GRESB has introduced changes to scoring BREEAM and other building certifications in the GRESB Real Estate Assessment methodology. Building certifications, such as BREEAM, WELL and LEED, can have a significant impact on an organisation’s GRESB scoring – certifications on new and operational assets can contribute up to 10.5% to the overall score, which could result in achieving the next star rating. Undertaking building certifications can also help contribute to the wider GRESB score, by driving efficiencies, and gaining a better understanding of assets and their operation.
The way in which GRESB assesses building certification has been evolving in recent years. Two key changes were made for the GRESB Real Estate 2024 assessment:-
- Timing of validity – to limit disadvantages through any delays in certification. Now, assets which did not receive final certification in the reporting year can be included, provided submission for certification took place before the end of the reporting year and the certificate is received prior to the GRESB submission deadline.
- Time factor – introduced for both construction and operational building certifications, the achieved score decreases over time, reflecting the decreasing relevance of building certifications over time to the asset’s current performance.
Whilst no further changes have been made to scoring or reporting on building certifications for the GRESB Real Estate 2025 assessment, work has been undertaken to review the criteria for the building certification schemes themselves that are recognised in GRESB. The list of accepted schemes has been refined, so that those with the greatest credibility and impact are recognised, and after extensive public consultation, new evaluation criteria for accepting these certification schemes has been published.
The current list of approved schemes will continue to be valid for the 2025 and 2026 GRESB assessments, however scheme providers, such as the BRE, will soon be required to submit evidence against these criteria in order to be recognised from 2027 onwards. Minimum requirements have been set for a scheme’s governance, process, and transparency, and for certification to be at an asset level. Schemes will be weighted based on how they fit into each of the three categories below:
- Overarching (100%): Comprehensive certifications that address a broad spectrum of themes (e.g. energy, health & wellbeing) and topics (e.g. indoor air quality).
- Thematic (50%): Certifications focused on a specific theme.
- Single Attribute (25%): Certifications concentrating solely on individual topics
For schemes to be regarded as covering a theme or topic, they must meet the required level of stringency. These are topic-dependent and vary between performance-based, prescriptive, and qualitative.
GRESB is due to publish monthly updates of schemes assessed under the new criteria from mid-2025 onwards, with the scoring impact to be implemented for the 2027 GRESB assessment.
Get in touch with us via contact@envisioneco.com for support with your GRESB assessment and building certifications.