GRESB April Update | 2026 Assessments Now Open; Public Consultation Closing Soon

With the 2026 GRESB Assessments now open, this month’s update brings together the latest tools, resources, and developments to support you throughout the assessment cycle. From streamlined guidance in GRESB Guides to expanded support services, this edition is designed to help you navigate your GRESB submission with clarity and confidence.

Read on for details.

Get Up to Speed with GRESB Guides

With submissions now open, GRESB Guides brings all core assessment guidance into a single, streamlined platform—making it easier to navigate requirements and find relevant information throughout the reporting process.

• All in one place: Core guidance is organized in dedicated spaces for each assessment.
• AI-supported search feature (Beta): Get concise answers directly from the search bar to quickly locate relevant guidance. Responses should be verified against official guidance and disclaimer before use.

Set Up for Success with GRESB Assessment Services

• Pre-Submission Check: Receive an evidence validation review that includes a one-hour call and a report with findings and feedback to support final submission readiness, available from April 1.
• Technical Expert Touchpoint: Access one-on-one expert guidance to address technical questions and strengthen your approach. Available year-round.
• Success Suite: Leverage a structured set of services and support designed to help you navigate the Assessment cycle with confidence.

The GRESB Foundation’s public consultation on the Real Estate Standard under the Road to Performance initiative—extended to allow for broader participation—is now closing tomorrow, April 30. We thank our Members and industry stakeholders for the strong engagement and valuable input received to date and encourage you to submit your feedback if you have not yet done so.

Submit your feedback.

Next steps: GRESB will share an overview of consultation findings in Q3. Updates for the 2028 Real Estate Standard will be published in Q4.

Watch the On-demand Webinar | In Conversation with the GRESB Foundation: On the Road to Performance

Earlier this month, members of the GRESB Real Estate Standards Committee gathered in London to discuss the Road to Performance public consultation—covering proposed updates, their intended impact, and what they mean for investors and managers participating in the GRESB Assessment—alongside insights from Foundation leadership on the future direction of the Real Estate Standard.

Watch the session here.

GRESB recently joined leading global organizations to launch the Greening AI Data Centres Coalition—a global initiative bringing together industry organizations to advance a more consistent approach to sustainability in data centers.

In parallel, GRESB is advancing its work on the upcoming Data Center Assessment, launching in the coming months. Developed with Infrastructure Masons and the Data Center Working Group, the new Assessment introduces a purpose-built framework for data center developers and operators to credibly assess and communicate how they manage the most material sustainability impacts and risks.

Contact us to learn more about the GRESB Data Center Assessment.

Key Takeaways: Data Centers Impacts and Opportunities in APAC Webinar

As demand for data centers accelerates across Asia-Pacific, real-world constraints—from energy and water to climate risk—are reshaping how the sector grows. In this recap, we highlight key insights from our recent webinar, exploring how operators and investors are approaching sustainability, resilience, and performance in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Read the full article.

Foundation Members In-Person Meeting

The GRESB Foundation, including members of the Foundation Board, Real Estate (RESC) and Infrastructure Standards Committees (ISC), and Data Center Working Group (DCWG) met in London a few weeks ago. The RESC and ISC met to continue to drive their 2026 Standards workplans forward. The DCWG met to refine the V1 assessment structure to move toward a business-model-mix framework that tackles the industry’s most pressing sustainability issues.

We welcomed a visit from Luke Sussams, Jefferies’s Head of EMEA Sustainability and Transition Strategy, to discuss the shift from greenhushing to a firm link between sustainability performance and ROI. We also invited Foundation members to share their vital regional insights, including Australia’s Nature Positive Roadmap, the social license and resource challenges of data centers, the evolution of development standards in Japan, and the integration of climate risk into asset valuations in Canada.

Lastly, we hosted a few field trips to the DWS’ Stagecoach Group Limited Bus Terminal, KKR’s TowerBridgeCourt, and Iron Mountain’s London Data Center, which provided invaluable real-world context to our technical discussions.

New and Updated Aspects of the GRESB Real Estate Assessment

The RESC is working on improvements to an existing aspect, Building Performance Estimation/Simulation, and on the development of a new aspect, District Heating and Cooling, within the Real Estate Standard. They would welcome expert stakeholder input:

• Building Performance Estimation / Simulation: The current assessment places a premium on measured data, with estimates making up a very limited fraction of submitted data. The RESC is exploring the potential for building performance simulation to contribute to the quantification of the carbon emissions of assets, and potentially to their score.
• District Heating and Cooling: District heating and cooling are critical systems for a substantial minority of the assets submitted to GRESB. The RESC is refining data collection on these systems to inform improved disclosure for investors, as district heating and cooling networks are becoming more important in the built environment globally.

If you or someone in your organization would like to engage, please email [email protected] to coordinate a time to speak with us.

Foundation Board Membership Update

The Foundation Board is pleased to welcome its newest member: Viktor Filipan, Senior Director, APG Asset Management, to the board. Victor has extensive experience in financial advisory and equity investments in infrastructure assets and leads the execution of APG sustainable investment strategy. The Foundation is grateful for Viktor and APG’s leadership and support of the GRESB Standards. On behalf of the GRESB Foundation Board Chair, Katie Jowett, the Foundation Board, and the entire Foundation, we are excited to welcome him.