BC1.2: Operational Building Certifications
Maximum Score
8.5 points
Input Method
Asset Portal
Prefill
Not eligible
Scoring method
Relative
Validation
Automatic
2026 Updates
Participants must report this metric at the asset level.
GRESB automatically populates this indicator in the assessment response once participants have aggregated asset-level data from the Asset Portal.
When using the Asset Spreadsheet to upload asset-level data, GRESB recommends reviewing the instructions below in conjunction with the corresponding spreadsheet tab. The Cell Code column in the Input section indicates where to report each metric in the spreadsheet.
Asset Portal Guide Click here to download a read-only version of the Asset Spreadsheet.
Standing investments that hold a valid operational green building certificate
Scheme/Level
Drop-down menu
Certification Year
Year
Floor Area Covered
m2 / Sq. Ft.
Assessment Instructions
Intent: What is the purpose of this indicator?
This Indicator intends to assess the entity’s use of green building certifications for building operation and maintenance. Green building certificates provide a measure of asset quality that may benefit occupants, society and the environment. Building certifications also serve as an additional layer of transparency and accountability to inform investors and occupiers on the sustainability performance of an asset. As the relevance of the information provided by building certifications decreases over time, their validity is assessed in this indicator by imposing an expiration year.
Input: How do I complete this indicator?
To fall within the scope of BC1.2, the certification must:
Have been awarded for an operational building. Building certifications at the time of design/construction and interior are reported separately in BC1.1.
Cover a performance period prior to or equal to the reporting year (even if the certificate was awarded after the reporting year).
Have been issued on or before the GRESB submission deadline. Any certification issued after the official GRESB submission deadline cannot be reported.
Not have expired before the reporting year identified in EC4.
Note: Pre-assessments or other forms of pre-certification received before project completion are not valid. These types of preliminary assessments provide an understanding of how a project is likely to perform against the criteria of a specific certification system. These can be undertaken by third parties, consultants, developers, or as part of a pre-certification process to indicate progress. However, they are not equivalent to a final certified outcome.
Refer to the Scheme Lists page for the complete list of recognized building certification schemes, which will remain eligible for the 2026 and 2027 assessments.
GRESB updated its building certification evaluation criteria in December 2024 and retired the existing criteria in June 2025. All certification schemes must meet the revised evaluation criteria to be recognized for the 2028 GRESB Standard. For more information about the scheme re-evaluation process and status, see here.
Data
Cell Code
Instructions
Scheme/ Level
D6/G6/J6/M6/P6
Note: Some certification schemes are applicable for both the building design/construction and the building operational phases, but can only be reported once for the applicable phase, in the corresponding indicator.
Specific rules apply for some certifications:
NABERS Multi-rating: Only report for assets that have attained at least three out of four NABERS ratings (Energy, Water, IEQ, and Waste). Given that the list of property types eligible to obtain NABERS ratings evolves, participants are encouraged to refer to the NABERS official website for alignment the latest updates.
LEED Zero: Only report for assets that have obtained at least three out of four LEED Zero certifications (Energy, GHG, Water and/or Waste).
Arc Performance Certificates - 3: Only report for assets that have obtained at least three out of five categories (Energy, Water, Waste, Transportation, and Human Experience).
Guidance for unit consolidation - applicable to Residential Portfolios To report a consolidated Building Certification scheme/level, participants should calculate the floor area of the group of units covered by the scheme/level.
Unit 1 size [m2]
Unit 2 size [m2]
Unit 3 size [m2]
Building Certification 1 - Level 1
100 m2
0m2
0m2
Building Certification 2 - Level 2
0m2
150m2
100m2
Floor Area Covered by Building Certification 1 - Level 1 = 100m2
Floor Area Covered by Building Certification 2 - Level 2 = 150+100= 250m2
In order to calculate the consolidated Building Certification year of the group of units that comprise the asset, participants should calculate the weighted average certification year based on the proportion of each unit's floor area composing the asset (similar to the example above for the consolidated construction year).
Certification Year
E6/H6/K6/N6/Q6
Report the year corresponding to the performance period of the selected building certification.
Performance Period: When the performance of a building is assessed to demonstrate compliance with the established criteria of a building certification. If there is no performance period, please refer to the point in time when all documentation has been submitted to the certifier for final review.
Note: Participants may report certificates obtained after the reporting year (i.e., in 2026), so long as they meet the conditions outlined above. In this case, certification year (i.e., performance period) must still be 2025. The Asset Portal will not accept a certification year of 2026.
In the event of periodic certification renewal for an asset, participants should report the latest certification year.
Floor area covered
F6/I6/L6/O6/R6
Provide the side of the certified floor area using the selected scheme. The value provided cannot exceed the floor area size of the associated asset.
% GAV Certified Optional at the Asset Level
Not Applicable - Input witin the Assessment Response
If a Gross Asset Value is reported at the asset level for all assets in the Asset Portal, GRESB automatically calculates the “% of GAV certified” per scheme. In this scenario, the "% of GAV certified" field accounts for the percentage of ownership at the asset level.
Alternatively, participants can calculate this field manually. To do so, this number should be calculated as the % of GAV of all assets within the property type certified to the respective scheme, adjusted by the % of floor area certified, and considering the percentage of ownership reported at the asset level.
For example, certified Asset A makes up 20% of the property type GAV. However, only 80% of its floor area is certified. The “% of GAV certified (within property type)” of Asset A will be 20% * 80% = 16%.
Validation: What evidence is required?
This indicator is subject to automatic validation. No evidence is required. Refer to the page below for guidance on how to resolve automatic validation errors and warnings. Validation Basics
Scoring
Scoring: How does GRESB score this indicator?
This indicator is answered at the asset level and scored at the aggregated property sub-type and country level.
Step 1: Calculate Certified Floor Area
GRESB calculates a certified floor area of each certification by multiplying (1) the floor area certified weighted, (2) % of ownership of the asset, (3) the validation status of the certification, and (4) the time factor corresponding to the certification age.
Validation Status: GRESB determines each certification scheme's validation status based on a set of predefined criteria. Recognized schemes are assigned one of the following weightings:
Full points
1.0
Partial plus
0.6
Partial minus
0.3
Time Factor: Each certification's time factor is based on the certification year and type:
Certification age (year)
Time factor (Operational)
0
100%
1
100%
2
100%
3
100%
4
50%
5
0%
...
0%
Step 2: Aggregate Certified Floor Area to the Property Subtype | Country Level
GRESB adds the certified floor area to determine the % of floor area certified at the property sub-type & country level. While multiple certification schemes per asset count towards the aggregated value, it is capped at 100% at the property subtype & country level.
Step 3: Benchmark the Property Subtype | Country Certified Floor Area
GRESB compares the property subtype | country level certification coverage against a relevant benchmark distribution based on the same property subtype and country to achieve a score.
Step 4: Aggregate to the Portfolio Level
GRESB aggregates the scores for each property sub-type and country into a single portfolio score, weighted by the gross asset value (GAV) for each property sub-type and country.
The final BC1.2 score is then added to the BC1.1 score to generate an overall BC1 score, which has a maximum of 8.5 points.
The level of certification is for reporting purposes only and is not used for scoring.
Example
Consider 10 Residential: Multi-Family Mid-Rise | United States assets with identical square footage (GFA) and all with 100% ownership throughout the entire reporting year. One asset has a 4-year-old (time factor of 50%) operational certification scheme (indicator BC1.2) covering 100% floor area, and the scheme has a validation status factor of 0.6 (Partial+).
Step 1: Calculate the aggregated certified % floor area per property sub-type /country:
1 certified asset floor area / 10 total asset floor area = 10% certified floor area aggregated at Property Sub-Type and Country level.
Step 2: Incorporate validation status and time factor weights:
When incorporating the Validation Status and Time Factor, this value becomes 10% * 0.6 * 0.5 = 3%
Step 3: Compare the adjusted % floor area certified to a relevant benchmark group:
GRESB compares the aggregated % floor area certified (incorporating validation status and time factor) against a relevant benchmark, which results in a score achieved by the scheme for the property sub-type and country of ~15% (assuming the relevant benchmark average is 20%). Considering that no other scheme was reported in this property sub-type / country, the final score received is ~15%*8.5 = 1.28 points.
The resulting score is then added to the score of BC1.1 to calculate a total BC1 score, which has a maximum of 8.5 points.
The above applies separately per indicator (BC1.1 and BC1.2), where the key metric used for scoring is the percentage of floor area certified (% floor area certified).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the level of my building certification or energy rating affect my GRESB score?
No. The specific level or tier of your building certification or energy rating (e.g., LEED Platinum vs. Gold, Energy Star score) does not influence your score for indicators BC1 or BC2.
How do I determine the correct certification year for my green building certification?
The certification year refers to and must reflect the actual performance period covered by the certification. It's not the year in which the submission process was completed, or in which the certificate was issued.
Can I submit a new scheme to be considered by GRESB for the current year's assessment?
No. As of June 2025, certification bodies (the entity responsible for overseeing and administering various certification schemes) are responsible for submitting evidence to demonstrate scheme alignment with GRESB's building certification evaluation criteria. Participants are no longer responsible for submitting new schemes for review.
The instructions and survey for certification bodies are included here.
You can view the status of certification brand re-evaluation on this page, which GRESB updates monthly.
Can I report both Part 1 and Part 2 of BREEAM In-Use as separate building certifications?
No. BREEAM In-Use Part 1 and Part 2 are different stages of the same certification process, not independent schemes. You can report the asset as BREEAM In-Use certified once either part is completed, but not both as separate certifications.
How does GRESB construct the benchmarks used to score performance metrics?
First, an attempt is made to construct a benchmark by grouping values from assets with the same Property Sub-Type and located in the same Country. If there are not at least 20 values from 5 distinct reporting entities, the Property Sub-Type classification and then the Country specificity are gradually decreased.
For example, the Property Sub-Type becomes Property Type and then Property Sector. Then the specificity of the Country is decreased to Sub-Region, Region, Super-Region, and Global.
Get Support: Solution Providers
GRESB Solution Providers are independent, third-party organizations within the GRESB Partner network that offer specialized products, tools, and services to support sustainability performance outside the GRESB Assessment process.
The organizations below deliver commercially available solutions designed to help drive improvement for this indicator. Engagement is managed directly between the reporting entity and the Solution Provider.
GRESB will continue to update this section as the GRESB Solution Provider network grows. Please check back regularly to find GRESB Solution Providers who can support your sustainability performance.
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