About GRESB Guides

Introduction

Welcome to GRESB Guides, GRESB's dedicated knowledge hub. GRESB launched this platform in 2026 to streamline access to key information and create a more intuitive user learning experience.

This page will guide you through everything you need to know about the improvements GRESB made to its educational material in 2026. It categorizes these improvements as:

1. Structural changes: Understand how to find the content you're looking for.

2. Guidance clarifications: Learn about member-driven clarifications to GRESB guidance.

Note that these improvements differ in scope from Standards-related updates, which the GRESB Foundation oversees. See here for 2026 Standards Updates.

Structural Changes

GRESB Guides replaces the legacy resource areas (e.g., documents.gresb.com) with a more practical user experience that reflects how participants complete GRESB Assessments. The content remains completely aligned with the GRESB Standards; what changed is the accessibility and clarity of guidance.

This section summarizes the location of legacy guidance materials in GRESB Guides. To identify the exact location of key information, GRESB strongly recommends using the search bar at the top of the screen.

Tip: Filter your search for "Only the current section" to generate more precise results.

Where can I find familiar resources in GRESB Guides?

Guidance	Legacy Location	GRESB Guides Location
Indicator reporting instructions	Reference Guide	Completing GRESB Assessments > Indicator Page
Indicator validation requirements	Reference Guide	Completing GRESB Assessments > Indicator Page
Indicator scoring	Scoring Document	Completing GRESB Assessments > Indicator Page
Reporting scope requirements	Reference Guide Introduction	Getting Started > Assessment Structure and Scope
Assessment structure	Reference Guide Introduction	Getting Started > Assessment Structure and Scope
Tecnical FAQs	Standalone PDF	Completing GRESB Assessments > Indicator Page
Estimation rules	Reference Guide Appendix	Completing GRESB Assessments > Supporting Information
Validation information	Reference Guide Appendix	Completing GRESB Assessments > Supporting Information
Indicator summary guide	Standalone PDF	Completing GRESB Assessments > Aspect and Indicator Pages
Standard updates and GRESB Foundation Roadmap	Standalone PDFs	Getting Started > GRESB Standards
How to Read your Benchmark Report	Standalone PDF	Leveraging your Data > Results Insights
Peer Group methodology	Standalone PDF / GRESB website	Leveraging your Data > Results Insights
Portfolio Analysis Tool (PAT)	GRESB website / Training platform	Leveraging your Data > Asset and Portfolio Analysis
Data Exporter	GRESB website	Leveraging your Data > Data Management

Guidance Clarifications

General Clarifications

Topic	Description
Language Clarity	Modified content for grammatical correctness and consistency, and updated terminology where needed to improve clarity across the site
Indicator Intents	Refreshed numerous indicator intent sections to ensure they remain aligned with the goals of the GRESB Standards
Asset Performance	Improved the readability of performance indicator (e.g., Energy, Air Pollution) instructions and scoring explanations
Scoring Explanations	Simplified and harmonized indicator-level scoring explanations

Specific Indicator Clarifications

Note that the table below does not include editorial improvements.

Fund

Topic	Location	Description
Verification/Assurance of Sustainability Data	RP1	Clarified that, while assurance/verification of sustainability disclosure should cover all sustainability information, GRESB will only seek to confirm that the third-party review covers a single sustainability topic.
Third-Party Independence	RP1	Defined third-party independence in the context of data review, which will be manually validated for a random sample of participants.
Employee Training	SE2	Refined the definitions of professional and sustainability-related training.
Third-Party Surveys	SE3	Refined the "Independent third-party" definition in the context of satisfaction survey administration.
Climate-Related Risk Management	RM3.1-3.6	Clarified that the open text boxes are considered during manual evidence validation. Defined "material financial impact."
Targets	T1	Amended the "science-based target" definition to correct an inaccuracy that did not properly reflect the Paris agreement language (which is to aim to keep warming well below 2°C, pursuing 1.5°C).

Asset

Management Component

Topic	Location	Description
Verification/Assurance of Sustainability Data	RP1	Clarified that, while assurance/verification of sustainability disclosure should cover all sustainability information, GRESB will only seek to confirm that the third-party review covers a single sustainability topic.
Third-Party Independence	RP1	Defined third-party independence in the context of data review, which will be manually validated for a random sample of participants.
Policy Evidence	PO1-3	Expanded upon evidence exemption criteria for scenarios in which policies remain unchanged.
Environmental Management System	RM1	Clarified that participant should select whether the entity is aligned or accredited to each standard.
Climate-Related Risk Management	RM.4.1-4.6	Clarified that the open text boxes are considered during manual evidence validation. Defined "material financial impact."

Performance Component

Topic	Location	Description
Data Review	GH1	Clarified that verification/assurance should cover Scope II location-based emissions, and that the "Externally checked" option is not scored.
Third-Party Independence	GH1	Defined third-party independence in the context of data review, which will be manually validated for a random sample of participants.
Targets	GH2	Amended the "science-based target" definition to correct an inaccuracy that did not properly reflect the Paris agreement language (which is to aim to keep warming well below 2°C, pursuing 1.5°C).
Health & Safety	HS1-2	Clarified the definition of recordable injuries.
Employee Training	EM1	Clarified that the percentage of employees should capture those who participated in training. Refined the definitions of professional and sustainability-related training.
Third-Party Surveys	EM1 / CU1	Refined the "Independent third-party" definition in the context of satisfaction survey administration.
Survey Coverage	EM1 / CU1	Amended the survey coverage calculation instructions to only consider individuals who could have received a survey (i.e., the number of potential recipients at the time of survey administration).

Development Asset

Topic	Location	Description
Verification/Assurance of Sustainability Data	RP1	Clarified that, while assurance/verification of sustainability disclosure should cover all sustainability information, GRESB will only seek to confirm that the third-party review covers a single sustainability topic.
Third-Party Independence	RP1	Defined third-party independence in the context of data review, which will be manually validated for a random sample of participants.
Climate-Related Risk Management	RM.5.1-5.6	Clarified that the open text boxes are considered during manual evidence validation. Defined "material financial impact."
Targets	GH1	Amended the "science-based target" definition to correct an inaccuracy that did not properly reflect the Paris agreement language (which is to aim to keep warming well below 2°C, pursuing 1.5°C).