating climate risk: Essential strategies for success

Taking politics out of ESG

Protect properties from climate risks with smart water management

From awareness to action: Embodied carbon in real estate [external]

How the EU Carbon Border tax is pushing companies to rethink their supply chains and production processes

The real estate ecosystem & embodied carbon: More than just offsetting

The evolution of regulatory frameworks for climate resilience: Disclosure powers change

Automating energy management to build resilience in a dynamic regulatory environment

Enabling health, energy efficiency, and compliance: The Role of tracer particles in ASHRAE Standard 241

Keeping up with regulations: How incentives drive building compliance and regulatory momentum

Conscious real estate as a catalyst for social change

The rise of biodiversity regulations

From compliance to value creation: Preparing for ESG disclosure rules

Sustainability in the built environment: Why green buildings make economic sense

No one wins unless we all do: Why public net-zero plans are critical for progress

Maintaining property value: How to turn ESG from risk into opportunity

Data quality matters | Climate Week

Three D’s supporting decarbonization | Climate Week

Assessing climate targets: Looking into the future

Lifting the hood on net zero in real assets | Climate Week

Building a Decarbonization Modelling Tool

Navigating the path to net zero: GRESB’s role in achieving carbon neutrality in the built environment

Operationalizing net zero: Key recommendations

Top 10 data points to contemplate when pursuing your net zero strategy

The importance of reducing our impact on the warming world

Social equity and net zero: Real estate’s role in a just transition

Water conservation is critical to achieving decarbonization

GRESB first-year participant interview: Castellana Properties

Castellana Properties is one of the leading SOCIMIs in the Spanish market, dedicated to the acquisition, management​,​ and rehabilitation of shopping centers and retail parks​. The firm ​​​generates predictable, sustainable​,​ and growing income streams for its investors through the optimization of portfolio performance, active portfolio management, a solid financial management, and the provision of a […]

Unlocking sustainability in infrastructure: Innovations that paint a greener future

Building a roadmap for sustainable infrastructure: Low-carbon future or pipe dream?

What Defines Data Quality in Sustainable Business Practices

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position.

Navigating climate risk management: Strategies and steps for real estate organizations

Rapid decarbonization requires innovation in energy procurement

Data is gold: The power of data in residential real estate

The path to creating valuable ESG reporting

ESG evolution in GRESB: Shifting focus from ambition to action

ESG reporting: Regulatory updates and the need for strong internal governance

Getting more from your ESG data

Upleveling your ESG program with the GRESB Benchmark Report

Enhancing transparency and accountability: The importance of ESG reporting 

Bridging the data gap: How utilities data monitoring platforms complement building management systems for robust ESG reporting

2023: A wave of new ESG reporting requirements

ESG data collection: How Artificial Intelligence can be a game changer

ESG reporting in the real estate industry: How to eliminate endless spreadsheets and avoid greenwashing

Navigating ESG conversations to improve long-term business outcomes

Using data quality to improve real asset values 

GRESB first-year participant interview: MOMENI Group

MOMENI Group, founded in 2004 and based in Hamburg, is one of the leading privately owned and operated investment managers focusing on prime office and commercial properties in inner-city locations of major German and selected European cities. Along with local and international partners, MOMENI invests in diverse real estate opportunities and establishes excellent, long-term relationships […]

Unlocking investor confidence: Real estate’s path to enhanced data quality

ESG foundations: Data quality in commercial real estate

Data quality: a game changer in real estate 

The foundation of GHG reporting: Data collection, consistency, and confidence

The 5-step guide to triple-net data collection

From narrative to data-driven ESG reporting: How PATRIZIA Infrastructure leverages GRESB to improve sustainability outcomes

Like PATRIZIA, more than 800 infrastructure fund and asset managers are relying on GRESB for trusted insights, actionable data, and a competitive edge.

Brookfield India REIT demonstrates its commitment to sustainability and net-zero transition through GRESB

About Brookfield India REIT Brookfield India Real Estate Trust (BIRET) is India’s first 100% institutionally managed real estate investment trust. BIRET’s portfolio comprises five Grade-A office parks in campus format across key gateway markets of India – Mumbai, Gurugram, Noida, and Kolkata. BIRET is sponsored by an affiliate of Brookfield Asset Management Inc, one of […]

Interview with Messe Frankfurt

In April 2023, Trey Archer, Director, Business Development, APAC, sat down with Messe Frankfurt to discuss GRESB’s role in developing Taiwan’s real estate ESG compliance. The interview was arranged by GRESB Premier Partner TABC (Taiwan Architecture & Building Center). Messe Frankfurt specializes in global events for various industries, including building technologies, environmental technology, safety and […]

Cracking the code to decarbonizing finance

Sustainability is the new “must-have” 

GRESB first-year participant interview: Alecta Fastigheter AB

Alecta Fastigheter is a Swedish real estate company founded in 2021, with the mission to lift people, cities, and businesses by interacting, learning, and trying its way. In a society that changes rapidly, Alecta Fastigheter believes that we must dare to think new. What motivated you to start participating in the GRESB Assessments and what […]

The top 10 questions about GRESB, answered

As sustainability reporting becomes more critical for the real assets industry, GRESB has emerged as a valuable tool for assessing sustainability performance. However, the GRESB reporting process can be time-consuming and complex for some users, especially for first-time participants, occasionally leading to questions among participants. Through the GRESB Helpdesk, we have received a number of […]

Teething problems: Applying SFDR to the real estate sector

What is SFDR? The EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) was adopted in November 2019 as part  of the EU Commission’s Action Plan: Financing Sustainable Growth. The Plan aims to increase transparency on financial markets, with a view to directing capital flows towards activities which contribute to reducing emissions in line with the Paris Agreement.   The SFDR […]

What US companies need to know about SFDR and its implications on transatlantic investment strategies

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) is a set of regulations from the European Union that aims to provide greater transparency and […]

A Deep Dive into The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. SFDR – these 4 letters are creating a buzz for so many businesses and are driving forward the EU’s low-carbon transition. But […]

2025 EPBD: a game changer for EU real estate

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. Andrea Palmer and Stan Bertram describe five reasons how the new EU Directive could transform real estate You would be forgiven to […]

India-based asset manager Nucleus Office Parks increases its GRESB Standing Investments score by 15 points in one year

About Nucleus Office Parks Nucleus Office Parks is the operating platform for fully owned Blackstone Offices in India, managing an industry-leading portfolio of over 20 million square feet of Grade A commercial assets spread across all key markets ESG in Focus: As part of its short-term sustainability targets for FY 2023, Nucleus Office Parks aims […]

GRESB First-Year Participant Interview: Starlight Investments

Starlight Investments is a leading global real estate investment and asset management firm. A privately held owner, developer, and asset manager of over 76,000 residential suites and over 8 million square feet of commercial property space, Starlight offers various investment strategies. What motivated you to start participating in the GRESB Assessments and what were you […]

Why Embodied Carbon Should Be Prioritized Alongside Operational Emissions in Sustainability Disclosure and Emission Reduction Efforts

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. Embodied carbon refers to the carbon emissions associated with the production, transportation, and disposal of building materials, equipment, and other products over […]

Embodied carbon: What it is and how to tackle it

As the reality of climate change starts to set in, the building industry is realizing that it is responsible for a significant portion of human emissions on the planet.

GRESB Participant Q&A: Ventient Energy

Ventient Energy, an independent generator of renewable energy in Europe, scored 100 in the Infrastructure Asset Assessment in 2022. We recently talked to Holly Backhurst, ESG Manager at Ventient Energy, to understand what it means to achieve top marks and to discuss how the infrastructure benchmark must continue to stretch and evolve to effectively assess […]

A closer look at the ESG performance of GRESB first-year real estate participants

Each year, GRESB assesses and benchmarks the ESG performance of thousands of real estate companies and funds worldwide, providing timely insights into ESG-related risks and opportunities. With every new reporting cycle recording an increase in participation and a growing number of first-year participants, it is crucial to gain deeper insights into the performance of new […]

Manager Case Study: QuadReal Property Group

Global investment group QuadReal zeroes in on the S in ESG with GRESB About QuadReal Property Group QuadReal Property Group is a global real estate investment, operating and development company focused on office, industrial, logistics, residential, retail and alternative assets. Additionally, QuadReal invests in equity and debt in both public and private markets and through […]

Manager Case Study: Mahindra Lifespaces Developers Limited

Indian real estate developer Mahindra Lifespaces leverages GRESB to improve its ESG performance as it crafts its net zero journey About Mahindra Lifespace Developers Limited Mahindra Lifespaces develops thriving residential communities and enables business ecosystems through its premium residential projects, integrated cities, and industrial clusters. Focus on ESG: Mahindra Lifespaces is firmly on a path […]

The I(nclusivity) in DEI

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), which was held last year in Egypt on November 6-20, marked the 30th anniversary […]

Attention on Retention: Why Leadership Drives Successful DEI

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have become the center of focus for employment best practices in the last decade. The ULI Global […]

A proven blueprint: From ESG 1.0 to 2.0

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. ESG 1.0 In the context of this article, ESG 1.0 is benchmarking at the portfolio scale. Many US cities, like New York, […]

Manager case study: Klépierre

Klépierre, European leader in shopping centers, leverages GRESB to stay on top of investors’ expectations and improve performance. Leveling the field Klépierre, European leader in shopping centers, first joined GRESB in 2009 to become part of the real estate benchmark and to ensure that investors and stakeholders could easily access its ESG data. In the […]

Manager case study: Keppel Land

Singaporean urban space solutions provider Keppel Land harnesses GRESB performance data to enhance ESG performance.

Manager case study: Arcus Infrastructure Partners

Arcus uses the GRESB benchmarking process as a tool to assess ESG performance at the investee company level, facilitate engagement for internal and external discussions, and to set performance targets. The aim is to consistently improve asset ESG performance.

2022 GRESB results and CRREM pathways: a call to action

With the sector exceeding its carbon budget and CRREEM pathways becoming more unforgiving, a robust move towards better data coverage, integrating renewable energy and electrification of the sector are high priority areas for the real estate sector in 2023.

Outcomes of 2022: Strengthening the Link Between Business & Sustainability

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position.

Beyond the Sustainability Report: How Operationalizing Sustainability Data Can Generate Long-Term Value Creation 

This article aims to outline best practices for operationalizing sustainability performance data and emphasize the benefits of fully embedding sustainability within operational strategy.

Tips and Tricks to Ace Your SBT Submission

Establishing science-based targets has become a trend among companies in response to the growing pressure to become net-zero by 2050. The pressing climate change objectives are pushing companies to design sustainable roadmaps that lead them to reduce their carbon footprint and put a break on global warming.

Australian ports: Opportunities and challenges of decarbonization

Australia now serious about incorporating decarbonization into their master planning.

The Increasing Role of Health in ESG

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. Since the term “triple bottom line” was first coined some thirty years ago, it has encompassed social value; and yet, compared with […]

On the road again: Five best practices for your 2023 GRESB submission

Longevity partners identified five best practices to ensure continued improvement of ESG performance in the GRESB Assessment

Best Practices for Adopting Sustainable Business Practices and Sharing Your Progress

Have a look at the six best practices your company can use to better navigate the process of sustainability reporting.

Manager case study: Swire Properties

Hong Kong-listed Swire Properties places ESG performance and data at the center of its sustainable development strategy. Identifying opportunities through annual benchmarking With the goal of becoming the leading sustainable development performer in the real estate industry globally by 2030, Hong Kong-listed Swire Properties is focused on strengthening its sustainability performance and positioning amongst its […]

Investor case study: UniSuper

Australian pension fund UniSuper leverages GRESB data to build ESG capacity Building ESG capacity through GRESB With over fifteen years of experience in responsible investing and a long-term commitment to incorporating ESG criteria into investment decisions, UniSuper is focused on securing a sustainable future for its more than 500,000 members. To achieve its goals the […]

Carbon neutrality and net-zero carbon implications for real estate

While net zero targets and frameworks provide useful guidance and starting points for communicating ambition, targets are meaningless without action

Manager case study: Eastnine

Swedish real estate manager Eastnine joined GRESB to build a sustainability agenda and tackle physical climate risk Laying the foundation for a sustainability agenda with GRESB A leader in the Baltic real estate sector, Eastnine joined GRESB as a real estate participant in 2019 with the goal of using the assessment data and benchmark results […]

Decarbonizing infrastructure: embedding collaborative thinking in a diverse technology space

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. 1. Translating net-zero risk into action Risk management is not new to the infrastructure sector. However, climate change will, and arguably has, imposed […]

The Road to Net Zero Is Paved with Sustainable Concrete

One of the most effective ways businesses are reducing their environmental impact is through the reduction of their carbon footprint.

Three Ways to Reduce Your Company’s Emissions on the Path to Net Zero

In this article, we’ll explore three tangible ways your company can reduce its emissions and work towards net zero.

Understanding Scope 4: The Increasing Importance of Avoided Emissions Data in the Commercial Real Estate Market

Being able to access data, make accurate interpretations and take action regarding the emissions your company or building produces are now must-haves that create value across your organization – from company operations to financing activities. Acting on this data allows real estate organizations to improve scores across multiple sustainability frameworks, increase brand resonance and enhance enterprise value.

What Comes After West Virginia v. EPA – Local Actions on Climate Change

Building owners play an essential role in local strategies that support global climate action. As cities and states take leadership, building owners must set new climate goals and implement efficiency initiatives throughout their operations to satisfy local ESG requirements

Green or bust: The future of Real Estate

In the race to net zero. We will never hit our carbon net-zero targets by 2050 with today’s buildings. They must change, and we have to change our investment approach alongside them. The assets that aren’t changed soon will risk becoming obsolete and losing value.

Putting the S in ESG: resources for responsible supply chains

In recent years, a business’s social impact has gained more traction and gone beyond the welfare of employees, increasingly considering the satisfaction of corporates’ stakeholders beyond financial returns. Despite the effort, the unchecked economy still fails in maintaining socially ethical supply chains.

Going beyond “green” – why social impact is key to sustainability

The grouping of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is not an accident – these broad categories highlight the major risk and opportunity areas for a company seeking to be profitable over the long term. Seeing the investment to manage environmental risks through a social lens provides an opportunity to shift from a risk focus to one of opportunity, driving the most value from the investment and ultimately increasing the possibility of having a successful transition.

Putting “S” in the spotlight – a concept whose time has arrived

Social disruption from climate change, inequality, and public health are some of the defining issues of our times and the real estate industry plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges by harnessing strategies that protect and enhance property, people, and the planet.

S is not an ethical choice

Sustainability is a broad concept involving the environment, society, and governance. To date, strategies concerning energy transition solutions have been widely discussed, but the importance of the social side of sustainability is still unclear. The S in Social (part of ESG) does not just stand for ethical choices, it also means actually improving the quality of life, and increasing inclusion and equality.

Investor case study: Heitman

Real estate investment firm Heitman raises the bar on ESG for listed companies in APAC and across the world with GRESB Putting ESG at the heart of decision-making Focused on delivering value for clients exclusively through real estate, Heitman integrates ESG considerations into all its investment and management processes. For the firm’s listed real estate […]

Investor Case Study: Bayerische Versorgungskammer

German pension fund BVK joined GRESB to strengthen identified weaknesses in its portfolio Establishing a value-added focus on ESG Until recently, Bayerische Versorgungskammer (BVK) had no centralized ESG framework for its real estate investments. Instead, the Bavarian pension group provided external managers with the freedom to determine their own sustainability strategies. This approach, while offering […]

Creating a sustainability roadmap

Having a sustainability or environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy is increasingly becoming a requirement within the real estate industry, with rising pressure from the investors themselves, as well as the organization’s stakeholders, and as a matter of overall legal compliance.

The path to creating an ESG roadmap

Read on how can business operators handle the pressure of ESG reporting, regulations, and clarity?

The enhancement and standardization of climate-related disclosures for investors

Introduction On March 21, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission opened a comment period until June 17th in response to its draft rule under which companies would disclose their own direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions). The rule would also require companies to disclose greenhouse gases generated by […]

Utilizing data to create a sustainability roadmap for your company

There’s no question that sustainability is important to consumers and investors. Consumer trends in 2020 revealed that sustainability is a key consideration for a variety of consumer segments when making their purchase decisions. The sustainable brand practices that consumers value most include waste reduction, reducing carbon footprint, and providing sustainable packaging. Meanwhile, 85% of investors considered ESG factors in their investments in 2020.

Investor case study: Victorian Funds Management

Australian public authority VFMC cuts through the clutter with GRESB to integrate ESG into investment practices. Comparable data is key when using ESG in investment decision-making As a steward of government investments, Victorian Funds Management Corporation (VFMC) seeks to improve risk-adjusted returns by actively engaging with fund managers around key ESG issues. For its real […]

Investor case study: Australian Ethical

Responsible investing pioneer Australian Ethical leverages GRESB data to screen for sustainability performance Building an environmentally focused portfolio A certified B Corp. with a mission of making positive change in the world through investing, Australian Ethical takes a holistic approach to screening companies and engaging with managers. The result: competitive returns and an investment portfolio […]

Investor case study: CenterSquare

Real asset investment leader CenterSquare uses GRESB data in its ESG models to improve engagement with REITs Simplifying ESG data collection and analyses with GRESB As a specialist in real assets, CenterSquare takes a long-term view on ESG topics, including environmental sustainability, social impact, the physical risk of underlying assets, and the transition risks related […]

Investor case study: B&I Capital

Listed real estate investor B&I Capital keeps ahead of ESG regulations and cuts its data-collection burden with GRESB Keeping ahead of emerging regulations with high-quality data inputs With offices in Switzerland, Singapore, and the United States (opening summer 2022) the listed real estate investor B&I Capital focuses on bottom-up, index-agnostic stock picking while keeping a […]

Engagement around ESG

Applying ESG principles may better align investors with broader objectives alongside specific material aspects, thereby creating value for companies and investors.

Beyond the Carbon Footprint: Biodiversity is the (Near) Future of ESG

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the reduction thereof, have become the poster child of corporate ESG programs. For years, companies have been tracking, reducing, and reporting their energy and
emissions stats. Managing Scope 1 and 2 emissions remains a common and impactful place for
companies to begin their sustainability journey. However, the tides are shifting as other environmental and social considerations begin to enter the spotlight.

Quality data is the future of ESG

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) is no longer just something that is nice to participate in –it’s quickly becoming one of the top ways for organizations to stay relevant and gain public trust.

ESG Data is Growing Up

We are entering a new era of ESG data. Historic market failures regarding our negative environmental and social impacts, and the resulting climate change, nature loss, and social inequality, are starting to be corrected with structural changes to the market.

Share & tear: Undervaluing common resources

The future of ESG will need to utilize the driving force of financial institutions to mitigate the unequivocal level of capital at risk stemming from these twin emergencies. The return for this action will be progress towards the sustained use of the largest common resource, the natural environment. If businesses continue to treat it like ‘share & tear’ bread, it will similarly disappear too quickly.

GRESB Infrastructure Top 10 Learnings

As host of the 2021 GRESB Infrastructure Results events, Quinn & Partners asked six longstanding investor, corporate, and consultant representatives, to provide their top insights into GRESB.

Navigating ESG Reporting in Real Estate

Currently, ESG reporting is not mandatory in all countries, however, companies are still choosing to disclose voluntarily and making this practice business as usual. Read more about how to navigate ESG reporting in the real estate industry in this insightful article written by Carbon Intelligence.

Infrastructure Investor Global Summit 2022

Four members of GRESB’s infrastructure team attended the summit, lending their insights and expertise across a range of panels as moderators and speakers. In case you weren’t able to attend or just want a quick recap, we’ve compiled their impressions below.

Health plays a critical role in ESG measurement

By aligning on a common set of metrics, the industry can commit to validating both the health and financial outcomes of ESG investments within the built environment.

Trends & challenges with standardizing Corporate ESG Disclosures

Despite lingering questions about ESG reporting, movements in the market are signalling the eventual formation of a ‘universal’ ESG reporting standard.

Regulatory Landscape

The regulatory landscape surrounding climate change and Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) issues remains in a constant state of evolution. It will be necessary for organizations going forward to remain agile in their ability to conform and adapt to the ever-changing regulatory environment and ensure that climate-related legislation reviews are a routine part of an organization’s operations.

What you need to know about Embodied Carbon

The Embodied Carbon in Real Estate webinar, held on February 17, 2022, was an opportunity to learn more about the role the built environment plays in addressing climate change. The webinar generated a great deal of conversation and prompted several important questions, which is why GRESB and eTool collaborated once more to further disseminate knowledge […]

Demystifying climate risk and the TCFD recommendations

Understanding your organization’s climate-related risks and opportunities has never been more critical. The most recent report from the UN’s IPCC on Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability is a review of climate impacts and how much we can adapt to them.

What does the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) mean for construction?

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. International Emission Policy  Europe is taking policy action as it works to achieve its climate change commitments for carbon neutrality by 2050. […]

The Development of Corporate Net-Zero Targets

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. Looking back, it is fair to say 2021 was the year of climate commitments. Against the backdrop of the latest Intergovernmental Panel […]

Women in STEM and why you should have them by your side

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. Last Friday, February 11th, was International Day of Women and Girls in Science. And to mark it, we wanted to  shine a […]

Influence of ESG factors on the performance of private equity real estate funds in APAC

Sustainability has been gaining traction as a concept in recent times. However, the focus for fund managers appears to be fundamentally still on the bottom line, building the case for understanding the relationship between Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) factors and financial returns. The relatively young nature of the topic of sustainability coupled with the paucity of data available within the private real estate fund industry has resulted in a generally underdeveloped understanding of how ESG factors correlate with the performance of private real estate funds, especially so in APAC where the industry is at a more nascent stage compared to the European and US markets.

Ready, Set, Goals: While COP26 Spurred Climate Ambition, the Private Sector Responds With Climate Action

The United Nation’s 26th annual climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland updated commitments to achieve global climate targets and sounded a call to action for climate priorities across sectors.

Feedback Welcomed on New ESG Covenant Package

A group of Infrastructure debt investors including Aviva Investors, LGIM Real Assets, Macquarie Asset Management, abrdn, BlackRock, Allianz Global Investors and one other, have been working on behalf of the sector to develop an Environmental, Social and Governance Covenant Package.  The initiative aims to:

Industry Best Practices within the 2020 ESG (R)evolution Decade

ll industries have seen a great sustainable force and impulse; an incremental change along all its business supply chain; actually, a challenge that is demanding a transformation, from an ESG perspective. Since the beginning of the 2020 decade, followed by the global pandemic and natural disasters – that are more common and stronger than ever – the world is facing the beginning of the ESG (R)evolution. 

The power of worker voice in creating transparency in cleaning supply chains

Investors focus on sustainability reporting has traditionally been strongest in the E (environmental) and G (governance) aspects of ESG. There have been some impressive gains in these areas, particularly regarding the environment due to the urgency of action highlighted in numerous Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports. Investor involvement has helped shift business and […]

How energy and sustainability management can help countries meet their COP26 goals

At the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland, world leaders made non-binding targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions and move beyond the pledge of net-zero emissions towards operating at a carbon-negative level – meaning they absorb more climate-changing emissions than they produce each year.  These promises are well and good, but they must be backed up […]

Accelerating action for biodiversity: what the built environment sector needs to do

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. Please refer to official GRESB documents for assessment related guidance. The built environment sector needs to protect biodiversity. Why? Because the sector not only depends […]

How to Meet Investor Demands as ESG Scrutiny Intensifies

Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve sustainability through ESG transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB’s position. Please refer to official GRESB documents for assessment related guidance. ESG is under a microscope—and rightfully so. S&P Global states that sustainable bond issuance, including […]

Transaction Management and the Transition to ‘Net-Zero’

Ahead of COP26, due to take place in Glasgow this November, IPCC has released its most recent report on climate change. The report reaffirms it is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land, and that limiting human-induced global warming requires limiting cumulative carbon emissions, and reaching at least net zero carbon.

Zero carbon, a critical ESG challenge for the Real Estate sector

Faced with ever-increasing pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the world is currently in a phase of global warming. The question is no longer how to avoid this trend, but how to curb it and adapt as well as possible. We’re also seeing more pressure from the market, where there’s a growing awareness of issues around ESG and an increasing focus on assets’ extra-financial value.

Different Guidelines, Different Definitions : Why We Need a Standardised Net Zero Carbon Certification Scheme for Real Estate Investors

o limit global warming to 1.5°C, the world needs to be carbon neutral by 2050. Real estate investors are racing to capture the business opportunities and mitigate risks in the transition towards a zero-carbon economy. To date, 128 asset managers, representing approximately $43 trillion in assets under management (AUM), are committed to the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative and supporting the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner.

Carbon Neutrality

Achieving carbon neutrality has become increasingly important in recent decades due to global community concerns over climate change. The destructive impacts of emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), on climate change are widely accepted.

Material use and its impact on Carbon Neutrality

According to the European Academies Science  Advisory Council (EASAC), in 2021, buildings will be responsible for 25% of the European greenhouse  emissions and for 40% of the European energy consumption. We must roll up our sleeves and work together to ensure a liveable future.  

Net-Zero: Where Are We Now?

The newly released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), indicates that climate action is becoming increasingly urgent to avoid the most damaging impacts of climate change. Businesses play an important role in addressing climate change by reducing what are often significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their operations and value chain. 

The Race Against Time: Decarbonizing the Commercial Real Estate Industry

aces another looming threat: a climate that’s warming even faster than we previously realized. A startling new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned of more extreme weather events to come as the temperature continues to rise. 

How to Define Boundaries for GHG Reporting

Environmental management and sustainability reporting have become crucial for companies, investors, and governments around the world as countries strive to achieve the Paris Agreement target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Governments are developing national strategies to address this issue, which include emissions trading schemes, voluntary initiatives, carbon or energy taxes, as well as regulations and standards on energy efficiency and emissions. In turn, companies must discern their position on GHG emissions as they work toward carbon neutrality in order to comply with these new restrictions.

Decarbonization at Scale: The Portfolio-Level Net Zero Carbon OPR

As more companies realize the need to decarbonize their real estate portfolios in the face of increasing climate risk and rising investor expectations, guidance on how to transition to Net Zero Carbon (NZC) on the portfolio level is crucial. While most owners and developers are familiar with the typical Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) to deliver on individual project goals, development teams will need to start by creating a portfolio-level OPR and expand its lens beyond basic OPR strategies to specifically focus on NZC to decarbonize at scale.

Clean energy needs engaged buildings

If the world is to reach net zero emissions by 2050, electricity networks will need to be carbon-free in advanced economies by 2035 and globally by 2040. This will require rapid scaling of renewable energy investments, tripling to around USD $4 trillion per annum by end of this decade, plus the meeting of hundreds of other milestones set out by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its recent ‘Net Zero by 2050’ report.

EPC Grades or Actual Energy Use? Grappling with Net-Zero Chalk and Cheese

Radical improvements in the energy efficiency of existing buildings are needed if we are to reach net zero. But should their performance be assessed by their EPC grade or actual operational energy use? Both are the answer, but these are chalk and cheese, so property owners and investors must learn to deal with two very different agendas.

The Imperative of Science-Based Pathways to Net Zero

It’s time to get to work. With more than 30% of global emissions attributed to the built environment, the real estate sector has a tremendous role to play in softening the most catastrophic consequences of our warming planet. Thankfully, many real estate companies have moved past the era of lofty, mismanaged sustainability goals and have begun setting net zero targets that align with the latest climate science.

Centering Social Equity in Climate Risk Analysis and ESG Reporting

There’s much to celebrate in the advancement of climate-informed investment decisions. This is largely owing to the growth of actionable data that measures climate and environmental risk and opportunities — the “E” in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). However, there is little captured about “S,” which means that these climate-informed decisions can be made without considering social impacts.

Tackle the Climate Crisis by Tackling the Data Crisis!

When we support our clients in their GRESB reporting season, it becomes clear time and again that data availability and quality are often a challenge. Despite the increased use of software solutions, the situation has not changed much.

Reporting ESG Data in 2021: Meeting High Investor Expectations in the Wake of COVID-19

Businesses are expected to have timely, accurate, and verifiable financial information on hand at all times. As investor appetite for ESG disclosure and sustainability reports increases, the demand for non-financial data is rising nearly to that level of expectation. Stakeholders, as well as the public, are acutely aware of the risks associated with a company’s poor sustainability performance, unfavorable working conditions, and lack of diversity among management, and other factors.

ESG Metrics in Real Estate

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure.” Most sustainability professionals have heard this adage enough times to repeat it in our sleep (and possibly elicit an eye roll). Still, the unfortunate truth is that the “measure” part of the equation is often easier said than done.

The case for “bounce-forward” climate-resilient infrastructure

Because climate change is constantly shifting the overall environmental equilibrium, “bounce-back” approaches are becoming less and less applicable in practice. A “bounce-forward” approach accounts for continuous adaptation to disturbances or changes to the steady state.

Defining Resilience: A People-First Approach to Protecting Places

In my years working at the intersection of health and design, I’ve noticed that something interesting tends to happen in conversations about resilience. Often, when the word is mentioned, everyone nods in vigorous agreement – while thinking of very different things.In real estate, of course, resilience tends to be all about designing structures to withstand the increasingly violent consequences of a warming earth. The conversation might turn to things like base-isolated corporate campuses or minimalist modern floating homes.

Resilience Management: A Multifaceted Approach to Real Estate Investing

Resilience is an ongoing initiative that continues to evolve rapidly. We believe that developing a comprehensive approach to addressing physical climate risk across the organization is key to resilience management. Our focus on awareness, evaluation, and integration supports us to further future proof our assets as we all look to transition toward a low carbon economy and help the fight against climate change.

4 Ways to Increase Resilience in the Built Environment: Responding to the Threat

The growing severity of climate-related risks and, as 2020 has shown us, the risk of global social, health and financial events we cannot anticipate means we will increasingly need to anticipate, respond, and adapt to a range of risks. To increase the resilience of our built environment, we will need to combine all available approaches: resistance, reliability, redundancy, response and recovery. Together they can help our buildings and infrastructure survive and thrive.

Resilience: Confronting Climate Change and Adapting Your Real Estate Asset Management Accordingly

The real estate sector accounts for more than a third of CO2 emissions in Europe, yet only 1% of building inventory is renovated each year. This reality has led to growing market awareness, with the emergence of new European and national environmental regulations.

Climate Risk: How the Real Estate Industry is Bracing for the Inevitable

Real estate owners are feeling pressure from all sides to take climate change, and its inherent risks, more seriously. Regulators are demanding more transparency surrounding climate risk disclosure, with the UK and New Zealand implementing mandatory climate risk reporting to align with TCFD recommendations. Investors are also increasingly incorporating climate risk and resilience into their due diligence and decision-making processes.

Nature-Based Solutions: The Backbone of Sustainable Investment

Historically, climate-related risks have been mitigated through grey infrastructure such as sewers and HVAC systems, singular in function and difficult to retroactively expand. However, the built environment industry is waking up to nature-based solutions as a multifunctional approach to climate adaptation whilst meeting wider ESG priorities.

To Build Back Better, Invest in People-First Places

Building back – whether it’s our offices, schools, housing or federal buildings – we should ensure that we’re adopting a people-first approach to enhance these spaces. And the past year has demonstrated beyond the shadow of a doubt that fostering health and well-being is not only a moral imperative, but an investment that always pays dividends.

In plain English: GRESB

With the environmental impact of real estate now increasingly important to investors, frameworks are evolving to help evaluate and improve the sustainability performance of assets. For example, GRESB (formerly the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) is an internationally recognised benchmark assessing the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance of property.

The rise of ESG: the evolution of environmental regulations in Europe

The real estate sector in Europe accounts for nearly half of the region’s energy consumption and more than a third of CO2 emissions. Despite this reality, only 1% of real estate inventory undergoes renewal each year. Faced with the climate crisis, European countries have set themselves a common goal: achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

EU Regulatory Environment Changes (SFDR, EU Taxonomy)

The European Green Deal has launched an ambitious plan to transform the EU economy to a sustainable, climate neutral economy by 2050. To support the plan a range of working groups, action plans and new regulations have been established. All parts of the Green Deal are relevant to real estate, but in particular the outcomes of the EU Action Plan on Sustainable Finance are worth paying close attention to in the coming months.

The three US green building legislation trends you need to know about

This article was originally published in Commercial Property Executive. See original article here. Introduction The United States has not always been a world leader when it comes to buildings that are good for the planet or supportive of human health. Rather, the market has long been fragmented between different regions, with some states and cities […]

ESG Reporting: The past, present and future

ESG reporting has developed into an essential factor in assessing ESG initiatives and communicating on sustainability commitments, and COVID-19 has only stood as a catalyst for this trend. The pandemic has demonstrated to the market that easily neglected ‘non-financial’ factors are equally as important to long-term sustainability of businesses as any financial factors. It is truly an exciting time to be a part of the movement towards knowledge sharing and harnessing new opportunities as means of managing and reporting towards ESG factors.

The Future of ESG Reporting

Lately, three letters have been blooming everywhere whenever conversation revolves around sustainability reporting: ‘ESG’. The concept of ESG first appeared in 2001, as such, the topic is not new, prescient concepts such as social, ethical, or environmental issues (SSE), or socially responsible investment (SRI) were already reported by different industries and businesses in the preceding decades. The letters alone might not mean much, but together they represent an entity’s behavior on environmental issues, its engagement with society, and the strength of its governance.

Future of ESG reporting: Aligning with the ultimate customer to out-run the bear

The emphasis in ESG reporting is usually on the ‘E’. The ‘G’ is also getting some attention with transparency and diversity also becoming focal points on boardroom agendas. However, post-pandemic the future of ESG reporting must lie with the ‘S’ and particularly with stakeholder engagement.

The rise of the “S” in ESG Reporting

By elevating ‘S’ on the ESG agenda, we might just get close to squaring the circle through the adoption of a more holistic understanding of “value”. Embracing a longer-term time horizon and broadening the scope of metrics used to measure success would alleviate concerns associated with pressures organisations face for short-term returns. The real challenge is to find the right balance between harmonising social reporting requirements alongside the flexibility needed to effectively address local needs.

Looking into the crystal ball of what the future holds for ESG reporting

ESG reporting has surged in prominence amid a growing realisation among investors and financial institutions that sustainability risk is investment risk. The devastating impact of COVID-19 has further accelerated interest in companies’ ESG disclosure and sustainability performance. But with ESG performance soaring to the top of the agenda, the nascent industry of ESG reporting appears destined for change.

ESG reporting: finding the approach that fits your goals, and following through with success

Stakeholders are no longer focused on financial data alone, and organizations today face increasing market pressure to meet new criteria – especially with the emergence of European regulations like the Tertiary Decree, MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards), the Dutch Building Decree, etc.

A unified standard needed to take ESG to the next level

Since COVID-19 hit the world in an unexpected way, it has demonstrated to corporates that the easily neglected ‘non-financial’ factors are indeed equally important to long-term sustainability of businesses. The concern on ESG issues is higher than ever before.

Data Collection for ESG Reporting and its role in creating Smarter and more Sustainable Cities

The impetus towards ESG reporting and accountability has largely been led by investors. However, reporting is about more than just meeting targets and succeeding on benchmarks. The data collected as part of the ESG reporting process can be used to enhance the customer experience for tenants, making real estate assets more attractive.

New Practices of ESG Reporting in Digital Era

ESG reporting is a fundamental component of the entire ESG value chain. As an important communication channel with stakeholders including shareholders and investors, it serves as one of the major sources of ESG data and functions. With the growing demand for quality ESG data, tightened regulations towards ESG reporting have been applied in many Stock Exchanges around the world to ensure listed companies provide decision-useful data.

Paving The Road Ahead: Outlining the Strategic Direction of the GRESB Assessment

Our shared future success depends on our ability to drive more sustainable outcomes across more assets faster, and to do this at a global level. Our new organizational structure is ready for this challenge. We have the right people in GRESB BVs Management Board, while the establishment of the GRESB Foundation is now well underway. […]

Is the sustainability report the right place for storytelling?

Storytelling is how people naturally communicate. Within your sustainability report, it is a means of communication, using narrative techniques surrounding employees, the organisation, the past and visions for the future, social bonding and work itself, to build in the reader a new point-of-view or reinforce an opinion or behaviour. Storytelling

The Future of ESG Reporting & GRESB

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting has gained considerable traction in recent years, underpinned by growing interest from investors at both international and local level.

Investing in Health, Well-Being and Equity: The Time is Now

We all saw what happened next: because companies could measure progress, and investors could reward it, buildings got greener, fast. Better metrics and more attention helped real estate companies construct and operate buildings in ways that support the health of our planet.

PREA Real Estate Investment Management ESG Awards

PREA today announced the winners of the inaugural PREA Real Estate Investment Management ESG
Awards.

The Indoor Generation: Creating Green Buildings for our Health & Wellbeing

The places we live have become simultaneously our home, our office, our schools, our gym, and more. Whilst being at home has played a key role in protecting our health from the spread of the coronavirus, our homes are not always supportive of our well-being.

Social Risk and Resilience

Resilience Insights Series: Part 5 Discussions of climate risk sometimes become highly technical and abstract. It is easy to lose sight of the fact that climate change is having real impacts on people’s lives. These are matters of life and death. Decisions that are made around managing real assets matter, not just to the bottom […]

Toolkit for Managing Climate Risk and Resilience

Pandemics, geopolitics, technological change, urbanization, climate change, and demographic change all present significant threats, but they also pose opportunities for those with the foresight and agility to invest in resilience. The International Standards Organization defines organizational resilience as “the ability to absorb and adapt in a changing environment.” Building resilience requires understanding and proactively managing risk, while at the same time building adaptive capacity.

Leading Resilient Organizations

Resilience Insights Series: Part 3 Building resilience in a time of uncertainty does not happen magically. It requires the ability to gather and integrate many different types of information, and then use that information in a purposeful and consistent way to make decisions. This must then be translated into clear mandates from company leadership and […]

Climate Risk in Context

Every day, more companies are seeking to measure and manage their climate risk. Investors are familiar with the key concepts of risk and have tools and approaches to factor the riskiness of investment decisions into their value propositions and deals. However, climate change raises many new dimensions for the industry that need to be understood in context.

GRESB and BREEAM announce winners for the GRESB BREEAM Asia Awards recognising responsible real estate investments in Asia

On the afternoon of Mar 3, 2021, at the BRE China Awards and BREEAM 30th Anniversary held at The Langham Shanghai, GRESB and BREEAM announced the winners for the inaugural GRESB BREEAM Asia Awards recognizing responsible investments in real estate in Asia. There were three award categories this year. The Best Performing Entity award recognized […]

GRESB Data Partner update

We’re pleased to be starting a new year at GRESB energized and ready to go. With the formation of the GRESB Foundation now well underway, new appointments to our Management Board and the expertise and dedication of our growing network of Members and Partners, we’re ready to work with industry to accelerate progress on the transition to sustainable real assets at the scale and speed that is now required.

Water; Go With the Flow… And Manage It Well

A basic premise of building water systems is that water should flow as much as possible, avoiding water stagnation. Water left to age inside pipes and fixtures loses its disinfectant abilities, allowing microbes to flourish, and reacts with pipe walls to leach compounds. So what happens after the unexpected building shutdowns due to COVID-19? As these pandemic times stretch on, we are beginning to better understand the answers.

The Future ready business of water SECURITY: preparing for the next drought

Australia began 2020 in the grip of a brutal drought and fighting unprecedented bushfires. As communities looked to desalination as the answer for water supply problems, it began to rain and then the pandemic hit. In this article, Grant Gabriel, an Associate Water Supply Engineer with WSP, discusses the imperative for making water security a […]

Using existing data to find water-saving potential: three concrete examples

Water is a rare and precious resource and the fight against wasting it is a key issue. Running a building produces a large amount of data on water consumption. All of this valuable data can be used to review your water consumption, make comparisons with your peers or even detect possible leaks. In this article, […]

Post-covid-19 Era: Buildings’ Health and Well-being

While creating healthier buildings has been an ongoing trend in the real estate industry, the outbreak of Covid-19 reemphasized the urgency and importance of building health and safety. Originally discovered in Wuhan, China, the highly infectious, deadly coronavirus shocked the world. Economies were disrupted, and ways of life were changed. More people started working from […]

Hydrogen Batteries Driving UK Railways Towards Net Zero Targets

Pragmatism and ambition will be key to tackling the pressing challenge posed by climate change. In its 2019 report ‘The UK’s Contribution to Stopping Global Warming’, the Committee on Climate Change recommended that the UK Government should progress its delivery of Net Zero with far greater urgency whilst also ensuring the fair distribution of costs[1]. […]

Net Zero Targets: Considerations for Real Estate Corporates

The sustainability community has increased its understanding of the ambition required for targets to meaningfully mitigate climate change.

Towards net-zero emissions real estate in Asia

Massive wildfires in California, the worst flooding in China since the beginning of this new millennium, and the second most active Atlantic hurricane season on record – this is a snapshot of what a 1 °C warmer world looks like. Such extreme weather events have become more unpredictable in intensity and frequency year after year, […]

Net Zero Buildings: Leaders in Energy, Carbon, Water and Waste

A new report from the Energy Transitions Commission, a group of global leaders from across the energy landscape, reinforces that a net zero economy by 2050 is technically and economically possible. The report points to the need for electrification and urges governments, investors, and companies to accelerate the adoption of zero-carbon solutions now. That includes […]

Why is net zero important and how is it defined?

Why is net zero important: As air quality sharply declines in the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeast faces repeated flooding from an already active hurricane season, we see glimpses of climate change exacerbating natural disasters. The globe has already warmed by about 1°C, creating moderate risk from climate change under certain forecasted scenarios. According to […]

The Path to Net Zero

The connection between climate change and extreme weather is increasingly evident with the expansive wildfires in the Western United States, serving as a grim preview of what a 2°C+ warmer world could look like. Climate data shows that the world has already warmed on average by just over 1°C since preindustrial times and our current […]

Understanding the target for zero carbon emissions by 2050 and taking action in the future

These days, we do not have to prove the importance of including ESG (environmental, social, and governance) criteria in Real Estate Companies’ overall business strategy, whether that is to send a positive message to investors or to properly satisfy the expectations of stakeholders, like employees or clients. Furthermore, the real estate sector is responsible for […]

Target Setting and Buildings: Towards a Net-Zero Future

Setting carbon emissions reduction targets is nothing new. Many companies, including the real estate sector, have already developed many targets and goals in contribution to limit global warming. Also, the conventional target of limiting warming to 2oC is not enough. As the scientific community always emphasizes, to limit global warming to 1.5oC, achieving net-zero global […]

Net zero cooperation

“The only thing that will redeem mankind is cooperation.” Bertrand Russell. In the battle against the climate crisis, the term ‘net zero carbon’ (NZC) is ubiquitous. Following many years of increasing carbon policy, voluntary action and international cooperation – as well as public interest spurred on by high profile activism – everyone talking about NZC […]

Planning for Net Zero: Getting Started

Net Zero has come into focus in 2020 as the key sustainability objective for many Commercial Real Estate organizations, even with the backdrop of COVID-19 and related economic uncertainties. The reason is clear, with the UK’s commitment to Net-Zero by 2050, this theory has 30 years to become a reality. The sweeping changes required for […]

The carbdown is on! Which net zero scheme is the right one for you?

Wake-up call The carbon clock is ticking…faster than most people think. The Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) has determined that the climate goal should not be 2050, as defined in the Paris Agreement, but now 2043 because the CO2 budget for staying below the crucial 1.5°C threshold will be exhausted […]

The Pathway to Carbon Reduction

We’ve all read the news – corporations are taking the lead in addressing the climate crisis: BP will achieve net zero by 2050, Apple will be carbon neutral by 2030 and Microsoft will be carbon negative by 2030. You may be wondering how companies choose between pledge platforms: how do they decide whether they want […]

Six Ways to Become a Zero Carbon Champion

Many professionals believe they are too small to make a difference in the world when it comes to the climate crisis and environmental protection. Do you happen to be one of them? We often deal with managers and decision-makers who only care about the bottom line and achieving short term profits.  In many cases, our […]

Target setting for the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment and other net-zero goals

This year, GRESB announced they will align their reporting standards to the World Green Building Council’s (WorldGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment and increase recognition for real estate portfolios that sign the Commitment.  Signatories of the Commitment pledge to operate 100% of their portfolio buildings at net zero carbon by 2030.  Your real estate firm […]

Real Estate Developers Need to Act Now to Transition to Net Zero

Climate change is no longer a future risk. It has already become an immediate present-day challenge. Apocalyptic natural disasters and rising global temperatures are essentially calling for immediate action on carbon emissions reduction and for businesses to incorporate climate-friendly practices in their operations. In the real estate industry, carbon reduction is a particularly weighty and […]

‘How to Take a Data-driven Approach to Healthy Buildings and Workspaces’

Every year seems to bring a new global crisis, highlighting the importance of having a truly resilient risk management strategy in place. Here at Switch, we’ve been revising our day-to-day processes to be more resilient in the face of local and global crises. We hear that property owners and managers worldwide…

New GRI OHS Standard Has Significant Implication on Health & Well-being

Occupational health and safety has been given much more attention in recent years, especially after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic when corporates realized that human resources are arguably their most important assets. Ensuring workers’ wellbeing has become a key concern for many businesses, acting as the wherewithal to long-term sustainability. This is particularly prominent […]

How certification standards provide practical pathways to safety, health and well-being in our office buildings

In its definition of health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is clear to highlight that it is not only the absence of disease or illness, but rather a holistic comprehensive state of wellbeing on all levels: physical, mental and social.

The case for healthy materials in a post-COVID world

As the world tries to recover from the ongoing global pandemic, questions are being asked as to how this can be prevented from happening again, but also how we can create healthier environments for ourselves. In the post-COVID world we are all starting to notice how our health and wellbeing is being affected by the […]

Reopening Offices: Examining Health & Wellness in the New Workplace

With offices beginning to reopen across the country, one of the main concerns for landlords and tenants alike is the safety of the workspace. Sanitation levels and preventative measures need to be at an all-time high to comply with local guidelines as well as to ensure that tenants are actually willing to return to work.  […]

The state of safety, health, and wellbeing in 2020

Following coronavirus outbreaks in their supply chains, both Tyson Foods Inc. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. added a Chief Medical Officer to their executive teams. These actions reflect the market’s increased emphasis on employee safety, health, and wellbeing in 2020. Expansions of safety, health, and wellbeing were not uncommon pre-COVID. In fact, many sectors recorded […]

Recalibrating for COVID-19: Protecting Occupant Health, Safety and Wellbeing

2020 marked the start of a new decade, bringing with it a variety of crises that dramatically impact human health, safety and wellbeing. In addition to a number of natural disasters and humanitarian crises around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc as communities scramble to control the spread of the virus and respond to unprecedented challenges such as the social upheaval of […]

AREF Future Gen Survey: Remote working in a post-coronavirus environment

On March 23rd 2020, the UK officially entered a legally enforced “lockdown,” confining many of us to our homes for the foreseeable future. For some, the transition has been an easy one, having already been accustomed to remote working on a regular basis. For others, working from home has come with its challenges, including lack […]

Investors Expect and Demand Meaningful Environmental Goals and Progress

There is no doubt that environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles play an increasingly influential role in investment management today. For real estate investors in particular, climate change has arrived as a material risk both in terms of physical risk from floods, hurricanes, and wildfires, as well as transitional risk such as compliance, insurance, and […]

From the Top Down – Diversity & Inclusion Matters

Diversity and inclusion are both prevalent topics in society in recent years, however, they are not new concepts. The line: “diversity is a fact, inclusion is a choice” is often used to motivate people to achieve the targets of diversity and inclusion. As society is naturally full of diversities that exist amongst people, the aim […]

Revamping Diversity & Inclusion During an Era of Racial Justice

Just as the COVID-19 pandemic has made us rethink health and wellness for our employees, tenants and buildings, so should the recent social unrest surrounding racism and police brutality help us to reflect on diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts within our organizations as we make progress toward achieving our environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. The growing consensus is that racial injustice makes sustainability impossible.

COVID-19: Reshaping the notion of the materiality of health and ESG investing

The COVID-19 pandemic’s economic impact has placed a spotlight on the links between population health and the economy. Once considered the invisible H in environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting, health now is the pivotal piece that underpins all of ESG, and it will play a key role in how companies and shareholders assess where to invest in the years to come. From where we stand, the future of investing is investing for health.

LTIIA releases new 2020 ESG Handbook

In just a few years, ESG investing, also known as sustainable or responsible investing, has moved from a slightly idealistic niche to front-page, a mainstream dimension for investors, one that strongly influences the performance and resilience of their investment over time. This is particularly the case in infrastructure, in view of its wide-reaching and long-term […]

Navigating 2020 & Beyond in the Australian Hotel Sector as COVID-19 & ESG Cross Paths – Webinar

During this briefing, a panel of experts will explore the impact of COVID-19 to Australian’s Hotel sector and how ESG fitting into the plan. Amélie Delaunay of ANREV, Dr Sabine Schaffer of Pro-invest, Ruben Langbroek of GRESB and Carlos Flores of NABERS will share with us their views from different perspectives.

CBRE – The Future of Sustainability Webinar

COVID-19 has impacted the sustainability of building operations in many ways – with reduced energy consumption, lower energy prices and an increase in single use plastics, to name a few. It has also accelerated the digitization of many facets of our lives, including how we engage with each other and the built environment. Our next webinar will discuss how the environmental and social sustainability aspects of the spaces we occupy have been impacted by COVID-19, the commercial benefits of responsible investment, as well as exploring the ethical debate around sustainable digitization.

Green Recovery Preventing the Final Wave

Concerns are emerging that the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic may be about to sweep the world as economies continue to reopen after lockdowns. There are also concerns about the final wave – climate crisis. We have seen the impacts of COVID-19 in governments, businesses, and people. With limited health care capacity, taking early action, such as staying at home, washing hands and social distancing, could reduce the overall infections to keep cases at a manageable number for hospital to handle. From a short clip of the Canadian government, we understand graphically the importance of these measures in flattening the curve, where the curve represents the number of people getting sick over time. When a lot of people get sick over a short period of time, the curve rises faster, and it is more likely to surpass the level of which the health care system will be overwhelmed.

ESG Has Reached a Flash Point: Now, it’s Time to Digitize

Recent events have forced companies to place a much-needed emphasis on ESG (environmental, social, governance), if they weren’t doing so already. Climate change was once the prevailing driver of sustainability efforts, with business owners striving to minimize their carbon footprint and improve their relationship with the environment. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has tested companies’ ability to protect the health and wellness of employees and customers. Coupled with recent protests calling attention to racial injustice, the events of this year have forced companies to reexamine the way they interact with and protect their employees and communities.

Responsible investors are leading the way to the post-pandemic recovery and the sustainable future ahead

With overall numbers of new cases and deaths continuing to decline and lockdown measures slowly being eased in most major economies, the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be abating. As countries start to rebuild in the months ahead, the crisis has clearly revealed a fundamental reshaping of investor priorities, accelerating trends which began long before the pandemic took hold.

Looking to the Future with ESG at the Forefront of Mind

Pro-invest Group, NABERS and GRESB collaborated to explore what the future may hold for the Australia Hotel Sector in light of COVID-19.  Please see the highlights below or click here to download the full White Paper. COVID-19’s Ripple Effects The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on economies, health systems, and on businesses large […]

Out of Pandemic, Transformational Resilience Can Emerge

WSP’s Emily Wasley and Heather Unger explain how the knowledge gained from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resilience actions taken in response could provide lasting lessons beyond health crises preparation, including future approaches to acute and chronic risks such as climate change.

The Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Real Estate Market

Whether we have lost someone close to us – my father passed away from COVID in April, or lost our job, or are worried about our health or the future; it’s difficult to imagine that anyone reading this article has been left untouched by COVID-19. Each of us has a unique experience in dealing with the pandemic and each of us has a unique view of the future. It’s our view of the future that shapes the actions we take now; our pessimistic side will counsel caution and the optimistic side will see opportunity.

COVID-19 and Commercial Energy: Realizing and Sustaining Savings

Most of the content generated the past few months has centered around the health issues with building capacities and COVID-19. One aspect that has gotten limited discussion is the reduction in energy usage and real-time data collection.

Post-COVID-19 reality check on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, ESG topics were steadily making their way to the top of forward-thinking stakeholders’ agendas in commercial real estate. With the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak being felt across the sector and the world today, different views on how ESG performance would be prioritized in commercial real estate going forward in the immediate and the longer-term have been emerging

Returning to Work under Pandemic: Maximizing Peace of Mind, Minimizing Costs

The global spread of the novel coronavirus has dramatically altered the lives of nearly everyone in the world, with tens of millions infected and clusters breaking out in nearly every population center.

COVID-19 as a game changer – People. Planet. Profit.

At the beginning of the corona crisis, the markets have just experienced a significant shock. This is shown by many indices. However, the indices have not fallen quite as far as they did during the financial crisis of 2008 and are already on an upward trend again.

What next for sustainability – the post-pandemic corporate agenda

One key business lesson from the pandemic is the need for a radical upgrade of company assessment of social, political and environmental risks. Good ESG policies are an essential part of building this awareness.

Rethinking Occupant Health and Re-Entry Strategies During a Pandemic

Buildings and places – and how we use them – will be more important than ever in a post-pandemic world. Re-imagining and re-calibrating mix-used developments will be especially important in getting tenants, residents, shoppers and clients back to engaging meaningfully with their communities in safe and healthy environments.

The Forest and the Trees of the TCFD: Pairing Asset-Level and Strategic Resilience Assessments to Uncover Risks and Opportunities

In real estate, climate resilience is fast becoming an investment imperative. Losses in the sector due to climate-induced natural disasters are mounting and our customers are seeing financially material impacts to their portfolios. By 2070, $35 trillion in real estate assets will be at risk if the world does not change its current carbon emissions trajectory, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Feedback on a data analysis script that enabled energy savings during Covid-19 lockdown

The health crisis caused by Covid-19 has affected the whole world, practically taking everybody by surprise. Following the announcement of the lockdown, non-essential stores along with numerous corporate offices had to close. Giulia Caputo, Data Scientist at Deepki, explains to us how she and her team were able to detect potential net savings of 123 000 € per week at more than 3 500 buildings courtesy of data analysis during this exceptional period.

Now Is The Time To Start Moving the Needle On Your TCFD Efforts, Here’s Why

Companies are recognizing the importance of assessing risks and planning for contingency. While many investors have historically looked at how an organization assesses and acts upon risk from a reactive standpoint, companies and investors are beginning to take a proactive approach by assessing and planning for risk through disclosures and strategic approaches. Now, more than ever, improving the quality of firms’ climate disclosures is critical to managing climate risks and opportunities in financial markets.

The Climate Financial Revolution

A quiet, financial revolution is going on around us that will have far-reaching effects on the real estate industry and beyond. It is already causing large changes in investment and management methods, as well as a wholesale review of corporate philosophy and policy throughout entire organisations. When we look back, we will see that it has forced a substantial reconsideration of real estate investment valuations, modelling, and benchmarking.

Green, sustainable, resilient properties & financial disclosures

Around the world, governments, businesses, private developers and city planners and officials are spearheading a growing movement to make structures in vulnerable communities more resilient through improved preventative action

TCFDs and Resilience

100 Resilient Cities defines urban resilience as ‘the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, and systems within a city to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience’. While this definition is set in the urban context, it is also applicable to suburban and rural areas. It is worth highlighting here that the key of resilience is not only to survive and adapt, but also to grow, regardless of the challenges experienced.

Embracing TCFD – Turning Crisis into Opportunity

According to TCFD’s 2019 Status Report released in June 2019, there is a growing demand for decision-useful, climate-related financial information by investors. There are likely many factors driving investor demand, ranging from European regulations requiring certain investors to disclose climate-related information to weather-driven events resulting in significant financial impacts and leading investors to seek better […]

Planetary Health is Human Health is Economic Health

In the early days of sustainability, some argued, quite vehemently, that pushing too hard on environmental safeguards and other sustainability policies would hurt and slow economic growth and progress. It seems we have now long since established quite the opposite – that strong leadership on sustainability and environmental stewardship is foundational to a stronger and more resilient economy.

TCFD: A framework to communicate and mitigate climate risks

The TCFD recommendations have been backed by over 250 businesses worldwide, representing more than $6.5 trillion in market capitalization.
Investors use disclosures as an insight into their investments over the long-term and to mitigate risk clusters within their portfolios.

Resilience as a business opportunity – A practical approach to improve property preparedness

Presently, nothing is more prevalent in our daily lives than COVID-19. Governments have closed non-essential businesses causing economic hardship and hitting the real estate sector by missed rental payments and increased vacancy.

Why it pays to consider the environment: Joining the dots between climate risk and biodiversity gain

Thankfully the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis have finally entered the collective consciousness. We acknowledge their existence and their fundamental importance. They are the reasons we do what we do as environmental professionals, but we rarely equate them, in either practical terms or in the common ‘sustainability consultancy parlance’, forgetting the crucial point that these two existential risks are not mutually exclusive.

GRESB Response to BBP feedback on the 2019 Real Estate Assessment

The document was prepared by GRESB in response to the written feedback on the 2019 GRESB Real Estate Assessment provided by the members of the BBP. Elements of this document were discussed with the BBP during the in-person meeting kindly hosted by Aberdeen Standard Investments on February 12th, 2020 but could only be made public […]

Resilience and TCFD’s

As the ongoing Covid-19 crisis demonstrates, the ability to understand risk and understanding the impacts and mitigation has been underestimated by a number of businesses and governments around the world. The same can be said of how climate risk is conceived across the economic and political sphere.

GRESB’s interest in Collection and Analysis of ESG Data in Hispanic Countries – El interés de GRESB en la colección y análisis de datos ASG en países hispanos

El 2020 es el inicio de una década que está marcada con cambios radicales en la forma en que vivimos y nos desarrollamos, tanto en lo público como en lo privado, década que demanda acciones ASG de manera urgente; El sector inmobiliario, no es la excepción ya que es responsable del 40% de las emisiones de GEI (Gases de Efecto Invernadero), globales (WGBC, 2019). Los indicadores ambientales, sociales y de gobernanza (ASG), constituyen un sistema de señales que pueden orientar y robustecer a las organizaciones a establecer metas y estrategias para cumplir con sus objetivos de mercado y disminución de riesgos.

Digitalization to advance health and well-being during a moment of crisis

Quarantines and social distancing measures across the globe are driving technology innovations in ways we couldn’t imagine just a couple just a couple months ago. Digital solutions for keeping us connected and safe are evolving rapidly to address new wants and needs. From social platforms to telemedicine, we are dependent on a host of digital solutions to support us through this unprecedented challenge.

Step Up to Digital Transformation to Construct a Sustainable and Smart City

Digitalization is undoubtedly becoming a trending topic in companies’ business across the globe. In this case, how companies use data to seek value and opportunities becomes the key to success in the digital age.

How the Digital Transformation Enhances Real Estate Resilience in an Ever-Changing World

Recent years have seen the development of a wide range of technological solutions enabling companies to enhance resilience, ensuring business and real estate continuity. But, the outbreak of COVID-19 has brought to light the importance of companies to adopt digital solutions. Both landlords and investors alike have bene looking to add digital solutions to their portfolios to enhance efficiency and remain future proof.

Moving the Goalposts: The History of Green Building and Performance

The contemporary concept of green building dates to the development of the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) in the late 1980s and the release of the first version of BREEAM for Offices in 1990. This pioneering tool was followed by the launch of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system in 1998. They have since been joined by many tools to define, evaluate, and recognize superior buildings.

Sustainable buildings: A pragmatic approach to joining the digital transformation

39% – this is a figure the real estate sector knows well too well. And this must change. According to the UN’s Global Status Report, the built environment makes up approximately 39% of the global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. In order to be on track to meet global climate ambitions set forth in the Paris agreement, we need to see a 30% reduction by 2030. Global buildings sector energy demand rose 7% from 2010 to 2019, so drastic action is needed.

Smart Cities and the Global Digital Infrastructure Revolution

As the world begins to emerge from the global COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures are eased in the months ahead, the attention of decision makers will begin to shift towards the need to stimulate the recovery and to get economies up and running again. The crisis has already taught us many things, but perhaps one of the most poignant lessons is on the importance of digital infrastructure in sustaining economic activity.

Digitize your real estate portfolio in 4 steps

You’ve probably already heard of “digitalization of real estate”. But what is it all about? What is your current state of play? And what are the steps to be taken to achieve it? This article offers you a concrete 4-steps methodology to successfully digitize your real estate portfolio.

Investing for Health: Catalyzing investment in human and social capital

These are certainly challenging times for both the public’s health and for the global economy. We are currently facing an unprecedented pandemic that has upended not only the financial markets, but business as usual.

What Carbon Neutrality Means for the Real Estate Sector

As the global community continues to experience extreme and immediate climate effects, the need for climate action will persist. Since building and construction activities are responsible for 39% of all energy and process-related carbon emissions, real estate corporates have a distinct responsibility to develop ambitious, measurable climate strategies.

Taking a Proactive Approach to Managing Climate Crisis

A blow from increased novel coronavirus fears sent both financial market and stability into freefall. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, daily necessities are becoming scarce because of the fear of supply chain disruptions. We now confront a key question: Is this the new market trend?

The business case for healthy communities

Over the past decade, public health research has established a clear and significant connection between where individuals grow up and their lifelong health outcomes. Across the United States, neighborhoods just a few miles away from one another can have average life expectancies that differ by up to 30 years.

A 2050 target but no time to spare!

We are now in a critical period requiring rapid and urgent action to retrofit our buildings in a bid to address climate change. The Paris Agreement set a global imperative to restrict global warming to 2⁰C or below. To achieve this ambition, global greenhouse gas emissions need to reduce rapidly today with developed economies ultimately becoming Net Zero by 2050. We cannot afford to bide our time and cut emissions later.

Space utilization – Market trends and transformation

Everyone agrees that an image is worth 1,000 words. In his book ‘Information Visualization’, Colin Ware states: “The eye and the visual cortex of the brain form a massive parallel processor that provides the highest-bandwidth channel into human cognitive centers.” With the human visual system processing more information than all other senses combined, visuals can be deciphered by the brain much quicker than written information.

Pivoting for 2020: Urgent ESG Trends Transforming Global CRE

2020 is marked by urgent global sustainability issues that are deeply inter-dependent. Safe-guarding human health, climate action and stabilizing the global economy have risen to the top of our list of priorities.

The race to Net Zero

Global focus has shifted significantly towards climate change and the actions that governments, businesses and individuals are taking to mitigate its impacts. The term “net zero” specifically, has generated tangible traction. For the real estate industry, a driving force to transition towards net zero has been the World Green Building Council (WGBC) and their Advancing Net Zero (ANZ) project which first launched in June 2016.

Socially Responsible Investing Becoming Mainstream in the United States

While Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) has been a dominant theme in the European markets for some time, it has recently gained significant traction in the U.S markets as well. In fact, SRI-focused investment strategies now account for over one-fourth of total assets under management in the U.S.

Why Decarbonization Strategies have the potential to transform the real estate market

The two central pieces of the Paris Climate Agreement, limiting the average global temperature rise to 1.5°C and becoming a carbon neutral economy by 2050, are starting to hit the real estate industry

Stepping up the Reporting Game – External Assurance

Other than the GRESB Assessments, how many sustainability reporting frameworks or disclosure standards could you name? The recent decades have brought the United Nation (UN)’s Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and many more to the sustainability ecosystem.

Getting ready for GRESB season – Reporting tips and tricks

GRESB is imminently approaching! Which for a lot of us in the ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) industry, it means getting ready to report all the relevant activities that have been undertaken by funds over the course of the past year. In order to smoothen your reporting process and evidence collection, I have looked to outline some tips and tricks which will hopefully help you successfully deliver this year’s submission.

Reporting tips and guidance

Reporting of sustainability and Environmental Social Governance (ESG) has evolved significantly over the years. Several organisations have matured and become leading examples; illustrating how reporting has been a way for them to better inform stakeholders, and as a tool for them to reflect on their journey and upgrade their approach to sustainability or ESG.

4 Tips to Acing the 2020 reporting season

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to sustainability reporting, but several key practices distinguish those who lead from those who struggle. Reflecting on the 2019 GRESB Real Estate results, there are over 1,000 responding property companies, and overall scores continue to rise as competition grows. To better the chances of coming out on top, here are a few tips to keep in mind throughout the reporting process – for this year and the next.

Tips for stress free reporting

Managing the reporting and assurance process for your company’s ESG outcomes is difficult at the best of times, 2020 is set to become even more challenging.2019 will go down as the year the world announced a clear intent to move to a low-carbon economy. In 2020 governments, institutions and businesses will have to address how they manage this transition in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of their businesses.

2020 Changes to GRESB Assessments – Verdani Partners

Daniele Horton, founder and president of Verdani Partners, participated in a video interview at Nareit’s 2020 ESG JumpStart Workshop, discussing the changes that are being introduced to the GRESB Assessment in 2020.

A Mindset for Sustainability – Five Accounting Principles for Successful Reporting

Reporting on your environmental impact and sustainability initiatives can be a daunting exercise when you are a large and global enterprise. In effect, the greater your economic reach, the larger your governance portfolio, and subsequently the more pronounced – and more complicated – your impact on the environment and society.

ESG Reporting: 5 Top Tips to get started

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria are a set of standards for a company’s operations that socially conscious investors use to screen potential investments.

Completing the GRESB Real Estate Assessment and maximizing your score

GRESB is a global organization that aims to ensure sustainable real assets- that meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet the needs of their own. The GRESB Real Estate Assessment assesses and compares the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) performance of listed property companies, private property funds, developers and investors […]

ESG Investing Enticed by Outperformance

The future of ESG investing in North America will be driven by the carrot rather than the stick during the next few years, but don’t discount the possibility that governments may bring out the stick in the absence of tangible progress on climate change.

The new GRESB Public Disclosure Dataset reveals improving ESG transparency within listed infrastructure

The GRESB Listed Infrastructure Public Disclosure Dataset covers 155 companies in the listed Infrastructure space – including all 139 constituents in the GLIO Index. The dataset provides information on levels of ESG disclosure and it is undertaken by GRESB using publicly available material ESG data. It provides listed infrastructure investors with information on the ESG […]

Act to Push Forward the SDG 2030 Agenda

According to The Sustainable Development Report 2019, though progress has been made over the past decade, our current status is still far away from meeting “leaving no one behind”, the central principle of the 2030 Agenda.

Engaging Communities: Equity as an ESG Pillar

As one of the most prominent factors of climate justice and sustainable growth, Stakeholder Engagement is a growing focus and concern for GRESB respondents.

Sustainable Development Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Can PropTech help the UK achieve its Net Zero commitment?

SDGs: Answering the Big Questions for the Real Estate Industry – What, Where, Why and How?

How can real estate connect with and relate to global challenges? What is the motivation behind the bigger picture?

The Australian summer fires bring the challenges of the coming decade into new focus.

One thing the Australian summer fires have clearly demonstrated is the connection and interdependence of the natural environment, human wellbeing, community livelihood and economic productivity.

Sustainable DC: Vision 2032

Released in 2012, Sustainable DC was the District’s first comprehensive sustainability plan, establishing the Mayor’s ambitions and bringing together integrated planning across government departments to define an action plan for the American capital to be the healthiest, greenest, and most liveable city in the United States.

6 Ways business can align with SDGs and make an impact

For many companies, aligning with SDGs is the next big way to make a positive impact as an organization and attract investment dollars from increasingly climate-active investors.

The State of GRESB: 2020 vision into the future of the framework

GRESB Premier Partner Goby hosts a webinar on the state of GRESB in 2020 with a cameo by Dan Winters, Head of Americas. The new year is always a time for change. Whether the changes are large or small, the theme of a new beginning permeates all facets of life and business. GRESB is no […]

Performance-Based Occupant Engagement: New Technology Tackles Long-Standing Challenges

New tools and technology are making it easier to understand and manage real world occupant experience. Four specific strategies can turn technology into effective management.


Remember to keep your ‘Proof of Purpose’

As we enter the festive period, we will all be reminded to “keep our proof of purchase” should any of our gifts need to be returned, it is the evidence that we need to show ownership. This concept made me think.  As a Sustainability professional, how do I demonstrate Proof of Purpose?  How do I […]

Stay focused: the strategic value of stakeholder engagement

Making cities sustainable remains high up on the international agenda as the planet faces a climate emergency.

Tenant Engagement–The road to corporate sustainability

In recent years, the interests of tenants in green or sustainable occupancy have gradually grown in prominence, ranging from green and/or healthy building accreditations to optimization of resource management and mitigation of environmental footprints.

4 Steps to Include Stakeholders on Your Sustainability Journey

Let’s explore four key milestones of an organization’s sustainability journey to see how stakeholder engagement can help:

Stakeholder Engagement: A bright new future for Corporate Governance

You can have the best product, the most polished program, the most innovative project, if you have not taken the time to ensure the people impacted by your initiative are fully on board, you will fail. It’s about as certain as death and taxes!

The Sustainable Business Revolution – a unique challenge and opportunity

Sustainability isn’t a threat to future business – it is the future of business, of a thriving economy and long-term prosperity.

Hong Kong Companies: Let’s Embrace Science-Based Targets

The transition towards a low-carbon future is well underway, but for the past few decades, companies and governments have struggled to come to an agreement on the technicalities of measurement. Some of these disagreements have arisen from genuine concerns, but many have been based on an attempt to delay the inevitable.

Science Based Targets vs. Net Zero: what’s the difference? Why do they matter?

Real Estate companies and investors have a clear responsibility in helping transition to a low-carbon economy. But what is the best approach to address this challenge…?

Seeing beyond static – factoring climate change into targets for commercial buildings

Predicting and budgeting for the lifecycle of a commercial building is traditionally viewed as straight forward. Historic data, an understanding of market conditions, good knowledge of how buildings behave and tried and tested facilities management strategies mean budgets for CapEx and OpEx can be fairly accurate. The predictable nature of the built environment has allowed […]

ESG objectives from a long-term perspective

Establishing long-term ESG related objectives by different companies is essential to enable the transformation that the industry needs in order to achieve a sustainable future for all.

Long-term target setting and the value of realism

Modern society is managed and influenced by targets. Setting targets, it seems, is an innate human characteristic, a product of our curiosity and sense of adventure perhaps and certainly a tool for driving progress.

Climate Assessment of Real Estate and Infrastructure Investments: Dutch Institutional Investors

Climate change is increasingly becoming a risk to people and to assets. It is up to investors how they deal with these risks in the near and long term future. De-carbonisation of the portfolio and divestments of real-estate in flood prone areas are effective tools to decrease risks in the short term.

4 Steps to Setting (and Achieving) Long-term Climate Targets

Although a sizeable proportion of the world’s companies have voiced their support and developed short-term responses to the Paris Agreement, an analysis shows that we all need to move faster.

WELL or Fitwel? Getting to Know Healthy Building Certification Systems

The green building certification movement began with a focus on environmental sustainability. Addressing core environmental issues related to energy, water, and waste was the foundation for early green building rating systems like LEED, a program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Green Building – A Tool to Improve Employees’ Health and Productivity

People spend around 90,000 hours at the workplace on average over their lifetime. A couple of researches have shown that the design of a workplace has a significant impact on the physical and mental health, well-being and productivity of its users.

Bad mood is important for good results

The expectation of an easy, predictable, problem-free existence has never occurred in the lives of any of us It turns out that stress is the new manager in companies. Some believe that it is up to us to manage our own well-being, but end up seeing how often the situation gets out of hand by […]

Shifting the Boundaries of Workplace Design and Experience

As wellness rises up the corporate agenda, we are fast realizing there is real opportunity to add value to real estate assets, enhance human health, achieve excellence in general building operations and, from a business perspective, generate savings in employee costs.

Health & Well-being: Time for Residential Action

It may not be feasible for every building to have its own pool or gym, but all Residential owners should be thinking critically about what health and well-being interventions could benefit their properties. And for owners who have already taken steps to improve their building’s energy performance, health and well-being can be approached with a similar process.

Changing Perception about Green Buildings and the Importance of ESG by focusing on Health and Wellness

People do not often consider how the places where they spend their time affect their health. When asked how often they consider the health and environmental impacts of the buildings they spend time in, 39 percent said they never considered it or do not know.

Green Schools: Ensuring Student Health and Well-being

With so much time being spent inside buildings, it is no surprise that the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) has an effect on the building occupants’ health and well-being.

Air Quality Monitoring and Analytics in Buildings

Most people know that the air we breathe outside can be polluted with harmful particles that affect our health. What is less often considered, is that this is no different and sometimes even worse in indoor environments.

The Healthy Building Movement: Impact on People, Planet, and Profit

Rising temperatures not only increase energy use, but also result in accelerated rates of heat-related illness and death. These concerns are especially relevant in urban areas, which often struggle to mitigate the impacts of heat island effect— a phenomenon where more urbanized areas are hotter than surrounding rural areas.

Health and Well-being – what’s the point(s)?

If we strive to achieve GRESB Green Star accreditation and do not make serious efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of the occupants why bother? Why go to all that effort and only reach half of the building’s potential?

Air Pollution and Indoor Air: is this ‘invisible’ danger becoming more visible?

Research continues to find links between air pollution and health effects; a recent study has associated short-term exposure to PM with increased symptoms of psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, in children.

A Budding Interest in Health and Well-being in Real Estate

Incorporating health and well-being into real estate design takes time and investment. Why, then, do companies make the effort? To find out, we spoke with Elena Cernov, Sustainability Consultant at Schneider Electric Energy & Sustainability Services.

Health & Well-being in offices: are you a Squirrel or a Beaver?

Three among many examples illustrate this underlying trend: real estate projects now include plenty of services to tenants, certifications focused on health and well-being gain in popularity, and research projects try to quantify the impact of wellbeing on productivity.

Investing in Inclusion drives Global Returns

Industries across sectors are mobilizing around the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), responding to an urgent call to action for urban development to recognize the ties between human health, environmental sustainability, and socioeconomic equity.

The ESG Trifecta for Real Assets: Why You Need Strategy, Technology, and Process to be Successful

The real asset industry is under increasing pressure from investors and stakeholders to improve environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. According to BlackRock’s most recent Global Real Asset Outlook, the real asset sector received $203B of cash inflows in 2018. Infrastructure had its second consecutive record breaking year with $85B raised. The growth in real assets […]

A Greater Grasp: How we can use green building to motivate and make meaningful strides in sustainability

It’s up to all of us to start engaging wider audiences and convince the public of the reality of climate-related threats. And to do that, we need to illustrate the importance of small, everyday actions. We have to connect the dots between people and the planet they call home.

3 Tools to Improve Industry Diversity & Inclusion

Canada is known as one of the most diverse countries in the world, but many of our industries have trouble reflecting Canada’s diversity in its workforce. This has certainly been the case with commercial real estate (CRE), which has traditionally had the reputation of being composed of mostly white, able-bodied males.

Diversity will enable climate innovation and resilience

There are strong cases for organizational Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) and action on climate change. Diverse and inclusive cultures bring about ideas, effective problem solving and, ultimately, greater chances of success.

Gender lens investing

Gender lens investing is a relatively new concept that refers to investing with the intent to address gender issues. Gender lens investing is on the rise in Canada as responsible investors lean in to narrow the gap in corporate leadership.

Diversity & Inclusion policy? No, thank you

How can one get inclusion, for the ultimate purpose of organizational unity? What is the key to unity?

Alchemists Hold the Key

Stakeholders’ engagement is becoming a key area for GRESB assessment and the ability to deal with stakeholders – clients, customers, occupiers, tenants (call them what you will) – has become a key skill for anyone in a client-facing role.

Driving corporate sustainability through enhancing gender diversity

According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2018 published by Global Economic Forum, the global gender gap in 2018 has declined by 3.6% since 2006. Despite the fact that there’s a declination of gender gap, women are still underrepresented at all levels especially in senior management and the board.

Breaking down the barriers to a functional Diversity & Inclusion program

While slow momentum towards real change can be rooted in anything from a lack of ideas to a complete discount of the concept, there are three main barriers to adoption: data, awareness, and team balance.

Why real estate stakeholders should seize the opportunity of inclusion and diversity

Cities represent a great leverage to tackle inclusive growth. In particular, an inclusive real estate project could be defined as its capacity to include everyone’s rights and duties and to offer equal lifestyles for everyone, taking into account the climatic, environmental and social stakes.

Health, circularity and material transparency: rethinking our material world

We know that, at scale, human health and planetary health are the same thing. So it stands to reason that from a rounded and holistic world view, health and circularity are two sides of the same coin that need to be addressed together, particularly in the context of building products and material cycles.

Putting Circular Economy Principles into Practice

Circular economy and the notion that we cannot continue to deplete resources indefinitely is now at the forefront of the discussion by those that design and operate buildings. The principles of designing out waste, keeping materials in use and regenerating natural systems are now more clearly understood and methods more readily available than ever before.

Adopting Circularity in the UAE

What has camel manure in common with landfills? Apart from being waste, both can also play a central role in driving the circular economy, a concept that is fast gaining significance in the UAE – along with the rest of the world.

Materials, infrastructure, and places – how Circular Economy can shape Australia’s built Environment

2018 brought the circular economy into the spotlight in Australia – previously an under-the-radar concept, the waste management crisis brought about by China’s National Sword policies restricting waste imports has led to responses across all levels of government.

Energy Security through Sustainable Supply Chains

Energy security is the availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability of a sustainable energy supply. This is a key sustainability issue as demonstrated through the Sustainable Development Goal 7 to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”.

The circular economy – Under construction

Linear economies consume large quantities of virgin resources to make products, only to permanently dispose of them at the end of their use. This represents a colossal loss of value in terms of the resources that the products contain and the extraction, energy and processes invested in them.

Circular Economy and Supply Chains

As the number of individual product components and actors in its construction process rises, the supply chain rapidly becomes more complex as well, as it describes the network of resources and actions that to produce and distribute a product to its final buyer.

Sustainable procurement in the real estate industry: towards a better involvement of the supply chain

Sustainable procurement is nowadays of growing importance for real estate companies. It has evolved into a core issue for businesses, particularly in terms of cost reduction, mitigation of business risks, brand reputation and innovation.

[Video] The Impact of ESG on Commercial Real Estate

Watch Dan Winters, GRESB Head of Americas, in this video webinar from S&P Global Market Intelligence on the impact of ESG on commercial real estate. This webinar explores the connection between ESG factors and Commercial Real Estate. We look at how ESG impacts how assets are evaluated, public REITs and funds are analyzed, as well […]

Innovative ways to monitor water consumption

Businesses and organisations are becoming increasingly aware of the need to monitor and manage their water consumption, as evidenced by the growing amount of water-consumption data that are being submitted into our global sustainability-benchmarking database.

Constructing Water-Smart Properties through Innovative Technology and Data Transparency

Already grown six-fold throughout the 20th century, global water demand is projected to increase by 55% between 2000 and 2050. In conjunction, global water supply faces increasing strain as worldwide per capita water resources more than halved from 1962 to 2014, and are forecast to slump to a third of 1962 levels by 2025.

Water consumption: Why we should measure every drop

Clean freshwater is a vitally important natural resource that is essential for life. Although water covers approximately three-quarters of the Earth’s surface, only 2.5% of the global water stock is freshwater, and over two-thirds of this freshwater is locked up in the form of ice and snow in the Arctic, Antarctic and mountainous regions.

Why is access to clean, safe water so elusive?

Biology tells us that water is the key to sustaining life, and history has shown that water determines where and how humans live. Early on in humankind, all settlements were located near wells and springs, with drought and flood periods deciding the survival of most early villages.

Problems with Water Everywhere

According to the new global risk report issued by the World economic forum, water-related risks are amongst the five key risks for the fifth year in a row now. According to United Nations’ estimates, by 2030 almost half of the global population will be living in regions with high water stress.

Flood Risk and Climate Change: England Flood Planners must prepare for the worst?

Developers and investors must consider the risk of flooding to the development design, planning and investment process at the earliest opportunity to help inform the decision-making process. Early engagement with the Environment Agency (EA), local authorities and environmental consultants (such as Delta-Simons who specialise in flood risk and climate change for developers, occupier and investors) will ensure that the masterplan design includes suitable, viable and cost beneficial mitigation measures. By not considering climate change during the early stages of design and during the planning process, from a flood risk perspective, the risk of the planning application being objected to or occupiers being unwilling to sign leases increases along with potential delays to timescales due to reworking and spiralling costs.

Strengthening Urban Resilience through Managing Risks and Grasping Opportunities

Without doubt, climate change has posed a fundamental threat to urban development around the world. Frequent adverse weather events and intense typhoons happening in many countries have drawn the attention of sustainability and green building professionals to the need for identification of climate-related vulnerabilities in their cities. Apparently, it is high time for us to strengthen the cities’ resilience through design, construction and operation of green buildings as well as investment in climate-resilient infrastructure.

Future Proofing our Built Environment

There are five global mega trends shaping the way that we are currently living, how we respond to them now determines how we are going to live into the future. These mega trends are affecting all aspects of our lives, from the food we eat to the technology running our cities, each carrying with them their own risks and opportunities.

Resilience Trends in Real Estate

Due to the increased severity and frequency of climate disasters, real estate investors are showing urgent concern for the risks that climate change is posing to their assets, turning their attention to resilience planning for their real estate portfolios as a top priority. Rapid strides are being made within the resilience landscape, with increasing adoption of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) standards for financial disclosure in corporate climate reporting, along with the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) Resilience Module, recently updated in 2019 to align with TCFD’s recommendations.

Tackling Challenges in ESG Reporting; Satisfying LP Craving for Real-Time Impact

Chances are you’ve been hearing a lot lately about Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting requirements. This webinar goes beyond the “why” and explores how ESG can have a material risk on investment performance.

A practical approach to assessing and managing physical climate change risks in global portfolios

Every day it’s impossible to avoid learning about another catastrophic climate event in mainstream media. Extreme weather can destroy properties and valuables, threaten lives and cripple businesses. The Financial Stability Board has deemed climate change a risk to the global financial system and launched the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) to guide companies on how to disclose climate-related risks, opportunities and financial impacts.

Why we should care about climate resilience

As the effects of climate change on economic activity become more significant, there is increasing demand from investors, trustees and other fiduciaries for consistent, comparable, actionable information in company reports. Investors increasingly expect Boards and Executives to actively assess and respond to climate risks.

Tackling TCFD: Early Lessons in Climate Risk Disclosure

Recognizing the need to better understand and disclose risks associated with climate change, several industry initiatives have started to incorporate climate risk and resilience questions into reporting frameworks. In particular, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) seeks to stimulate market dialogue and increased transparency on climate-related risks by providing information to investors, lenders, insurers, and other stakeholders.

Putting Your Best Foot Forward with Investors: Reporting CRE ESG Data in Four Steps

We’ve entered a new era of sustainability reporting, one characterized by the need for high quality, context-based, decision useful information. Having clear and concise data helps improve decision making, accelerates the accomplishment of goals and enables transparency across organizations and stakeholders, including investors.

Hong Kong is on Track to Embrace Sustainability

Governments around the world are putting policies in place to curb carbon emissions. Hong Kong is no different. It continues to make strides to protect its world-class status through its sustainable development.

Increasing the Potential for Data Insights in Commercial Real Estate

Many successful decisions are made on insights provided by good data, but the challenge in any industry is defining what “good data” is exactly. GRESB, an investor-driven organization committed to assessing the Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) performance of real assets globally has taken the initial step to define “high-quality data” with the release of their 2019 Data Quality Standard Assessment. Still in the preliminary phase, this assessment was created with the help of GRESB Governance Bodies and an Industry Technical Working Group. The Technical Working Group consists of industry experts with relevant subject matter expertise, interest in the assessment and time dedicated to fully participate.

Using the Environmental Management System Framework to Approach Data Management

As useful as data can be, it can be equally cumbersome to collect and process. To properly manage data and ensure its highest level of quality, a process should be developed. The ISO 14001 framework for Environmental Management Systems follows a Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle and can also serve as a guide to data management, as outlined below.

Why Data Quality Matters

In the case of ESG data, we expect companies to accurately report how sustainable they are. Quality really does matter, especially when it’s behind major business decisions.

ESG Data Quality: The Foundation of an Impactful ESG Program

Successful ESG programs in commercial real estate often share one key characteristic with the assets they represent: a strong foundation. Just as a building requires proper framing and construction at its base to maintain stability, ESG programs rely critically upon high-quality ESG data if they are to function as desired. Only with information that is effectively collected, aggregated, and analyzed can you appropriately set baselines, establish metrics and key performance indicators, and track progress toward organizational goals.

From Data Woes to Data Bliss: 7 Steps to Improve the Quality of Your ESG Data

Data may be kryptonite to many, but it’s essential for all. Good data—data that is accurate, comparable and easy to understand—allows sustainability managers to evaluate performance and provides incisive insights to help asset managers make informed investment decisions.

Simple factors to consider when collecting ESG performance data

The success of our decision-making in life can be impacted by the quality of data which is used to inform this decision. High-quality data gives us the confidence to make decisions efficiently and effectively. This could be something as simple as deciding what time you need to wake up in order to make your 9 am meeting. We use data as the basis for making this decision. For example, how long it takes for me to walk to the train station, and how likely it is that my train will be delayed or canceled?

CaGBC launches ‘Disclosure Challenge’ to champion building data transparency

Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) launched the CaGBC Disclosure Challenge initiative to support and champion the importance of data transparency in the Canadian real estate market and encourage broader uptake of benchmarking programs across the country

GRESB Data Quality: Progress through platforms

In the quest to achieve data quality, sustainability and cost savings, it’s important to align, not compete, with global initiatives like the GRESB Data Quality Standard. While surface-level data from bills and meters show us symptoms of poor performance, impactful action requires deeper knowledge of the root cause. To reach that root cause, we need timely, accurate equipment performance data.

What role does the infrastructure sector have in delivering sustainability/ESG impact?

The phrase sustainable development is used in so many contexts that it can become incredibly confusing at times. Two of the latest phrases to be used a lot are ‘sustainable living’ and ‘sustainable cities’. So, what do these actually mean? One of the original definitions of sustainable development, the Brundtland definition[1] talks about ‘meeting the […]

Digital Infrastructure Part 1: Energy

The internet is big, and it is growing bigger. This is what happens on the internet every 60 seconds, and it is but a tiny snapshot of everything that happens. Our digital lives are becoming increasingly dependent on this network, but this is having an increasing physical impact too. Alongside the visible infrastructure that crisscross […]

ESG at the Heart of All We Do

If we take a minute to think about some of the most prominent news stories of recent years, how surprised would you be if you were told that they can all be linked to environmental, social or governance (ESG) factors in some way? In the UK we have been bombarded with stories of Brexit, on […]

A Performance-Based Future for Real Asset ESG Reporting

During the past decade, GRESB has worked closely with institutional investors to create a global benchmark for the environmental, social, and government performance of real assets. This long-term effort has been rooted in the belief that information should be aggregated to the level of an investable entity — a company, fund, JV, or similar vehicle […]

The Business Case for ESG in Real Estate

The growing trend of ESG integration amongst companies and investors is more than a decision about doing what is socially responsible or morally right. Growing evidence suggests that ESG integration may be a key differentiator, providing organizations with a competitive advantage and leading to improved long-term financial performance compared to peers.  Over 80% of corporations […]

A Healthy Dose of ESG can Maximize Investment in Health

Growing evidence indicates that companies can do well by doing good, and that by considering environmental, social, and governance factors, they can optimize their performance and strengthen their bottom line. ESG investing is taking on a new and influential role within the marketplace, expanding company considerations into previously unexplored arenas. Most notably, in pursuit of […]

Factoring in the Environment dimension of ESG in long- term infrastructure investment

Infrastructure and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) dimensions should be natural bedfellows: after all, infra is about providing essential daily-uses services for the community, – such as transport, energy, utilities, telecommunication, social facilities, etc – underpinning the whole economic and social development. ESG has grown considerably in its importance to the investor community – in […]

The Business Case for ESG – Moving from ‘Why?’ to ‘Why Not?’

The United Nations Secretary-General calls climate change “the most systemic threat to humankind” (New York Times, 2018). The World Economic Forums’ 2018 Global Risks Report (World Economic Forum, 2019), published ahead of the 2019 Davos summit, cites 3 of the top 5 risks both in terms of impact and likelihood as being environmental in nature. Reinsurance broker […]

The Business Case for Environmental, Social & Governance Policies

How much time is spent writing policies and business plans which have the sole intention of detailing business growth, self-protection or increasing our market share? How much time is then spent developing relationships, investing in people or understanding customer needs? They appear to be two diametrically opposed ways of doing business. One is cold and […]

The business case for ESG. Shouldn’t it just be business as usual?

Environmental Social Governance (ESG) refers to “the three central factors in measuring the sustainability and ethical impact of an investment in a company or business”. These factors are becoming increasingly important investment considerations. Since 1970, there have been more than 2000 academic studies seeking to identify if there is a link between ESG and financial performance [1] – this […]

The case for embedding Environmental, Social and Governance into your business

Working at Savills over the last five years has made me more aware than ever of the business case for embedding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) into the workplace. As standard, this is the set of criteria that the socially conscious use to pick and choose who they are willing to work with and can […]

Summary Results from the GRESB New Construction and Major Renovations Industry Survey

Construction, retrofit, and renovations are important phases in the life cycle of buildings, and responsible construction practices and sustainable design of buildings are essential aspects of the sustainable real estate industry. That’s why GRESB assesses the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of real estate development activities via the New Construction and Major Renovations (NCMR) […]

2019 will be the year of adaptation to climate change: the French perspective

Decreasing energy consumption (of buildings in particular) is one of the major priorities of energy and climate policy in France following the Paris Agreement in 2015. This decrease considers all activity areas, especially real estate, which accounts for a large share of French carbon emissions (27%). With its first “Low Carbon National Strategy”, France is […]

Crossing the Threshold: Time to make digitalization in real estate and our cities responsible, ethical and sustainable

Knightscope K5 Robotic Security Guard. Image: Shutterstock Digital disruption, proptech, cybersecurity, AI, Alexa, smart buildings, smart cities, driverless cars – these are all hot topics of discussion around real estate today. Digital technologies, which have been emerging for some time, are now integrating with each other, and their take-up is being accelerated by high levels […]

Making Steps Toward Zero

2019 is the year of action, as leaders in sustainable real estate take major steps toward zero – from zero waste to zero carbon. Ambitious organizations are aiming for minimal—or even positive—impacts. The release of multiple zero carbon standards in 2018, including CaGBC’s Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) Standard, USGBC’s LEED Zero and ILFI’s Zero Carbon […]

2 Issues for 2019: social value and biodiversity net gains

The importance of sustainable real assets has become increasingly evident through the positive impact they can have on returns for investors/owners as well as future proofing the value of the investment. Issues such as energy efficiency are often an initial target, in part due to the ease with which improvement can be measured. More recently, […]

Leveraging Data for GRESB Greatness – Webinar | Goby

Dan Winters, Head of Americas, GRESB and Helee Lev, CRO, Goby outline actionable best practices and strategic opportunities for using your data to elevate your GRESB submissions and increase your portfolio’s ESG performance.

Trends & Expectations for 2019 – Siemens Building Technologies

Input from Agustin Garcia del Castillo, Business Development Manager Real Estate and Sustainability Manager for Siemens Building Technologies. At Siemens Building Technologies, we’re raising the bar on sustainability. We are deeply committed to our environment, society at-large, and responsible business practices. We are taking action to reduce climate impacts across our entire value chain and […]

Climate resilience and the search for ‘zero carbon’: Trends and expectations for sustainable real assets in 2019

The challenge of improving the sustainability of real estate portfolios is not new. However, the increasing pressure from investors, certification bodies and other industry drivers is creating a wave of change toward portfolios that can demonstrate increasingly resilient and efficient asset performance. Furthermore, a growing desire for occupants to have real time access to building […]

2019: the Breakthrough Year for Smart Buildings?

Smart buildings and smart cities have been at the forefront of sustainability discussions for much of the past decade, but they have always felt like a vision of the future. During this time we’ve increased the amount of technology in our buildings, and have now arrived at the time of The Internet of Things where […]

What to expect from China’s real estate industry in 2019

ESG as a global vision has enhanced compliance and reporting standards Sustainability is not rocket science yet the rapid global sustainability demand has encouraged overwhelmingly stringent laws and regulations from governments and investment institutions in 2018. The bell rings again for companies to step up their ESG disclosures in 2019. According to the EY Global […]

A people-centric approach helps real estate companies better manage sustainability risks

Today, environmental issues are becoming evidently more important to business, regardless of industry and location. While a worldwide consensus is emerging that we can no longer afford to wait, Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish teenager, reminded us that “if it continues the way it is now, we are never going to achieve anything” in her […]

Trends and expectations for sustainable real assets in 2019: Taking Climate Resilience Mainstream

Climate resilience has emerged as a key field of practice; however, a concern is that thinking and knowledge of this topic, and most importantly actions are not progressing quickly or purposefully enough for real estate managers to adequately prepare their assets for the potentially perilous shocks and stresses caused by climate change. Resilience is becoming […]

2019: Trends in Sustainable Real Assets

2018 was an exciting year for sustainable real assets, as more assets were required to participate in benchmarking or disclosure. As a result, we shifted from talking about regulatory and compliance obligations and costs to sustainability as a value-add driver of cashflow and asset values. The federal government’s retreat only increased the focus on sustainable […]

Transparency, Truth & Totality: 2019 Trends & Expectations for Sustainable Real Assets

The year ahead is an exciting time for the Real Asset universe and, guess what, the pace of change is accelerating. Against an ever-changing global political backdrop, new and evolving investment models including the rise of BTR and the imminent challenge of Brexit, the real estate market must continue to yield consistent returns for investors. […]

Towards zero – a targeted approach

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s recent report gave a stark warning that current pledges from governments are not enough to avoid dangerous levels of climate change. In order to avoid this, we need to be aiming for a maximum of 1.5 degrees of warming above pre-industrial levels. Current INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) to 2030 mean that […]

How to have your company thrive in 2019 and beyond

We are living in a different era. Data is the new oil and companies are now increasingly awash in information being piped in from the internet, from email, from internal accounting, asset management, tenants, vendors, partners and other stakeholders in your business. That doesn’t even begin to consider the impending deluge of data that sensors […]

The Role of Data in Reducing Risk and Driving Performance

In the fast-paced, seemingly ever-changing landscape of the real estate industry, in an effort to gain a competitive edge, organizations are continually striving to adopt the latest systems and practices. There is also an increasing focus on embedding environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters at the core of business, to ensure that all development is sustainable. […]

The Art of Sustainability Goal Setting

When discussing setting sustainability goals among our team, many clients simply want “the answer.” There are tools that allow you to provide key information and produce a numerical target. You could take that number and run with it. But you shouldn’t. Understand your motivation Setting sustainability goals can and should be more nuanced than that. […]

Performance Targets and Climate Related Risks: KPIs Real Estate Companies Need to Track

There are growing concerns in the sustainability space over physical asset risk identification and mitigation, and transitional risks – not just due to policy and compliance, but reputational risk by not keeping up with the actions of peers. These concerns coupled with investor pressures (see TCFD), give the topic of climate-related financial risk two legs […]

Real Estate Sustainability Performance (& Skydiving)

Skydiving can make you anxious. You may be reluctant to try it, you may not even entertain the thought of doing it. You’d certainly want to know that safety has been thoroughly planned, that you’re dealing with an experienced crew and a plane that actually works. Once you do it though, you’ll probably love it, […]

Performance Targets (“Metrics as measures”)

Three years ago, a major target was set on a global scale. During the Paris climate conference (COP21) in December 2015, 195 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally-binding climate deal. The overarching agreement set out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to […]

What’s the purpose of knowing how much energy you are wasting if you can’t do anything about it?

Peter Drucker wrote, “What gets measured gets managed.” Thanks to advances and cost declines in sensor and communication technology, facilities are collecting more measurements than ever before. But to what end goal? Minimizing energy consumption and achieving performance targets has to respect the comfort of the tenants – turning out the lights while your $100k+/yr […]

Time to improve your assets

If you attended one of the 2018 GRESB Results events, you probably discovered the three key elements of sustainable assets: efficiency, health & well-being, and resilience. While companies are increasingly addressing the issues of resilience and health and well-being in the built environment, efficiency is one of the most longstanding topics of the sustainable building […]

4 Key challenges and solutions to achieving carbon neutrality

  The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued a recent report stipulating that without drastic measures to cut carbon emissions, reduce energy use and remove carbon already in the atmosphere, we are “extremely unlikely” to meet the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global warming below 1.5C.

Carbon Context: Achieving Clarity in Public Emission Disclosures

“Our company has reduced our emissions by 20%!” The frequency of carbon disclosure headlines such as this is only increasing as the real estate industry steps up its environmental initiatives.

Comprehensive Carbon Footprinting in Real Estate

Developing a truly representative carbon footprint for the real estate sector has been something of a challenge for the industry. Recent pushes from the bigger players have both served to highlight the trials ahead, as well as provide much-needed leadership for change.

Are you getting recognition for your green power purchases?

Building rating and emission reporting bodies will grade your organization on its carbon footprint and emissions resulting from electricity consumption. The problem is that all kWh are not created equal. To ensure that you’re being fairly graded you should make sure you’re taking advantage of your green power purchases and any green electricity guarantees provided […]

Canada’s first Zero Carbon Building – Performance certified project prioritizes carbon emissions as key metric

With its achievement of Canada’s first Zero Carbon Building – Performance certification in June 2018, Bentall Kennedy’s 100 Murray Street building in Ottawa highlights how any high-performing existing building can reach zero carbon emissions.

Material considerations for reducing building related carbon footprint

Buildings account for almost 40% of carbon emissions generated globally, making them one of the most significant contributors to our carbon footprint [1].

Making investments in Health and Well-being

Many leading global businesses would regard the introduction of well-being initiatives as a normal element of their high operating standards, with leading financial institutions and the tech giants setting the standards.

For Landlords, Active Management of Well-being in Existing Buildings Means a Focus on Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort

Well-being is a large and complex space and its arrival as a key issue for landlords was both slow to come and quick to arrive. However, what is becoming clear is that, for building owners, how buildings promote well-being is quickly emerging as a core part of their customer service narrative. But how should they […]

The important role of safety in maintaining a person’s Health and Well-being in the built environment

From Hippocrates to Abraham Maslow, there is a long-held belief that the built environment can play a part in both improving and damaging human health and wellbeing.  Maslow highlighted that physical safety comes second only to physiological needs for humans to feel healthy and motivated in their surroundings.  More recently, The United Nations Sustainable Development […]

Health and Well-being at the Office

Sitting at a desk all day, staring at a computer screen, eyes strained and shoulders slumped —sound like you? Health Impacts of the Office The typical American spends nearly a quarter of their week at work. Most of us, however, don’t think about the toll that work takes on our health. Many people neglect their […]

Daylight and Views deliver Health and Profits

Everyone knows that everyone loves natural light. Modern building design has been driven by occupants’ demand for open floorplans, tall ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass. The proverbial “corner office” is the best spot because it has the most windows.  And a recent study published in Harvard Business Review confirms that daylight and views are employees’ top […]

Using data to drive demand for healthy design

Rise of Wellness Across the Real Estate Industry The rise of the wellness market has spurred a new level of innovation across a range of industries as companies strive to differentiate themselves in pursuit of impacting the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profits. And the real estate industry is no exception, with health-promoting […]

Power to the people: Improving health and wellbeing with post-occupancy evaluations

As human health and wellness has become more mainstream within the real estate industry, tenants, developers, and property managers have grown more sophisticated and comprehensive in their approach for addressing it. Results from the 2018 GRESB Real Estate Assessment demonstrate how participation in the 2018 Health & Well-being module has grown significantly since its initial […]

Health and Wellbeing – Emerging or Mainstream?

For many professionals working in the built environment, Health and Wellbeing still feel like relatively new buzzwords. In some ways this is surprising given that the subject area has been around for many years; for example, the term “sick building syndrome” was coined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1986. In reality, though, the […]

WSP Calgary creates a healthier workplace through pursuit of LEED v4 certification

As Alberta’s first project to certify under the LEED v4 rating system, receiving ID+C Silver certification in April 2018, WSP’s Calgary office fit-out showcases the company’s commitment to supporting the growth of a healthier and more sustainable society. The new 100,000 square foot  space, and WSP’s pursuit of LEED certification, exemplify many features aimed at […]

Employee Health and Well-being – Walk the Talk or Talk the Talk?

To comply with regulatory requirements, more and more listed companies are publishing their sustainability reports or environmental, social and governance (ESG) reports. In these reports, it is not uncommon to see sentences like “To safeguard our people’s physical and mental well-being, we endeavour to create a workplace that is free from work-related injury.” If we […]

Human Nature: the Health and Well-being benefits of nature in the built environment

Despite buildings and cities seeming to represent human disconnection or escape from the wild, nature has always had a place in the built environment. Parks have long been central to urban planning, the design of buildings and structures often incorporates nature or nature-like forms and patterns, and house plants have been utilized to improve the […]

Health & Well-being is making waves in the residential rental market

A changing landscape Developers of residential apartment buildings around the world are betting that residents will value a new suite of health and wellbeing amenities ranging from air filtration, wellbeing coaching, plentiful plants and natural light, to central staircases designed to promote physical activity and communal eating areas to encourage greater social cohesion. Examples of […]

The Mind Really Matters

 The John O’Halloran Initiative, through the charity LionHeart, is bringing health and wellbeing to the attention of the property industry, writes RealService consultant Claire Middleton Mental health is finally on the agenda in the boardroom. Phrases like “work-life balance”, “mindfulness” and “wellness” have been trending on social media, and high-profile advocates like the Dukes of […]

Workplace in Motion

Gone are the days of office workers figuratively chained to their desks. In today’s winning workplaces, creating opportunities for physical activity and movement can have profound effects on office dynamics, company culture as well as the health and well-being of the employees.

2018 GRESB Results Photo Round up

The 2018 GRESB Results events were the most expansive yet- with 21 events being held across 4 continents and 13 countries. More insights can be found across our social media channels, and the programs, as well as slides from the presentations, are all publicly available. London Sydney Sydney San Francisco Hong Kong Hong Kong Brussels […]

2018 GRESB Health & Well-being Module – Insights and Implications

The 2018 GRESB Health and Well-being (H+W) module has evolved from its original version to provide even more sustainability benchmarking value.

Lessons Learned: How to Improve in 2019

Last year was the year of resilience. We looked not only at our buildings but also our people and our business as a whole. – Jeannie Renne-Malone, Prologis

The Double Bottom-Line

  In September 2014, I spoke on a panel at Harvard Business School a day before the People’s Climate March in New York. My panel broke out into a shouting match that seemed to pit those who care about their personal finances against those who wanted to advance global action against climate change.

Trending Now: Impact Investing

Impact Investing 101 Providing access to energy for remote, underserved communities. Repairing infrastructure and buildings to improve resilience against climate-related shocks. Developing skills-based trainings and creating new job opportunities. These are just some of the initiatives that governments, NGOs, non-profits, and philanthropic foundations help finance around the globe each year. But who is to say […]

Leadership on Climate and Resilience – Join GRESB and Goby in San Francisco

Something big is about to happen in San Francisco. Leaders are converging from around the world talk about the future of the planet. They will make big commitments to greenhouse gas emissions reductions and talk about the big challenges posed by climate-related shocks and stressors. The focal point will be the first-ever Global Climate Action […]

Water – The Ideal Impact Investment: Win-Win for Investors, Customers and the Environment.

Water is Impact Investing Impact investment conferences and media have begun to attract main stream investors as sponsors and participants often echoing the theme that, in our collective foolishness, we have allowed capitalism to maim our world – off balance sheet. This is a great step forward. However, the discussion often struggles to define clearly […]

A New Focus on Water

Across the United States, and more broadly across the globe, water scarcity is expected to impact more than half the world’s population by 2030[1]. A 2014 study performed by the Government Accountability Office found that 40 out of 50 states in the United States are likely to experience a shortage of freshwater within the next […]

Advancing Water Risk Assessment: Moving Beyond the Standard Tools

Water is undervalued in most markets. As a line item on a balance sheet, water is hardly noticeable. But as the saying goes, you don’t miss the water until the well runs dry. As more and more regions around the world are facing water risks including scarcity, pollution, and catastrophic weather events, companies are recognizing […]

Natural Flood Management – “Myth or Masterstroke”?

What is NFM? Natural Flood Management (NFM) is currently a hot topic in the UK as there is debate as to what is included in NFM, whether NFM measures can solely be used in reducing flood risk or whether it is just a novel flood risk management option that has become a bandwagon that everyone […]

Water Rises up on the Boardroom Agenda

“Any Other Business” Energy has long been high on the boardroom agenda for organizations looking to control their budget and comply with changing industry legislation.  In contrast, water is often viewed under the item “any other business”. With regulated markets and comparatively low costs, many businesses believe that there are limited opportunities or risks associated […]

5 Ways for Companies to Address Water Scarcity and Management

Explaining Scarcity “If climate change is the shark, then water is its teeth and it is an issue on which businesses need far greater levels of awareness and understanding” – Paul Dickinson, Chief Executive Officer, Carbon Disclosure Project  Water management by business has made an interesting journey over the past century – from unlimited use […]

What is Investment Grade ESG?

Investment Grade ESG. What makes your data “investment worthy”? What practices can you incorporate into your sustainability initiatives to become a leader in the movement? If you’re interested in these questions, and you missed the dynamic conversation with Ragnar Martens, Director IT & Analytics, GRESB and Matt Ellis, CEO, Measurabl, you can still watch below. […]

Would You Risk the Planet’s Fate on a ‘Coin Toss’?

The climate coin toss: Has your business set carbon reduction targets that only have a 50% chance of preventing a catastrophe? The Science-Based Targets Initiative is helping companies to set carbon targets to achieve the Paris Agreement’s ‘2ºC’ goal, but their approach gives just a 50% chance of success. Can we risk the fate of […]

Algonquin College – Where Education and Sustainability Combine for a Greener Future

When Algonquin College made a commitment to become a more sustainable institution for future generations, it turned to Siemens to help achieve its goals. For more than 25 years, Siemens and Algonquin College have partnered to work towards an ambitious goal of ensuring the college reaches a zero net carbon footprint by 2042. A perfect […]

Units Retrofitted with SMC Motors led to 53% HVAC Fan Energy Savings

Basin Street Properties Retrofit Seven Rooftop Units with SMC Motors And Saw Total Annualized HVAC Fan Energy Savings of 53% Customer Story Basin Street Properties is one of Northern California and Northern Nevada’s prominent developers, investors, and managers of commercial properties with over 4 million square feet under management. The company is committed to sustainable […]

Carbon Shift: Why Energy is Fading as a Key Performance Indicator

One of the benefits of early participation in the GRESB Real Estate Assessment was that it helped real estate portfolios improve their environmental, social and governance (ESG) -related policies and management systems.

Rising to the Net Neutral Challenge

Real estate professionals have been issued a challenge: zero out the net greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage of the built environment.

GSA’s High-Performance Buildings Reduce Costs, Increase Tenant Satisfaction

A recently released 2018 study by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) finds that high-performance buildings save energy, save water, cost less to operate, produce less waste, and have more satisfied occupants compared with typical buildings. In short, they reduce operating costs and increase tenant satisfaction.

Net Zero and Science Based Targets- Connecting the Dots

I was recently asked how Science Based Targets are connected to Zero Carbon Buildings – hmmm, I thought, interesting question. Let’s start with the definitions.

Net Zero Energy: Homes designed for the future

  With rising energy bills a concern for any tenant, the ability to generate more income through living in a zero-energy home can offset any worries about investing on a smart design. Financing such a project is the trickiest part but it has now been proven that the benefits and returns provide a viable and […]

The need for a “true zero carbon” standard

There is a lot of focus on “net zero carbon” or “net carbon neutral” or similar in the sustainability world. This is mainly a corporate or building issue with most companies wanted to make an effort to eliminate their CO2 emissions and therefore their contribution to man-made climate change.

Greenbuild Europe 2019 to be held in Amsterdam

The 2019 event will take place March 19 and 20 in the Netherlands. Mark your calendars: Greenbuild Europe 2019 will take place March 19–20 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Preconference workshops will be held March 18. Greenbuild Europe is the premier annual conference for European green building professionals. Attendees worldwide across a variety of industries—including architecture, engineering and […]

Can the ‘Net Zero’ Concept Be Applied to Health and Wellbeing?

  ‘Net zero’ buildings are highly energy-efficient buildings that use on or off-site renewable energy to achieve net zero carbon emissions. Can the concept of ‘net zero’ by adapted for the health and wellbeing agenda? Well, I think so and here’s why…

evolv1 becomes Canada’s first Zero Carbon Building – Design certified project

The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has awarded Canada’s first-ever Zero Carbon Building – Design certification under the Zero Carbon Building Standard to the uniquely modern evolv1 urban office building in Waterloo, Ontario.

Net Zero Buildings – what does this mean?

World GBC wants to “advance net zero”, whilst the amended Energy Performance of Buildings Directive published last month in OJEU affirms that all new buildings must be “nearly zero energy” by the end of 2020 and GRESB insights this month is dedicated to “Net neutral buildings”! What on Earth do all these labels mean? This article […]

Sustainable Cities: GHG Emissions Inventories as a First Step Towards a Successful Green Economy

Our world continues to become increasingly urban. From the 19th century growth of European and North American cities, to the explosive population increase during the 1950s in cities like Tokyo and Mexico City, to the current expansion of cities in China and Sub-Saharan Africa, cities have been –and continue to be– global engines for innovation […]

Scaling Building Resilience in the Face of Climate Change

In 2017 the U.S. experienced devastating storms, fires, and hurricanes that caused over $358 Billion in damages. And for countries and communities around the world, they continue to be impacted by climate change as weather patterns become unpredictable.

TRIANGO

With this Triango project, Bopro Sustainable Investments (BSI) has obtained the right to develop 15 ha of the Triangle de Gonesse. From now on we belong – as a Belgian company – to the development team of the ‘Inventons la Métropole du Grand Paris’ project. ‘Inventons la Métropole du Grand Paris’, the biggest European contest […]

Sustainable Cities

With the ever-rising demand to build more homes and create more communities, are we in danger of creating socially dysfunctional environments? Health and social aspects of sustainability have now the same weight as the environmental aspects when it comes to building new cities and communities. On the other hand, recent years have seen a rise […]

Sustainable cities and the role of regional green building programs

In many cities, buildings are responsible for a majority of the city’s overall carbon emissions. For this reason, low-carbon buildings will be an essential component for the development of sustainable cities. Effectively reducing building emissions will require a combination of advancements in low-carbon energy systems technology and initiatives to reduce building-related energy use in both […]

Sustainable cities: innovative “hubs” and battlefields against negative change

Only ten years ago, knowing about sustainability meant that you might have accidentally read a piece of avant-garde research, speculating about harmful changes in our climate. In the blink of an eye, sustainability has gained wider momentum, and today has established itself as a global goal for our future and that of our planet. However, […]

CBRE Sustainability: 99 Elizabeth Street, Sydney

CBRE has a strong commitment to incorporate sustainability principles into all aspects of the business. Our Sustainability team works closely with our Asset Services arm, which manages more than 1500 properties across the Pacific region, to achieve highly effective sustainability solutions for businesses across Australia, and thereby contributing to sustainable cities.

Full steam ahead to a Smart and Sustainable City

What makes a city smart and sustainable? Denkstatt recently tried to answer this question – both in theory by developing a new position paper on smart cities together with stakeholders from the real estate and urban development sectors and in practice by integrating sustainability in a district development project in the Austrian city Amstetten. A […]

Analysis of physical risks related to climate change for Gecina’s real estate office portfolio

Why adaptation to climate change matters to lower the value at risk Buildings, designed to be managed over several decades, are particularly exposed to evolving climate hazards, particularly extreme hazards: heat waves, floods, intense rainfall, storms. Impacts on Gecina’s activity can be physical (damage to the structure or the technical equipment) or functional (deterioration of […]

Leadership on Resilience from the GRESB Sustainable Real Asset Conference in Washington, DC

The GRESB Sustainable Real Asset Conference in Washington, DC was full of exceptional speakers. We learned about cutting-edge approaches to estimating physical hazards, engaged investment strategy, and innovations in rating systems. Critically, we also learned about on-the-ground leadership from property companies. We would love to share all of these thoughts and experiences with a broader […]

GRESB Resilience Module: will you survive and thrive in the face of systems disruption?

When you hear the word resilience you might think of an activist like Martin Luther King, an explorer such as Ranulph Fiennes, or an athlete akin to Mo Farah. In all walks of life it is an admirable and desirable quality, but the meaning it carries in the field of commercial property is perhaps not […]

PRI/GRESB Webinar Recording: Benchmarking infrastructure assets on ESG performance

On May 22, 2018 the PRI and GRESB teamed up to produce a webinar explaining why investors use the GRESB Infrastructure platform, how it works and the value it brings to their organizations. Listen to the webinar to find out: Why it’s important to use benchmarking for infrastructure ESG performance. How the GRESB Infrastructure Assessment […]

Resilience in Infrastructure

Resilience was the theme of the recent GRESB – Siemens Sustainable Assets Conference at the Crystal in London. It was an opportunity to hear a range of speakers on many aspects of resilience, what it is and why it is important and to understand the opportunities and risks it has for investors and operators. There […]

Building resilience through risk management

New and developing technologies play an increasingly important role in understanding the impact of environmental and social short-term shocks and long-term stressors, and will act as a vital tool to manage risk and improve an organisation’s ability to be dynamic and responsive to both.  Visibility into data is a key component of risk management, as […]

Making low-carbon and resilient buildings a reality

On May 9th 2018, the California Energy Commission announced that it had unanimously approved the plan to mandate solar panels on new homes and apartment buildings built after January 1st, 2020. This supports the State’s goal of increasing renewable resources to 50 percent of its electricity consumption by 2030, and to reduce its emissions to […]

Three Potential Gaps in the Typical Assessment of Social and Environmental Stressors

Investors are expressing an increased interest in understanding the resilience of property and infrastructure assets and owners.  The GRESB Resilience Module, launched across GRESB assessments this year, provides an exceptional vehicle for investors to evaluate the capacity of organizations to manage emerging social and environmental shocks and stressors.  For many diverse, well-capitalized companies with mature […]

Sustainability as a corporate goal

Energy optimization is being carried out at Sihlcity Zurich, a building complex that belongs to Credit Suisse Asset Management Global Real Estate. In 2012, the Credit Suisse Asset Management Global Real Estate, working with Siemens Switzerland and Wincasa, embarked on a five-year program with the goal of reducing energy consumption at some 1,000 Swiss properties […]

Case Study: Sello – a perfect place to come together

This building – it’s a place to learn. It’s a place to compete. A place to practise, to improve. To invent. But above all, this building is a community. -Marianne Harjula, Sello Event Manager

NKC – bearing retainer manufacturer goes for green

Energy efficiency project lowers costs at NKC Manufacturing New equipment and energy services are helping NKC Manufacturing increase its energy efficiency. Customer NKC Manufacturing Sweden AB was established in 2011, when NKC was acquired by Nakanishi Metal Works Co. Originally established in the 1960s, the subsidiary’s plant has been manufacturing bearing retainers in Gothenburg since […]

Resilience 101

In late August of 2017, the United States was bracing for another destructive force of nature. Hurricane Harvey made landfall and brought flooding that had never been seen before in Texas, causing catastrophic conditions in Houston and totalling over $125 million in damage – the second most costly natural disaster in United States history behind […]

Deep Dive into Resilience: Three Highlights from the DC Sustainable Real Asset Conference

Over the last several years, resilience has emerged a material issue for GRESB investor members and participating companies and funds. Influential recommendations from the Taskforce for Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) have increased awareness about resilience among investors and provided a framework for systematic engagement with investments. Simultaneously, property and infrastructure companies have recognized new challenges […]

The new resilience: How the customer is king

The 2018 RealService Customer Experience Index suggests property companies need to do more to adapt to a new landscape

The value of considering the resilience of real estate assets

Stockland is committed to developing and maintaining resilient assets that are equipped to adapt and thrive in the face of climate change. To achieve resilience across our portfolio, we have developed an approach to assess and manage the physical risks posed by climate change at our assets and their surrounding communities. Strategic application of this […]

Efficient Resilience (or how I learnt to love modelling and my FM)

Hot on the heels of wellbeing, resilience is the latest issue to, rightly, grab the attention of the property industry. As with wellbeing, resilience covers a complex range of issues, but a core one is resilience in the face of more extreme whether events. And while these issues are getting more coverage, reduced energy use […]

Smart Buildings are Resilient Buildings

Stop what you are doing and look around. The working environment you find yourself in is most likely hindering your productivity rather than enhancing it. It is still kind of a drag to pull yourself out of bed and make the commute to work. You like your work, but something isn’t quite right.

Getting to the heart of “Resilience” at the London SRAC

I was listening to an episode of The Compass Podcast on BBC World Service called My Perfect Country. The episode was about Cuba and its policy for surviving hurricanes: “It has been a cornerstone of their government for decades – at the heart of the model is the promotion of local level decision-making that relies […]

The Future of the Smart Precinct

Like many other sectors, property is undergoing a radical change, as new technology disrupts and permeates every aspect of the industry. Much of this change is being driven by start-ups, many of whom are joining forces with developers and other established organisations to provide innovative technologies, or challenge conventions to improve processes and drive the […]

PropTech’s opportunity for advancing health and wellbeing in the workplace

The smart building aspects of PropTech have great potential to vastly improve the performance of buildings. Sensors and data, driven from smart buildings will provide the granularity of insight to support new and innovative approaches how buildings operate. Carbon Credentials believes that one of the big opportunities that come from smart building PropTech improvements, is […]

PropTech: A Real Estate (R)Evolution

Back the 1980’s I was co-founder of a software company, which specialised in creating systems for the (then) new generation of PC’s. Myself and my colleagues had learned our programming skills whilst studying for PhDs using massive mainframe computer systems with clunky user interfaces and torturously slow software development cycles. We seized upon the new […]

Proptech: Robots and the customer experience

Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.  (Bill Gates) Claire Middleton argues that despite the technological takeover, humans are still key

Your building automation system has secrets

Building users are demanding better and more individualized indoor air conditions, and they want to see the data to prove it. It has been a long-accepted norm that an office worker starts at 9am feeling good about the day ahead and finishes after 5pm feeling unhealthy and tired. Accepting that our buildings make us feel […]

Innovation to drive down risk

Technological advances have been gathering pace at an astonishing rate, forcing industries worldwide to adapt – the real estate sector is no different.  PropTech has one common goal: to innovate, using technology to simplify the real estate market.

Assessing the vulnerability of Asia’s ports to climate change

Strategic GRESB Partner, Asia Research and Engagement (ARE), recently published a report assessing the costs of preparing Asia’s ports for climate change. The report focusses on the impact of sea level rise and storm surges. Average global sea levels have been rising at an accelerating rate. Additionally, a 2016 study published in Nature found that […]

‘Smart Buildings’, Big Data, and IoT in Real Estate: Too much of a good thing?

My wife and I were at the airport recently waiting for our flight when we came across a restaurant with iPads at every seat.   Always eager to try new technology, and with plenty of time before our flight, we decided to grab some food and check out the capabilities.  As we got situated the tablet […]

The rise of PropTech and its potential for commercial real estate

Investment in real estate technology has seen astonishing growth since 2012 as companies are seizing the digital landscape to create technological innovations that add value to property owners and occupiers. The term PropTech is primarily associated with start-up organisations offering a more convenient, digital platform to facilitate traditionally manual processes such as the purchasing of […]

Facility optimization – 5 market trends you need to know

Facilities use energy, often lots of it and not in an efficient way. Energy is a major factor in the cost of doing business, and facility optimization is a buzzword du jour.  In simple terms, it means the ability to improve equipment, building and operational performance by optimizing resource use.

Prop Tech: Avoiding White Elephants

As with most industries, there is a lot of excitement around what technological developments can do for the property sector.  This includes in relation to energy and carbon management. There is a buzz around new technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), block-chain, ‘big data’, ‘cloud computing’, artificial intelligence and data analysis. But a lack […]

We’ve got a great lineup in Washington, DC for our Sustainable Real Assets Conference

We’ve just published the program for our first full day conference in North America and there’s an amazing lineup of speakers and presentations from industry experts. Join us on May 16-17th for the GRESB | Siemens: Sustainable Real Assets Conference in Washington DC to explore what resilience is and why it matters for the real […]

Learn how to develop ICP compliant energy efficiency projects

The Investor Confidence Project (ICP) is an international framework for reducing risk, lowering due diligence costs, and increasing certainty around savings in energy efficiency projects. Frameworks already exists for buildings and are now being developed for projects in industry, district energy and street lighting. GRESB is working closely with ICP as part of a European […]

BRE and GRESB introduce new efficiencies for reporting green building certifications

Seamlessly add your BREEAM asset certification to the GRESB Asset-level Portal BRE and GRESB have teamed up to introduce new efficiencies for reporting Green Building Certifications to the GRESB Real Estate Assessment. The collaboration sees the integration of the BREEAM Application Programming Interface (API) within the GRESB Portal. The API link enables you to locate, […]

GRESB Highlights 2018

As the Verdani team is busy preparing for the upcoming GRESB reporting season, we thought it would be useful to put together a high-level overview of GRESB’s most recent updates. Whether you are actively working with GRESB, are busy with your own sustainability programs, or like to stay well- informed in the industry, we’ve summarized […]

How to develop leadership in ESG management and reporting within the Commercial Real Estate sector

Bloomberg recently reported that in 2017, across all industries, twice as many funds with an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment strategy were created compared to 2014. The flow of capital to environmentally and socially conscious companies is ramping up. On top of that we are also seeing investors divest support for companies that are […]

How to develop leadership in ESG management and reporting

4 W’s of ESG management & reporting leadership: “Why”, “What”, “Who”, “When”. Why: Set Goals, Define Success The very first question you need to ask yourself as you consider an ESG strategy is “Why”. The answers you discover for this question will sculpt the path your strategy will take. “Why” will define what success in […]

New! GRESB Resilience Module Tackles Shocks and Stressors

On March 1st, GRESB released the Reference Guide for a new Resilience Module, an optional supplement for the GRESB Real Estate and Infrastructure Assessments. This article offers a quick overview of our motivations, goals, key definitions, module structure, and next steps for investors and participants. The Resilience Module will be available for use with the […]

GRESB Health 2018: What’s New

Health and well-being continues to be source of growth and opportunity for the global property industry. Over the past year, we have seen companies expand and deepen their commitment to health promotion for both their own employees and as a business strategy to attract and retain high-value tenants. Now in its third and final year, […]

Key takeaways from “Asset-level Data for Investment Grade GRESB Reporting” Webinar

Granular asset-level data is the next step in achieving Investment Grade sustainability practices. Experts from GRESB, Heitman, ULI Greenprint, and Measurabl discuss best practices around asset-level data collection and how to file cutting-edge Investment Grade GRESB reports.

Case Study: Launch of the Speak up Campaign

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Infrastructure Assessment. Purpose of the project Recognising that there was a need to increase the number of interactions from staff on matters affecting them and as a result of there being no reports through the whistle-blowing […]

How To Be A GRESB Reporting Rockstar

GRESB is a huge sustainability report to tackle, and often real estate companies file with a number of unintentional inaccuracies. Get it right by ensuring these five areas are accurate and true to your individual processes. (Repost from Measurabl blog April 19, 2017). 

9 Strategies for improved GRESB disclosure

Whether you’re new to the ESG disclosure market or a seasoned veteran, you’re probably aware of a paradigm shift in the real estate industry. Recent years have shown an increased demand for sustainability-focused construction and operations, as well as greater transparency into the efforts put forth by organizations in regards to ESG-centric business practices. There […]

Six Tips to a More Organized GRESB Reporting Season

Verdani Partners has managed the GRESB submissions for 12+ funds including both debt and equity since 2013 with many of our clients ranking in the top 3 and top 5 in their respective peer groups. We developed a method to make reporting season as painless and efficient as possible to minimize the impact on our […]

GRESB Real Estate Assessment: What, Why, When and How – 2018 update

With the GRESB 2018 Real Estate Assessment soon to get started in earnest (pre-release out on Thursday 15th February), I have written this blog to quickly remind ourselves of the what, why, when and how of GRESB. For those who are new to GRESB, my hope is that this blog serves as a useful introduction. […]

U.S. Green Building Council Releases Annual Top 10 States for LEED Green Building Per Capita

Massachusetts tops the list for the second year; New York, Hawaii and Illinois showcase leadership in geographically diverse locations

Frequently asked GRESB questions & answers

During a recent webinar hosted by Goby and GRESB, we discussed several of the most frequently asked GRESB questions. The questions and answers below are not ranked in any particular order.

Case study: CoastAdapt Climate Change Adaptation at North Queensland Airport

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Infrastructure Assessment. Purpose of the project The goals of the North Queensland Airport (NQA) case study were to build a better internal capacity and understanding of future risks to both airport assets and airport operations including […]

IREI: Free special report on ESG investing

Institutional real estate investors across the globe are implementing environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles as part of their overall investment approach, as they embrace the credo of “doing well by doing good.” ESG Means Business, Spring 2018 is a special report published by Institutional Real Estate, Inc. in cooperation with GRESB and is a follow-up […]

Case Study: Wellington Place Wellbeing and Community Initiatives

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment.  “The ability to attract and retain great people and have them feeling their best is a vital ingredient to long term success of places and business” Purpose of the project People are fundamental […]

Case Study: Milton Park Community & Customer Engagement

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment.   Purpose of the project People are fundamental to the sustainability of any location and the businesses that are based there. The ability to attract and retain great people and have them feeling […]

Case Study: Internal Community Grants

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. Vicinity’s community grants program has directed $100,000 in funding to a range of high impact community projects that address youth unemployment and disengagement at the local level.” Purpose of the project The purpose […]

Case Study: Winning formula: Collaborative Asset Performance Programme at 2 Cavendish Square

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. “The next step in active property management: digging into the BMS and engaging with occupiers and technical teams to fine tune property management” Purpose of the project 2 Cavendish Square compared poorly to […]

Case Study: RLAM Energy Efficiency Programme (EEP)

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. We have formed a successful partnership with Capita identifying innovative ways of reducing consumption, we now need to continue this good work with further improvements. Kevin Bould, RLAM, June

Case Study: Canada-Leading Geo-Exchange Retrofit

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. CF is proud of our leadership and innovation in implementing Canada’s first geo-exchange retrofit of an occupied, mixed-use high-rise complex in a downtown city core! Purpose of the project CF is proud to […]

Case Study: Sustainable Toilet in TaikooHui, Guangzhou

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. The installation of Eco-Toilet can greatly reduce the water consumption for flushing and to minimize the impact on the environment, especially on marine pollution. Purpose of the project Adopting the appearance of a […]

Case Study: Royal Victoria Place Energy Management

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. “There is always more we can do to improve a building energy performance, it is about the commitment of the managers, engagement with tenants, and seeking every little improvement.” Purpose of the project […]

Case Study: Waste Management Program

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. The Waste Management Program was responsible for building occupants awareness of the correct waste collection and disposal and increased waste diverted from landfill. Purpose of the project In Brazil, near 41% of all […]

Case Study: Navigation Park: On-site renewable energy

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. “Navigation Park is another example of SEGRO leading the way in Sustainable Industrial development.” Ben Brakes, Group Sustainability Manager Purpose of the project The aim of the project was to develop London’s first […]

Case Study: Mall as Social Infrastructure

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. We strive to meet local needs beyond conventional commercial facilities; not only for shopping but also for getting people together and nurturing tradition and culture. Purpose of the project This company’s management philosophy […]

How the Investor Confidence Project (ICP) is breaking down the barriers to energy efficiency investment in Europe

The Investor Confidence Project (ICP) is a framework for standardizing how energy efficiency projects are developed, documented and measured. The approach was first used in the US and is being rolled out in Europe with the support of European experts. GRESB is a consortium member of the ICP Project and its application to industry and the infrastructure […]

Case Study: High Efficiency HVAC Equipment Program

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. Good business decisions combined with good sustainability choices generates costs savings, reduces energy and GHG, and provides our tenants with more efficient and reliable equipment. Purpose of the project The purpose of installing […]

Case Study: Delivering Insight from Waste Data

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. We have formed a successful partnership with Capita identifying innovative ways of reducing consumption, we now need to continue this good work with further improvements. Kevin Bould, RLAM Purpose of the project To […]

Case Study: Supporting Local Students in Victoria

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. “By hiring students from Mount Ridley College, we were able to open a new store with local knowledge, passionate staff and the ability to provide exceptional, localised customer service.” -Leah Theodosiadis, Best&Less Store […]

Genesta in Control of Efficiency & Sustainability with Nuuka’s Building Process Analytics Platform

When it comes to data collection and reporting on the sustainability of their assets, Nordic real estate company Genesta trusts in the solutions Nuuka has to offer. As a result, Genesta has been able to make major improvements in efficiency, quality of data collection and GRESB reporting standard.  In this interview, David Neil, CEO of Genesta […]

Case Study: EastLink Goats – Vegetation and Weed Clearance

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Infrastructure Assessment. “This initiative was proposed by one of our landscaping team members and the results have shown we can address workplace sustainability challenges through lateral, innovative thinking. This initiative has provided a safer work environment […]

Case Study: The Great Energy Reduction Race

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. “It’s a real win-win when you can use measures to reduce consumption and save resources and still effectively and efficiently deliver required services to your tenants.” – Laura A. Masapolla, Property Manager for […]

Case Study: CAPP at The Corn Exchange

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. “The Corn Exchange was selected for this project due to its significant level of electricity consumption, amongst the highest in the AIPT portfolio. Through granular data capture, detailed analysis and collaboration we are […]

Performance Targets week on GRESB Insights

If you missed any of our blog articles on Performance Targets, find them all here:

Case Study: Investa OzHarvest CEO Cook Off

This article is part of a series of selected ESG case studies submitted by participants in the 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment. “As a CEO and father, I abhor the idea that anyone doesn’t have the security of a safe place to sleep, or the comfort of knowing where their next meal will come from.” […]

2018 ESG Goals

As you begin planning your company’s ESG goals for 2018, consider the below questions to help drive your priorities. Did your company meet its 2017 ESG goals? What measurement system(s) are you using to determine if the goals were met? Did you use a Data Framework, ESG Standard, Rating, Ranking or Index as part of […]

GRESB’s Year in Review: 2017

2017 has been an outstanding year for GRESB.  From collaborating with some of the most influential institutional investors in the world to achieving record participation levels in our Assessments, here are some of the biggest highlights of the year: Growing Market Coverage We grew our Investor Membership to over 70 institutional and retail investors, collectively […]

Setting a GHG Emissions Target Backed by Science-Driven Data

As part of the GRESB process, responding funds are asked to submit their short-term and long-term performance goals, including a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions target. When setting a GHG emission target, how does a company best determine a reduction goal that contributes to mitigating climate change, while also encouraging innovation and enhancing flexibility to an […]

On Public ESG Disclosure Trends

The trends in corporate sustainability reporting and public disclosure are for the most part encouraging. First, more companies are reporting on their sustainability performance. According to the Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. more than 80 percent of S&P 500 companies published a corporate sustainability report in 2016. This number is up from only 20 percent […]

Stakeholder & Tenant Engagement week on GRESB Insights

If you missed any of our blog articles on Stakeholder & Tenant Engagement, find them all here:

Stakeholder Engagement – the Why, Who, What, & How?

Stakeholder Engagement is essential to a real estate portfolio – from communication with investors to everyday relationships with tenants and property management teams – and is integral to an organization’s sustainability success. This fact is further emphasized with the GRESB Assessment as 34 points, weighted 24.5% of the total GRESB score, are focused specifically upon […]

IPUT’S Tenant Engagement Programme

IPUT & Sustainability IPUT’s core objective is to generate consistent income returns for shareholders through the active management of their portfolio in Dublin.  While IPUT has only recently explicitly talked about “sustainability”, the narrative of “good building management” has been a cornerstone of IPUT’s 50 year history. The large overlap between long term management of […]

New BCO Best Practice Guide points way to better customer experience in the office sector

GRESB Partner, RealService, has been commissioned by the British Council for Offices (BCO) to author a new report entitled ‘Office Service Standards and Customer Experience: a best practice guide’

Engaging employees to foster a culture of wellness

The real estate industry in recent years has developed deep knowledge and expertise to address the dual challenge of profitability while minimizing negative environmental impacts of our buildings and communities. Real estate companies and employers have risen to the challenge to improve environmental sustainability, delivering innovative solutions on issues such as climate change, energy efficiency, […]

Driving Property Returns through Tenant and Resident Engagement

Since 1985, Kingsley Associates has served the real estate industry by providing actionable tools to enhance stakeholder engagement and drive customer loyalty. An understanding of competitive strengths and weaknesses from the perspective of key stakeholders, such as investors, partners, market influencers, customers, or employees, is critical for any business to position itself for success. For […]

Verdani’s Guide to Stakeholder & Tenant Engagement

A successful real estate sustainability program not only focuses on implementing efficiency and health initiatives at the property level, but also engages stakeholders as part of the process. Key stakeholders include internal staff, asset/property managers, tenants/residents, vendors, building visitors and customers, the real estate industry, surrounding communities, and government authorities. Each of these groups has […]

2017 GRESB Infrastructure Industry Working Groups

GRESB Infrastructure is organizing a series of 3 Industry Working Groups (IWGs). IWGs are small, structured, expert groups of GRESB members and participants that address a specific development topic or research question relevant to the GRESB Infrastructure Assessments. GRESB members and participants are an integral part of the Assessment evolution process and can provide focused input […]

What is a Smart Building?

A Smart Building is defined in many ways depending on the internet source, vendor offering or conversation at hand. However, the intelligence of a building primarily depends on the operators’ and tenants’ perspectives and goals and the technology available to meet them.

Leveraging Stakeholder Engagement to Develop Sustainability Strategies

As organizations begin to develop more nuanced sustainability programs that require the involvement of key stakeholders, such as tenants and employees, the challenge of how to engage these groups becomes more relevant. Whether implementing a short-term initiative, an event at a building, or a more comprehensive program across the entire organization, engaging stakeholders can help […]

Crossing the Landlord / Tenant divide

Back in the mists of time when GRESB was a spreadsheet-based survey, the idea of full consumption data was proposed. Imagine the screams as the suggestion was made that even single tenant, or FRI leaseholders might, one day, give their private consumption data to their Landlord. It assumed, to start with, that the Tenant even knew […]

How developers can help not harm the environment: Introducing Biodiversity Net Gain

In 2010 Governments from around the world met in Aichi, Japan and under the ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’ agreed on 20 biodiversity-related targets to turn around global biodiversity decline by 2020. Although there are many good news stories for individual species and specific areas, a mid-term analysis of progress towards the Aichi targets in 2014 […]

2017 GRESB Results Presentations

You can find all of our presentations on SlideShare.

Carbon & Energy week on GRESB Insights

If you missed any of our blogs on carbon & energy, find them all here:

NYISO Contemplates Carbon Pricing – How Much Will Rates Increase?

New York State’s goals are to reduce economy-wide (not just electricity sector) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 40% from 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% by 2050.  Over the past year, the implementation of TOTS, CES, and ZECs, as well as the value stack rate design and REV, have moved the State closer to achieving its carbon policy objectives.  However, the […]

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) Regulations: How They Will Impact Flexible Workspace from April 2018

What I’m about to write will come as a great shock to many operators in the serviced and managed office industries: you may not be able to sign up clients for more than 6 months as of April next year. This is less than a year away!

Climbing the Tree of Energy Efficiency – What comes after ‘Low-Hanging Fruit’ in Existing Buildings?

When an organization first considers energy efficiency, the focus is almost always on ‘low-hanging fruit’ – actions or initiatives that are simple, turnkey, and require very little investment. These incremental efforts drive major impacts in terms of reducing carbon footprint and cost savings, leaving organizations eager to take the logical next steps.

Groundbreaking Approach to BIM Supports Guildford Borough Council in its CO2 Reduction Strategy

EVORA EDGE used its BIM:SAM processes to undertake the project for Guildford Borough Council who required a report detailing the typical costs of implementing Low and Zero Carbon (LZC) technologies.

Peak Load Management Primer

As a consumer of electricity from the grid, you pay for both the actual energy you consume (the kilowatt-hours) and the amount of energy that needs to be available to serve your account based on your peak load(kW demand). This peak kW, or peak load contribution/capacity tag/cap obligation (various names depending on the market), can comprise up to 50% of your supply bill and more than 30% of your total electricity bill (supply + delivery).

Carbon Management – company carbon footprint

Sustainability Consultant – Design agency (to support business tender) In response to tender questions for an NHS contract, Delta-Simons was instructed by the design agency Distraction (formally Design by Distraction) to calculate their business CO2eq footprint for the past three years.

Waste & Water week on GRESB Insights

If you missed any of our blogs on waste & water, find them all here: Lessons Learned From the Garbage Bin Gwen S. Merkin, Program Manager, Healthy Buildings Waste Not, Want Not in the Commercial Real Estate Sector Sam Benson, Environmental Consultant, S2 Partnership Limited Washing Away Wasteful Water Practices Verdani Partners Rethinking Waste Management […]

Custom Waste Solutions for Commercial Real Estate Operations

“Green buildings” are on the rise in an industry at a crossroads. Technology and enhanced environmental consciousness are changing the way physical spaces are used to do business, and differentiation is essential to enhance the attraction and retention of clients and stakeholders. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, sustainability adoption reaps real benefits for owners and […]

Getting the Data Out of Your Dumpsters

“I want to report more detailed data on my waste and recycling for GRESB, but it is so difficult to gather the information.”   Does this sound familiar?  If it does, you are not alone. Why is it so challenging to access accurate and reliable waste data?  Let’s examine how waste is measured and tracked […]

Sustainable Water Management: Making Waves in the Commercial Real Estate Sector

Water usage in buildings, in certain parts of the world, has often been considered a secondary aspect on many organisations sustainability agendas; owing to its relative cost compared to other utilities such as electricity and gas. However, as the effects of climate change on water availability become more apparent, and urbanisation levels across the globe […]

Establishing New and Improved Waste Habits

Verdani Partners, a full-service sustainability consulting firm, has a mission to reduce waste among all the portfolios we manage. Waste is often a complicated topic to tackle as there are many restrictions, rules, and vendors to navigate through as well as requiring cooperation amongst tenants, residents, owners, managers, vendors, and property teams. Verdani works with […]

Rethinking Waste Management at CodeGreen Solutions

[one-half-first]The CodeGreen Solutions team set out to demonstrate our leadership and commitment to sustainability by implementing a waste reduction program in our own office. Our waste management program aligned with the New York City goal of sending zero waste to landfills by 2030, and was developed in large part due to the importance of waste […]

Washing Away Wasteful Water Practices

All Verdani Partners’ clients have committed to a minimum 20% water reduction goal over the next 10 years. To help them achieve their respective targets, Verdani Partners developed a comprehensive water management program. As a first step, we implement a water efficiency policy applicable to all properties that sets expectations and common procedures to reduce […]

Waste Not, Want Not in the Commercial Real Estate Sector

Fuelled by our desire for goods and services, waste has long been considered a necessary by-product of economic progress. However, with global waste generation currently standing at 7 – 10 billion tonnes per annum, the magnitude of this issue is finally being realised in the mainstream. As a part of this, the commercial real estate […]

Lessons Learned From the Garbage Bin

The 2017 GRESB Assessment uncovered the challenges Healthy Buildings’ clients face with capturing accurate waste data. While EPA’s Portfolio Manager tool now provides a waste tracking tool, most waste haulers do not provide accurate ongoing data. This prompted an exploration of solutions to improve ongoing waste data accuracy at both the tenant and building-level. Waste […]

What’s in a lease?

An often-heard comment from GRESB participants is that the structure of landlord and tenant relationships makes it impossible for them as landlord to engage with tenants, particularly on energy, water and waste data sharing. I would like to shed some light on this sometimes-contentious issue. It is true that in many jurisdictions lease structures hand […]

4 Quick Questions with Sander Paul van Tongeren, Managing Director of GRESB

How has the scope of GRESB changed over time? Since 2009, GRESB has expanded its real estate coverage beyond private equity firms to include many U.S.-based REITs and a growing group of listed property companies globally. We continue to experience a strong uptick in REIT participation as the industry seeks to benchmark ESG best practices […]

Health & Well-being week on GRESB Insights

If you missed any of our blogs this week, find them all here: Make Your Real Estate Decisions Healthy Decisions Rachel Gutter, International WELL Building Institute The John O’Halloran Initiative: How the property industry is fighting the stigma of mental illness Howard Morgan, Founder & MD, RealService Asking for the impossible Philippa Gill, Partner at […]

GRESB and the future of Health & Well-being

Today marks the end of the GRESB Health & Well-being week. This didn’t mean that we all got to work from our respective oases of inspiration for the past 5 days (although the Amsterdam office does a very good job at keeping us alert and creative), but that our internal “to do” list was driven […]

Healthier Buildings at Scale

A key new focus area has quickly emerged in the real estate industry, one that prioritizes human health, wellness, and experience as key elements of green building design and operation. There are several reasons for this: For example, there is mounting evidence suggesting that many of our chronic public health problems are the result of […]

The Rise of Health Metrics in ESG Investing

Some of the world’s most sophisticated investors have been using Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data for years to help identify companies that perform well over time in the market.1 Their belief that high ESG scores correlate with high corporate financial performance is now supported by a large and rapidly growing body of research. Deutsche Bank’s […]

Health & Well-being: Year 2 and CodeGeen

As the second GRESB Health and Well-Being module submission cycle recently came to a close (July 1, 2017), well-being in real estate is not a fading trend. Rather, it is an investor, tenant, and employee driven consideration for real estate owners and operators. In 2016, 174 entities (over 20% of respondents) voluntarily completed the GRESB Health and […]

Asking for the impossible: Health & Well-being

Large open windows with a cool breeze coming in, a plate of fresh fish with home-grown tomatoes, the sea pounding the cliffs in front of us while the children play on the beach and my mother has a snooze. A typical day at the office, right? If only. However, whilst I have to acknowledge that […]

Mental Health: The John O’Halloran Initiative

Rob O’Halloran How the property industry is fighting the stigma of mental illness & promoting positive mental health As part of the GRESB Health and Wellbeing Week, Howard Morgan explains an important new initiative in the UK property industry. Would you tell your boss if you’ve got a sporting injury? You probably would……but would you […]

Make Your Real Estate Decisions Healthy Decisions

I can give you the statistics: Healthcare in America is more than 17% of the GDP. 20 diseases account for fully half of America’s health care spend, with diabetes, heart disease and hypertension being three of the top five causes. In the midst of the debate going on in the US about how to pay […]

Recap: 2017 Edition of the Sustainability Certification Barometer

On Tuesday, 27 June in Paris, and on Wednesday, 28 June in London, the 2017 edition of the Sustainability Certification Barometer was presented by Green Soluce, along with the main certification bodies and expert keynote speakers. This report, the first and only study to provide reliable and up-to-date figures on sustainable building certifications across Europe, […]

3Degrees helps Akamai drive down emissions

Akamai shows that companies with smaller loads can still play a leadership role in combating climate change AKAMAI’S GOAL: 50% renewables by 2020 Reduce GHG emissions below 2015 levels by 2020 Akamai Technologies, the world’s largest cloud delivery platform, recently invested in an 80 megawatt wind farm in Texas. This investment is designed to match […]

Smart New Apartments with Nuuka

Making your building ‘smart’ from the very beginning Residential developments are facing new challenges, with tenants expecting increased comfort and proven sustainability in the places where they live. At Nuuka, we recognize that urban consolidation is increasing in our cities. Wherever you look around the world, the ‘home of the future’ is most often a […]

Participate in the 2017 GRESB Health & Well-being Module

In 2015, our Green Health Partnership research team worked with GRESB and its stakeholders to develop the first GRESB Health & Well-being Module. Last year, 174 real estate entities – 23% of all entities participating in the GRESB Real Estate Assessment – demonstrated market leadership by participating in the inaugural health-focused module. This year, participants […]

Analyzing Energy Data – Does your ERP suffice?

One of the major challenges facing the real estate industry today is the 30% cost of energy inefficiency and waste that is burdening owners. What can real estate owners do to address this problem?

The Secret to Future-Proofing Your Portfolio

How data can make your buildings more productive, profitable and resilient to change. Notes from the 2017 GRESB-Siemens Spring Conference Some colleagues and I attended a fascinating event a few days ago organised by GRESB and Siemens which focused on climate change, the contributions real estate makes to emissions, and our ability to make significant […]

Whose Carbon Is It?

Companies are increasingly asked by their investors to report on their greenhouse gas emissions either in their mainstream financial reports or through sustainability reporting frameworks such as CDP and GRESB.

4 ESG Takeaways for the Real Estate Sector from the 2017 GRESB Siemens Spring Conference

The first annual GRESB Spring Conference took place last week at the Crystal in London, hosted by Siemens, and those of us who were there are still processing the many insights and takeaways from the event. The venue was full of inspiring people — attendees, presenters and moderators — all gathered in one place. The combined […]

Circular Sand

Reduce, reuse, recycle” is a well-known mantra, even for those who don’t spend most of their day thinking sustainability. But when it comes to recycling, how much do many of us know about the complexities and possibilities.  Here are some interesting facts about commercial glass recycling re-posted from Philippa Gill, Partner at Verdextra, a boutique […]

Sharing Insights from Greengage Breakfast Workshop: Using GRESB to Deliver ESG in Real Estate

Investors increasingly view ESG as a core part of their investment analysis as its link to CFP in terms of reducing risks, improving performance and building reputation is becoming evident. Thus, there is a clear need for companies to embed ESG considerations in their strategy and business practice, as well as communicating this to the […]

GRESB Outlook – 2017 and Beyond

2017: Stable assessments and new products & services When we launched GRESB more than seven years ago, our main goal was to help companies and funds assess the sustainability performance of their portfolios. At the time, there weren’t many programs linking companies and investors to sustainability metrics. Fast forward to today and sustainability has now […]

Three steps to heaven: marginal gains make a difference

The doctrine of marginal gains, the simple idea that the way to outperform in sport is to target small incremental improvements, is now taking the business world by storm. Dave Brailsford, the performance director of British Cycling, has demonstrated that by making a 1% improvement in a whole host of areas, the cumulative gains end […]

Data Quality

It’s a new year and a clean slate. Imagine this is the year you’ve resolved you WILL get a handle on the performance of your assets, your department, your company. You plan to request and review your departmental reports on a consistent timeframe that will help you analyze and make the right decisions in a […]

Addressing stranded asset risk in real estate investment

The value of assets is vulnerable to factors such as environmental challenges, changing resource landscapes, technological innovation, changes in regulations and liability and evolving social norms. Such changes can result in the devaluation or non-performance of assets, thus making them ‘stranded’. This concept of ‘stranded assets’ has been prominently used to discuss the impact of […]

Saving the Environment and Improving Your Portfolio with Real Estate

The right real estate investments can have a surprisingly positive impact on the environment Buildings account for about a third of total carbon emissions globally. This presents a real opportunity for investors who seek to maintain a diversified portfolio and contribute to improving the environment. The most sustainable real estate companies may also turn out […]

Real Estate Just Got Its Own Industry Classification – It Deserves Its Own ESG Rating

Effective today MSCI and the S&P’s Dow Jones Indices’ Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS), will add its first additional Sector since inception in 1999: Real Estate. That’s big news! Historically real estate has been included as part of the Financial Sector alongside banks, diversified financials and insurance companies. Establishing real estate as its own categorization […]

Private Equity & ESG Disclosure: a View across the Risk Spectrum

As PERE Research & Analytics shared in its Q3 Fundraising Report, value-add and opportunistic real estate investment strategies are topping the charts in both number of funds seeking capital as well as in total equity amounts targeted. According to Preqin’s Q3 2016 Fundraising Update, Q3 alone saw 13 value-add and 8 opportunistic funds hold a […]

2016 GRESB Real Estate Assessment: What You Need to Know about Your Results

The 2016 GRESB data has been available for over a month, and judging from the phone calls and emails received by the GRESB Helpdesk, the 750+ entities who submitted their ESG data are busy evaluating their performance and writing internal reports explaining how they did. At the same time, the GRESB team has been playing […]

The Massive Need for Infrastructure Investment and Climate Change – a Balancing Act

Infrastructure is the foundation and connective tissue of society. In its broadest sense, it covers everything above and below surface (including both land and water). That’s buildings; energy generation (renewable and conventional) and transmission; road, rail and the various modes of transport using it; transport hubs like ports and airports; clean and dirty water; etc. […]

Five Key Takeaways from the New GRESB Health & Well-being Module

The GRESB Health and Well-being Module is a new tool to understand how property companies and funds around the world are promoting health and well-being in their internal operations and through the real estate and services they offer to customers. The Module is predicated on the recognition that health and well-being is emerging as an […]

ESG Performance in Australia and New Zealand: the Heat Is on

Looking at the 2016 GRESB results, Australia and New Zealand again are leading the pack in terms of outperforming the other regions on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects. Besides strong government support, this is a direct result of a unique approach by the region’s property market. On one hand, the market has shown a […]

Can the Marriage of Big Data and Sustainability Help Bankers Avoid Another CRE Debacle?

Banks are using big data to stress test and manage credit risk associated with commercial mortgages. A recent article in American Banker highlighted that even community banks, with under $5 billion in assets, are using market and tenant data software to inform commercial real estate (CRE) lending decisions and to monitor exposures. In light of recent warnings from regulators about growing […]

Real Estate Lenders Are Ready for Change

September marked the release of the 2016 GRESB Debt Assessment results which were simultaneously released alongside the GRESB Real Estate Assessment results [see results presentation]. The 2016 global snapshot of the lending market results reflects GRESB’s improved Debt Assessment framework. This resulted in increasing the number of participants from 10 to 18, including two primary lenders which underlines the […]

What Obama, the Real Estate Sector, and 130 Investors Have in Common

While a typical summer is characterized by a lack of real news, leading the press to cover anything that’s even remotely newsworthy—or not – (we have a word for it in Dutch, “cucumber time”), the past two month have yielded enough stories to keep the average journalist busy: the Olympics, flooding in Louisiana, the ongoing […]

Hold Your Horses – 3 More Days until the Release of the 2016 GRESB Data

For most people, the first week of September means the end of summer and returning to work, but for the real estate industry, the first week of September means the release of the GRESB data – how does the industry stack up when it comes to sustainability performance? With only three days to go until […]

Community Engagement at Regent’s Place

  Purpose of the project: British Land’s 30-year involvement at Regent’s Place in London’s West End has seen the campus double in size, providing accommodation and amenities for around 15,000 workers and residents, as well as the local community. It is a great example of how we are able to create outstanding work environments by […]

Tips and Tricks for GRESB Infrastructure Participants: Understanding Evidence & References

This is the first year for the new GRESB Infrastructure Assessment. The Assessment is not a pilot – it’s the real deal – but we also have a lot to learn about how to create an effective assessment for the diverse infrastructure asset class. Part of the learning process involves creating a practical vocabulary for […]

GRESB and WELL: Complementary Tools to Promote Transparency and Leadership on Health and Well-being

Health and well-being has emerged as an important issue for real estate companies and funds. Investors and tenants have expressed interest and there is increasing recognition that the promotion of health and well-being can contribute to competitive differentiation, value creation, and risk management. GRESB and its partners explored this with a series of events in […]

Embracing Performance Indicators

In a blog post earlier this year about ESG and Real Estate, GRESB CEO Nils Kok mentioned the “GRESB Six Stages of Grief.” I can imagine that a month and a half into the 2016 Assessment some of our property company and fund manager participants are deep in stage 2: Anger.  Does this sound like you? […]

The Value of an Integrated Sustainability Strategy for Real Estate Companies and Funds

Last week was time for the 2016 installment of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Better Building Summit. As in prior years, the Summit was full of friends and leaders from across the real estate industry. I had the opportunity to participate in a session moderated by Dr. Jason Hartke (DOE), David deVos (Prudential Real […]

Green Bond Roadshows: Investor Benefits

GRESB Green Bond Working Group, March 2016 The fourth meeting of the GRESB Green Bond Working Group addressed the constructs, protocols and benefits of a green bond roadshow. Speakers included Victoria Clarke from HSBC’s green bond investment banking group, Christophe Garot representing two-time green bond issuer Unibail-Rodamco and Viktor Stunnenberg who serves as Senior Portfolio […]

Assessing Tomorrow’s Building Stock Today

GRESB started back in 2009 with three founding institutional investors looking to assess the environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of their real estate portfolios and their investment managers. The first assessment was performed in 2010, and saw nearly one hundred property companies and funds reporting on their ESG efforts and achievements. Fast forward to […]

ESG, Real Estate and the Six Stages of Grief

Last week I spent a couple of days in sunny Vermont with our great IT partner Greenriver, who together with the GRESB Data Analytics team— have been working hard on building out the GRESB Portal for the 2016 data collection on real estate, debt and infrastructure. One of the exciting developments is that GRESB is […]

ESG Tools for an Emerging Asset Class

While investor interest in infrastructure was increasing, investors in other types of real assets were focusing on the importance of environmental, social, and governance(ESG) performance as a source of value and risk. The catch is that ESG considerations for infrastructure are different from assets like real estate. Infrastructure projects are typically big, long-lived and, critically, […]

Investors Seek Diversification and Stable Income from Infrastructure

Infrastructure is a relatively young asset class with a developing investor base. Increasing interest in this sector reflects wide-spread recognition for a large gap between infrastructure needs and investment, as well as the prospect for relatively stable income streams and diversification. Australian pension funds were among the first private investors in infrastructure followed by pension […]

Green Bonds: Costs and Benefits of Issuance and Investment

GRESB Green Bond Working Group, January 2016 The third meeting of the GRESB Green Bond Working Group (GBWG) addressed the costs and benefits of green bond issuance and investment. GRESB presented original research on the performance of corporate real estate green bonds, sharing its findings on the quantitative costs and benefits identified, to date. Speakers, […]

Green Bonds: Metrics—Identifying Eligible Green Projects and Reporting

The Green Bond Principles (GBPs) require clear environmentally sustainable benefits and where feasible, these should be quantified or assessed by issuers. The GRESB Green Bond Guidelines for the Real Estate Sector take this suggestion one step further by recommending use of: Rigorous green building certification systems (e.g. BREEAM, Green Star, LEED) and/or Energy ratings (e.g. […]

What Investors Really Want…

…is high returns at low risk (volatility). Sure, that’s the starting point and so-called fiduciary duty of pension funds, insurance companies, and the investment managers that invest their capital. But increasingly, investors also want the companies and funds that they invest in to show what these investments do when it comes to environmental, social and […]

What’s in a Target? Investors Expect Significant Carbon Reductions from Real Estate Sector

Last week, PGGM Investments, a EUR190 billion Dutch pension fund, announced that over the next 5 years, it is seeking a 50% reduction in carbon emissions from its investments in real estate – both listed property companies and private equity real estate funds. This is the world upside down: typically corporates make announcements for energy […]

Creating Value through Sustainability: Take Action on ESG or Be Left Behind

Recent climate change impacts are increasing demand for the adoption of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) initiatives. Investors and tenants are creating a greater push for more energy and water efficiency investments, climate change resilience preparedness, and workplace health safety and productivity. As ESG becomes increasingly important, investors and regional and national regulators will progressively mandate greater transparency […]

Carbon Credentials – Data Management and Reporting

“Carbon Credentials works with a number of market leading real estate organisations in the UK including Hermes Real Estate, The Crown Estate, and Aviva Investors to drive value out of sustainability data. We believe that reporting to GRESB provides companies with a framework for continual improvement of sustainability performance.  Working with our property sector clients […]

GRESB Infrastructure: Filling an ESG Data Gap for Infrastructure Investors

Hot on the heels of the release of the 2015 GRESB data for real estate on September 2, GRESB has more news to share. Today, in London, GRESB announces a new initiative to provide environmental, social, and governance (ESG) information for investors in and lenders to infrastructure assets and portfolios. This initiative is called GRESB […]

Tenant Engagement Success to benefit Data Management

Purpose of the project Waterfront Station is a Triple Net leased building with a government agency as the tenant. The owner, USAA Real Estate Company, and the property management company, Vornado, wanted to accurately benchmark the building’s energy use, but needed information from the tenant about the energy demand of the data center. The tenant, […]

A bright idea to reduce energy use

[one-half-first] [/one-half-first] [one-half] Purpose of the project Sonae Sierra is constantly looking to improve the energy efficiency of its existing assets and has reduced electricity consumption across its portfolio by 40% since 2002 (its benchmark year). Nevertheless, in the pursuit of continuous improvement, the Company realised that there were irregularities in the energy consumption of […]

Air Source Heat Pump at 350 Euston Road

Purpose of the project British Land’s award-winning energy reduction programme generates cost savings for occupiers, protects asset value for investors and reduces carbon emissions. At 350 Euston Road at Regent’s Place, British Land and property management partner Broadgate Estates Ltd have reduced landlord energy use by 65% in six years. When the traditional boiler and […]

A Sneak Preview of the 2015 GRESB Results: Global Leadership and a Record-Breaking Response

GRESB has a simple but powerful mission: Create better built environments by enabling institutional investors with actionable information about environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance on their real estate investments. GRESB carries out this mission with a systematic process to assess, score, and benchmark property companies and funds around the world. GRESB members use this […]

Energy Efficiency Shows Its Worth for Retail Property

Retail buildings are typically the largest consumers of energy in the property industry. The Carbon Trust recently stated that the 40 largest shopping centres in the UK consume £40 million worth of energy per year and that for most retailers reducing energy consumption by 20% would have an effect on the bottom line equivalent to […]

Real Estate Lending and ESG: Observations from the 2015 GRESB Debt Survey

Over the past three months, I’ve been speaking with real estate debt fund managers about the new GRESB Debt Survey, an assessment designed to evaluate and benchmark, but also, to guide, the sustainability engagement and performance of real estate lenders. Recognized as “at least a decade behind the equity side of real estate,” sustainability integration […]

Resilience: Surviving and Thriving in the Face of Change

Thinking about disasters is a hard sell. But whether we think about them or not, we pay for them. According to the 2015 UNISDR Global Assessment Report, expected annual global losses are estimated to reach $314 billion in the built environment alone. All indicators suggest that the frequency and intensity of disasters will increase, meaning […]

Long-Term Horizons and Materiality Test

There is consensus among leading industry bodies that an assessment of materiality in the context of financial information, involves a qualitative assessment that takes into account context and surrounding circumstances. In the case of non-financial data, as well as defining the scope of what is material, the challenges in collecting robust and rigorous ESG data means that context […]

Skytop ESG Summit – Carbon War Room REIT paper

On Friday June 19, NASDAQ, the world’s second largest electronic stock exchange, hosted an audience hungry for the best. I’m not talking about Fogo de Chao’s ringing of the closing bell after their successful IPO rose nearly 30% on that day’s market debut – this group expected much more. This audience of nearly 200 capital market experts, institutional shareholders, and company professionals descended on […]

Digital Realty Trust Issues First Global Green Property Bond

The property sector appears to be warming up to green bonds. Over the last year, we have seen a series of offerings from Vornado Realty Trust, Regency Centers, Unibail-Rodamco, Vasakronan, and Stockland. A new, $500 million green bond issued by Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE ticker DLR, more on GBIG) marks an important step forward for property-based bonds. Digital’s new bond is distinguished by […]

Green Capital For Greener Buildings: GRESB Green Bond Guidelines for the Real Estate Sector

The property sector has recently received significant attention related to climate change and sustainability efforts, and rightfully so. Contributing one-third of global carbon emissions and consuming 40% of global energy and resources, 25% of water and 60% of electricity (in Europe and the US, this is even over 80%), the real estate sector constitutes one of the […]

Trends in Responsible Investing: Show Me the Money

Last week, I spoke at the ARES Seminar on Sustainability in Real Estate in Tokyo about trends in Responsible Investing, and why green is the color of money. Without a doubt this is a hot topic, as Responsible Investing is getting more and more attention, while an increasing amount of investors are incorporating its principles […]

Climate Change Risk Assessment

Purpose of the project: During 2013, the Goodman Group and the Goodman Australia Industrial Fund (GAIF), jointly undertook a holistic climate change risk assessment in partnership with independent consultants Edge Environment. Edge have been working closely with the Insurance Council of Australia on a similar project for the residential sector. The purpose of the assessment, […]