MR1: External Review of Energy Data
Maximum Score
1.75 points
Input Method
Assessment Portal
Prefill
Not eligible
Scoring method
Static
Validation
Evidence is manually validated
2026 Updates
None
Has the entity's energy consumption data reported in EN1 been reviewed by an independent third party?
Assessment Instructions
Intent: What is the purpose of this indicator?
Third-party review on sustainability-related data provides investors and participants with confidence regarding the integrity and reliability of the reported information. This indicator refers to the energy consumption data reported across the whole portfolio.
Input: How do I complete this indicator?
Select Yes, No, or Not Applicable.
If Yes, specify whether the energy consumption data has been checked, verified, or assured (select the highest level of scrutiny applied). If applicable, select the assurance/verification standard from the dropdown menu.
GRESB does not require the selected standard to be specific to energy data. Standards designed for other data types (e.g., water) can be selected if the same level of thoroughness and review criteria is clearly applied to the energy data reported in EN1.
The Scheme Lists page contains the complete list of accepted assurance and verification standards.
Additional schemes may also receive recognition if they meet GRESB’s criteria. To submit a new scheme for review, please contact the GRESB team.
The final deadline for submitting a new assurance/verification scheme for review by the GRESB team is March 15th. Schemes submitted for review after March 15th will not be reviewed until the subsequent reporting year.
Terminology
Externally checked
Applies to instances when a third party has reviewed the data in a structured and consistent process, but no official certification has been awarded.
Externally verified
Applies to instances where a third party has reviewed the reporting against an existing scheme. When this checkbox is ticked, participants must select the scheme name from the dropdown.
Note that GRESB treats verification and assurance equally in the context of the assessment.
Externally assured
Applies to instances where a third party has reviewed the data against an existing scheme. When this checkbox is ticked, participants should select the scheme name from the dropdown.
Note that GRESB treats verification and assurance equally in the context of the assessment.
Independent third party
In the context of data review, an independent third party is any entity free from conflicts of interest and undue influence from the organization whose data is being assessed. To be considered independent, the third party must:
Lack corporate affiliations and financial ties
Not be exposed to conflicts of interest (i.e., lacks incentive to bias outcomes)
Be accredited to impartiality standards (e.g., ISO 17029 for verification/assurance or ISO 14065 for GHG verifiers, and ISO 17020)
Uphold internal impartiality policies and/or oversight
Formalize impartiality within the review's contractual engagements
Work completely outside of the organization being assessed (i.e., cannot be contracted to produce the data). However, if the data reviewer does consult the organization on sustainability-related activity, it must:
Firmly separate data review and sustainability consultancy roles
Firmly separate data collection and verification roles
Validation: What evidence is required?
The provided evidence must:
Confirm the existence of the third-party energy/GHG/water/waste data review. This should clearly indicate that the reviewed data reflects the data reported in this indicator.
Confirm the type of third-party review (checked, verified, or assured), and a formal statement with the verification or assurance standard used (when applicable).
Prove that the energy/GHG/water/waste consumption data review was performed for the reporting entity's underlying assets.
*Prove that the data assurer/verifier is an independent third party to the reporting entity (when applicable).
*Third-party Independence: Beginning in 2026, GRESB will request additional documentation from a random sample of participants to confirm the third-party independence of their data assurance/verification provider (as defined in the Terminology section above). GRESB may reject an entity's evidence if it cannot confirm third-party independence.
Ongoing Verification/Assurance: If verification/assurance for the current reporting year is in the process but has not yet been finalized, evidence documents from the previous year are acceptable if it is explicitly stated that the process is still ongoing at the submission date.
First-Time Verification/Assurance: For entities undergoing data assurance or verification for the first time, GRESB accepts a confirmation from the auditor indicating that assurance or verification is in progress and valid for the respective reporting year. The confirmation letter must specify the standard against which the data is assured or verified. All other validation requirements remain applicable.
Non-Alignment of Reporting Years: If verification/assurance does not align with the chosen reporting year, e.g., data assurance is calendar year but GRESB reporting is fiscal year, two verification statements are needed to ensure that 100% of the data reported was verified/assured.
Note: This indicator differs from RP1 in both granularity (level of detail) and scope:
If the data granularity required in EN1 is higher than in RP1, participants can not assume that the data review documented in RP1 also applies to EN1.
However, if the data granularity provided by EN1 is lower than that of RP1, participants can assume that the independent review documented in RP1 implicitly covers this indicator.
In the latter case, responses will only be considered valid if the scope of review for both sets of indicators is equivalent. Any difference in that scope must be thoroughly supported by evidence and clearly explained by participants.
Scoring
Scoring: How does GRESB score this indicator?
Scoring of this indicator is equal to the fraction assigned to the selected option, multiplied by the total score of the indicator.
Evidence: The evidence is manually validated and assigned a multiplier, according to the table below. The evidence must support the validation requirements.
If any requirements are not met, the evidence may be partially accepted or not accepted depending on the level of alignment with the requirements.
Accepted
3/3
Partially Accepted
1/3
Not Accepted
0
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some examples of how data verification and assurance differ?
Verification (asks 'Are the numbers correct?'):
"The reported Scope 1 emissions are 123,000 tCO₂e, and our checks confirm they are correctly calculated.”
Assurance (asks 'Is the data representation credible, balanced, and complete?') :
“The sustainability report provides a balanced and credible view of the company’s ESG performance. Based on our limited assurance engagement, nothing has come to our attention to suggest that the report is materially misstated.”
References
GRESB accepts verification and assurance standards based upon their alignment with CDP's Verification Guidance
EPRA Best Practices Recommendations on Sustainability Reporting, 3rd version, September 2017: 5.4, Third party assurance
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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