Data Quality and Validation

An overview of GRESB's data quality practices -- including data validation, Assessment Corrections, and data estimation requirements.

Introduction

GRESB's Data Quality Commitment

As part of its value proposition to investors, managers, and operators participating in the assessments, GRESB conducts both automated and manual data quality checks on data submitted through the Portal.

These checks are designed to reduce the risk of misreporting and ensure the integrity of the data submitted to GRESB.

Together, the validation and data quality mechanisms outlined within this page aim to improve the consistency, reliability, and integrity of reported data across the assessment.

Please note that these checks should be viewed as an additional safeguard in addition to indicators covering data assurance and verification. While GRESB’s scoring system promotes the use of third-party assurance and/or verification, it does not yet mandate it as part of GRESB submissions, making these additional controls essential.

GRESB Validation

Data quality procedures are made up of two complementary components:

Quantitative Approach

This process focuses on individual data points uploaded to the portal and applies additional controls to quantitative data points that are not subject to Manual Validation—i.e., where no supporting evidence is required. The emphasis is on data points that are prone to errors because they are generally more complex and granular to calculate.

Quantitative Approach

Qualitative Approach

Also referred to as 'Manual Validation,' this process involves reviewing all submitted evidence documents using a combination of human reviewers and automated tools.

Qualitative Approach

Additional Quality Mechanisms

Assessment Correction Period

The Assessment Correction Period, introduced in 2021, allows participants to respond to flagged issues and amend their data submissions before results are finalized. This step not only improves data quality but also builds confidence in the process by allowing participants to correct unintended reporting errors, either flagged by GRESB (as mentioned in the previous section) or by their own recognition.

The Assessment Correction Period, being supported by targeted outreach and validation, ensures that data issues are addressed in a transparent and timely manner before results are locked in.

Data Estimation Requirements

As a general rule, GRESB requires participants to use actual data (i.e., directly measured from utilities or meters, documented, or derived using recognized standards) when reporting material performance data to the infrastructure asset assessments. Broad extrapolations of data and general estimates should not be reported.