Data centers are among the fastest-growing real asset investments, but they are also facing increasing scrutiny from investors, utilities, regulators, and local communities. Concerns around power demand, water use, grid interaction, and community impact are becoming important considerations for development timelines, stakeholder trust, and long-term investment value.
“Introducing the Data Center Standard and Assessment: Purpose, Structure, and Applications” introduces a new purpose-built framework for data center developers and operators developed by GRESB in partnership with iMasons Climate Accord. The overview explains how the Data Center Standard and Assessment can help organizations understand material sustainability risks, strengthen credibility with stakeholders, and produce decision-useful insights for capital raising, investment monitoring, and sustainable finance.
Whether you are evaluating development opportunities, strengthening stakeholder engagement, supporting capital raising, or preparing for increasing public scrutiny, the overview provides a practical introduction to the structure, methodology, and real-world applications of the new Data Center Assessment.
Key insights:
- Purpose-built for data centers: Learn how the Data Center Standard and Assessment are designed to reflect the unique operational, development, and investment realities of the data center sector.
- Material sustainability issues shaping investment risk: Explore how the Assessment addresses electricity supply, community engagement, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and efficiency, water use and efficiency, health and safety, and operational resilience.
- Assessment structure and methodology: Understand how the Data Center Assessment evaluates material sustainability issues across key dimensions.
- Building credibility under scrutiny: Learn how standardized, validated outputs can help support high-stakes conversations with investors, utilities, regulators, local communities, and other stakeholders.
- Real-world applications: Understand how transparency scores, benchmarking, and insights can support capital raising, investment monitoring, and sustainable finance applications.
Download the overview
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