GRESB August Update | Preliminary Results & Assessment Correction Launching Soon; Strengthening the GRESB Member Experience; Data Center Assessment Pilot Update

What’s New in August

  • Preliminary results and Assessment Correction
  • Strengthening the GRESB Member experience in 2025
  • The upcoming Data Center Assessment Pilot
  • GRESB Global Results Event & Regional Insights
  • And much more

Read more below.

Preliminary Results & Assessment Correction

On Monday, September 1, GRESB will release 2025 preliminary results, giving participants an advance look at their Benchmark Reports before the final release in October.

To support this review and ensure accuracy and completeness, the Assessment Correction window will be open from September 1 through September 15. This service is designed to strengthen the reliability of results by allowing participants to correct errors in their data input.

How it works
Participants review their Preliminary Benchmark Report and, if needed, request a correction through the GRESB Member Success Team. If a correction is appropriate, the assessment will be temporarily unlocked for edits and must be re-submitted within three business days.

What can be amended
Participants can amend responses, update hyperlinks, add documentation, or correct performance data that was inadvertently left out before July 1. Please note that new data collected after the submission deadline cannot be added.

All changes approved through the Assessment Correction service will be re-validated, re-scored, and reflected in the final Benchmark Reports released on October 1.

Learn more about the Assessment Correction.

2025: Enhancing Services, Experiences & Solutions for GRESB Members

This year, we devoted significant focus and resources to strengthening the GRESB experience—delivering more responsive support, higher quality and reliability across our products and services, and enhanced value for our members.

Highlights and improvements from 2025 to date include:

  • Reduced reporting burden with clearer guidance, simplified asset spreadsheets, and reduced duplicate reporting requirements
  • Faster, more responsive support, with average helpdesk first-response times cut to just over four hours
  • Earlier access to data than ever before, via the Asset Analytics tab and the new Submitted Data feature in the Data Exporter
  • New tools and insights, including Score Contribution for real estate and improved Customized Peer Groups
  • Transparent and predictable evolution of the GRESB Standards, with the introduction of Principles for Governing Standards Development and multi-year visibility into changes
  • New and expanded Assessments and benchmarking, such as the new Residential Component, the Real Estate Lender Assessment, and the first Data Center Benchmark pilot

Looking ahead to 2026, we will continue to expand solutions, deepen capabilities, and advance real-world outcomes across global markets. Read the full update.

 Data Center Assessment Pilot

GRESB is pleased to announce that the pilot for the new Data Center Sustainability Benchmark will launch this September. Developed in partnership with Infrastructure Masons (iMasons), the benchmark is designed to provide investors and managers with trusted, comparable metrics tailored to the unique needs and operations of the fast-growing data center sector.

The pilot marks an important step toward delivering sector-specific insights that will enable more informed capital allocation, risk assessment, and due diligence across digital infrastructure. Insights from the pilot will inform the development of the Data Center Assessment, scheduled to launch in 2026.

Learn more about the new sustainability benchmark for data centers.

GRESB Global Results & Regional Insights events

Secure Your Spot for the launch of GRESB Global Results

Available on-demand from October 15, Global Results will focus on the drivers of real assets performance: clarity, resilience, and operational efficiency. Expect a sharp take on the state of the market, curated highlights from the latest GRESB Benchmark Results, and the key signals behind the scores that matter most for decision-making. We’ll also share fresh sector spotlights and real-world stories which show fundamentals in action.

Pre-register here.

Secure Your Spot for the launch of GRESB Global Results

Building on the Global Results, the GRESB Regional Insights 2025 series will translate the same fundamentals—clarity, resilience, and operational efficiency—into market-specific takeaways. Each in-person event will unpack the signals behind the scores for your region, highlighting what the GRESB Benchmark indicates about local risk pressures, operational improvement momentum, and how investors in your market are responding.

Co-hosted with GRESB Partners across 30+ cities worldwide, these events will pair data briefings with practical, real-world examples—so you can benchmark locally, compare peers, and turn insights into next steps for 2026 planning.

Register your interest for any of the upcoming Regional Insights events here.

Foundation Update

2025 Standards Workplan 

The Real Estate and Infrastructure Standards Committees have begun to endorse the first proposals for changes to the 2026 Standards, which are then brought to the Foundation Board for approval. (For a refresher on the approval process, please revisit the GRESB Foundation 2025 Roadmap.) During its most recent meetings, the Foundation Board approved two new changes to the standards:

  • (Infrastructure) Reducing reporting burden for funds: the GRESB Infrastructure Fund Standard and underlying assessment will remain “static” from 2026, removing the need for annual resubmission of evidence and data unless practices materially change.
  • (Real Estate) Embodied Carbon: In the future, reporting will shift to the asset level, with an increased scoring weight of measurement in future years, and refined scoring logic to reward the existence and quality of measurement.

Data Center Working Group

GRESB recently hosted its second in-person Data Centers Working Group (DCWG) meeting, hosted by Jill Brosig in Harrison Street’s beautiful offices overlooking the Chicago River. GRESB was joined by several DCWG members, including: Amanda Abell (Stream Data Centers), Bethany Brantley (STACK Infrastructure), Chris Maddern (Schneider Electric), Chris Pennington (Iron Mountain), Christine Pries (STACK Infrastructure), Hamoda Youssef (ClimateFirst Building Solutions), Jeanne Garza (Affinius Capital Joshua Hatch (Brightworks Sustainability), Miranda G. Gardiner, LEED Fellow (iMasons Climate Accord), and Scott Bystrek (Salesforce).

The meeting kicked off with classic Chicago deep dish pizza, followed by A focused discussion on the pilot assessment scope and metrics, a market view presentation from Harrison Street, an update from Salesforce on the Data Center Safety Council and an architecture boat tour. To read more about the meeting, take a look at the recent LinkedIn post.

The DCWG is finalizing the pilot assessment for launch in the coming weeks and GRESB will host an in-person Data Center Investor (LP) Masterclass (email [email protected] to register your interest to join). Read more about GRESB’s focus on data centers in partnership with Infrastructure Masons and check out the recently published whitepaper on Navigating data center sustainability with GRESB in 2025.

MIT Research Support

The GRESB Foundation is supporting MIT researchers, Bram van der Kroft, Juan Palacios, Roberto Rigobon, and Siqi Zheng, to understand the extent to which retrofitting real estate has become a central issue for evaluating profitability, tenant satisfaction, and regulatory compliance. The team has developed an engaging 10-minute retrofitting simulation and survey designed to capture how real estate professionals think about trade-offs in sustainability investments.

To participate in their research project, please complete the 10-minute survey and game.

Following the project, participants will receive an invitation to an exclusive MIT-hosted webinar to discuss the results and explore the future of sustainable real estate strategy.

GRESB Insights

The Pulse by GRESB

The Pulse by GRESB is an informative content series featuring the GRESB team, partners, GRESB Foundation members, and other experts, published on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Listen to the latest episodes below:

Driving Value Through the Stable Evolution of the Standards: GRESB Foundation Principles Explained

Host Sarah Welton, Director of the GRESB Foundation, sat down with Katie Jowett, Head of Sustainability for LaSalle Global Solutions at LaSalle Investment Management, and Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer at City Developments Limited, to discuss the Foundation’s newly published Principles for Governing Standards Development. Listen as they explain how the principles strengthen collaboration between investors and managers, improve predictability in scoring, reduce reporting burden and create pathways for innovation.

Listen to the episode and read the transcripts.

ASHRAE Standard 100 in focus part 1 & 2: From the story behind the standard to steering its future

 

In this two-part episode, Parag Cameron-Rastogi, Director, Real Asset Analytics at GRESB speaks with Jamie Kono, Research Engineer at PNNL and Glenn Friedman, Principal at Taylor Engineers about ASHRAE Standard 100 and its growing relevance to GRESB Standards. Part 1 explores the origins and structure of the standard, focusing on energy efficiency in existing buildings. Part 2 offers a technical look at performance metrics, emissions thresholds, and stakeholder engagement in standards development.

Listen to the episodes and read the transcripts for part 1 & part 2.

Contribute to GRESB Insights

Industry insights from our partners and members into “Energy Procurement” and other rolling topics:

  • Elevate asset performance and ESG ratings with green certifications and data-driven practices | Partner energy
    Green certifications aren’t just labels—they’re strategic tools for boosting value, guiding asset management, and meeting investor expectations. This article explores how early integration, strong data practices, and portfolio-level screening can unlock ROI, enhance tenant satisfaction, and support long-term resilience.
  • Unlocking sustainable growth: Green finance opportunities for Mexico’s construction sector | THREE Consultoría Medioambiental
    The 2025 Green Finance Guide connects Mexico’s construction industry with tools like green bonds, mortgages, and certifications such as LEED and EDGE. By bridging knowledge gaps between developers and financial institutions, it shows how sustainable projects can cut costs, raise asset value, and drive low-carbon growth.
  • The Myths & Realities of ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager® | Abisko
    ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager® has become the backbone of building performance benchmarking across North America—but misconceptions still linger. This article dispels common myths, showing how the platform fosters innovation, expands data access, and sets the industry’s most robust benchmarks.
  • Smarter energy procurement starts with smarter buildings | CodeGreen
    Smart buildings deserve smart buying. This article shows how aligning procurement with efficiency upgrades turns performance gains into real savings while reducing long-term risk. By rethinking contracts, updating load profiles, and engaging the right advisors, owners can ensure their energy strategy keeps pace with their assets.

Interested in contributing? Check out the 2025 GRESB Editorial Calendar for fixed monthly topics and submission guidelines. The topic for September is “Physical risk & climate resilience.

Upcoming Industry Events

SuperReturn Energy and Infrastructure Asia

September 16–17, 2025 | Singapore

As part of Super September, Asia’s biggest week in private capital, SuperReturn is coming to Singapore for two days of networking and opportunity-focused insights. The event brings together the region’s leading investors, fund managers, developers, and policy influencers to explore the future of sustainable investing. Chris Pyke, Chief Innovation Officer at GRESB and Rohendran Chelliah, Business Development Manager, Infrastructure will be speaking at the event.

Use the code FKR3636GRESB for a 10% discount.

Morningstar Sustainable Investing Summit 2025

September 18–19 | Amsterdam, Netherlands

Join the two-day summit, where global leaders will gather to explore competitiveness, materiality, and ESG innovation across four dynamic stages. Centered around the theme Enduring Principles, Evolving Strategies, the summit offers institutional investors cutting-edge research, expert insights, and practitioner case studies that can help them navigate shifting markets and evolving regulations. GRESB’s Raphaël Rollin, Manager Business Development, Investors, and Asset Impact’s Michel Amar, Chief Business Development Officer, will attend the event.

The District World Summit 2025

September 30–October 2 | Barcelona, Spain

GRESB is proud to be a Supporting Partner of The District 2025, Europe’s premier event for real estate investment and capital markets. Held in Barcelona, the event will bring together 14,000+ industry leaders to discuss macro trends and evolving policies that will affect real estate by the end of the year.

SuperReturn Global Infrastructure

September 30–October 2 | London, UK

SuperReturn Global Infrastructure brings together 350+ private infrastructure and real assets investors, including LPs and GPs from 30+ countries. Attendees will explore trends in digital infrastructure, energy transition, and real estate, with insights from 150+ experts. LPs attend free. GRESB’s Thomas Ducker, Sales Director, Infrastructure, will speak at the event.

Use code FKR3597GRESB for a 10% discount.

PRI in Person 2025

November 4–6 | São Paulo, Brazil

This event will unite 1,000 leaders and practitioners from the global investment ecosystem for three days of strategic insights, peer exchange, and action-oriented debate ahead of COP30. The event will explore navigating urgent challenges with resilient strategies while unlocking investable opportunities.

Proptech Connect 2025
September 3–4 | London, UK

Join Europe’s largest real estate tech event bringing together 6,000+ leaders from real estate, tech, venture capital, and service sectors to advance digital transformation in the built environment. Anna Olink, Director, Real Estate,EMEA, will be speaking at the event.

PEI Infrastructure Investor: Investor Forum
September 9–10 | London, UK

The Infrastructure Investor Forum will gather over 300 infrastructure leaders and more than 150 institutional and private investors. GRESB’s Director of Infrastructure Standards, Joss Blamire, will be moderating a panel on “Addressing the Evolving Power Needs of Data Centers.”

Zero eMission Building Conference
September 16 | Tel-Aviv, Israel

Hosted by Alfa Projects, this conference will bring together industry leaders, developers, and innovators to explore how zero-carbon strategies can maximize business potential while meeting global environmental challenges. Join to hear from GRESB’s Alexander Roznowski, Business Development Manager for Germany and Austria.

RIAA Conference
September 18 | Auckland, New Zealand

The largest event for sustainable business and responsible investment in Aotearoa New Zealand returns in 2025. This conference gathers the New Zealend’s top investment thinkers, policy leaders, sustainability professionals, and financial advisors to explore the key signals shaping our collective future and how to translate those into meaningful progress.

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