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
Asset Spreadsheet Instructions and Data Dictionary tabs	Asset Spreadsheet	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
Pre-Defined & Customized Peer Group methodology	Standalone PDF / GRESB website	Leveraging your Data > Results Insights
Score Contribution	GRESB website	Leveraging your Data > Results Insights
Asset Analytics, Portfolio Analysis Tool (PAT), Carbon Footprint Dashboard (CFD)	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
Chinese Translation	Introduced a simplified Chinese version of the Real Estate "Completing GRESB Assessments" guidance via a toggle button at the top of the page
Language Clarity	Modified content for grammatical correctness and consistency, and updated terminology where needed to improve clarity across the site
Indicator Intents	Refreshed indicator intent sections to ensure they remain aligned with the goals of the GRESB Standards
Performance Metric Scoring	Improved the read-ability of performance metric (e.g., data coverage, energy performance, like-for-like) scoring explanations

Specific Indicator Clarifications

Note that the table below does not include editorial improvements.

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.
Integrated Report Definition	RP1	Expanded the definition of an integrated report to include CSRD-aligned reports when conditions are met.
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.
Employee Training	SE1	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	SE2	Refined the "Independent third-party" definition in the context of satisfaction survey administration.
Survey Coverage	SE2	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).
Employee Coverage	SE4	Clarified that the coverage percentage must reflect the number of checks carried out, regardless of whether an option was given for the workplace to be checked.
Embodied Carbon	RM4.2	Included explanations and examples to clarify the relevance of embodied carbon assessment across different contexts.
Climate-Related Risk Management	RM6.1-6.4	Clarified that the open text boxes are considered during manual evidence validation.

Performance Component

Topic	Location	Description
Ownership	R1	Clarified that ownership percentage should reflect the last day the asset was held during the reporting year.
Reporting Scope Evidence	R1	Clarified that R1 evidence only needs to display ownership-weighted floor area when participants use GRESB's provided template.
Reporting Characteristics	R1	Noted that participants must set an assets status as "Standing Investment" for the current and previous reporting year if the entity wishes to report performance data before acquisition.
Third-Party Independence	MR1-4	Defined third-party independence in the context of data review, which will be manually validated for a random sample of participants.
Third-Party Surveys	TC2.1	Refined the "Independent third-party" definition in the context of satisfaction survey administration.
Survey Coverage	TC2.1	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).
Green Lease Portfolio Coverage	TC4	Specified that participants should calculate portfolio coverage based on floor area.
Technical Building Assessments	RA2	Highlighted that indicator RA2 does not require evidence, reducing uncertainty about documentation expectations.
Efficiency Measures	RA3-5	Clarified that, while efficiency measures implemented during development fall within the scope of RA3-5, they must relate to assets that are now operational.
Target Types	T1.1	Added definitions and examples to differentiate absolute, intensity-based, and like-for-like targets.
Target End Year	T1.1	Corrected the minimum allowable end year for long-term targets (i.e., reporting year +1 year).
Science-Based Targets	T1.2	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).
Outdoor & Renewable Energy	EN1	Clarified that outdoor renewable energy contributes to total energy consumption and must be reported accordingly.
Energy Intensity Calculation	EN1	Outlined which energy values are included or excluded from energy intensity calculations.
Like-for-Like Scoring	EN1 / GH1 / WT1	Specified that GRESB assesses like-for-like eligibility at the sub-space level (i.e., only space(s) within assets that meet the criteria are eligible).
Waste Diversion	WS1	Elaborated upon waste diversion scoring methodology. Noted that participants should report compost as "Recycling."
Building Certification	BC1	Clarified the scope of BC1.1 and BC1.2, noting that participants cannot report certifications that expired before the reporting year.

Development Component

Topic	Location	Description
New Construction Scope	DR1	Noted that participants should not report any performance data prior to an asset's New Construction start date, since the portal will not consider it.
Embodied Carbon	DMA2	Expanded upon evidence requirements and examples. Clarified which fields relate specifically to development projects completed during the reporting year.
Net Zero Code/Standard	DEN2.2	Clarified that participants should calculate the percentage of projects covered based on floor area. Included examples of acceptable Net Zero standards.
Green Building Certifications - Development	DBC1.2	Clarified timing conditions for reporting certifications obtained or registered after project completion. Clarified that the % coverage field is not scored.

Residential Component

Topic
Community Safety	RES3	Clarified that the indicator applies to implemented measures, not measures that were only identified.
Enabling Upgrade Works	RES6	Amended the "Enabling Upgrade Works" definition to capture lease agreements that allow landlords to carry out upgrade works.

Other

Topic	Locatoin	Description
Component Selection	RC5	Clarified that RC5 (Nature of Entity's Business) does not change component selection from a technical standpoint.
Component Scope	Reporting Scope & Boundaries	Clarified that once a component is selected, all owned assets within that component must be reported. Outlined examples of what must be included and excluded from the reporting scope. (e.g., financial lease assets, manufactured homes)
Waste Estimation	Estimation Rules	Clarified treatment of waste data when shared bins prevent asset-level attribution.