GRESB season is officially here. The portal opened April 1 and closes July 1, so real estate ESG teams everywhere are deep in documentation mode. But before you dive in too deep, it’s worth slowing down and getting familiar with what’s changed and what it means for your 2025 submission.
Spoiler: It’s not a total overhaul, but there are new data asks, scoring shifts, and a residential-specific supplement that could affect how your performance stacks up.
Here’s what to know.
Energy Efficiency Gets the Credit It Deserves
GRESB is adding scored recognition for operationally efficient assets, even if they didn’t improve year-over-year. In the past, efficient properties could be penalized for “plateauing.” Now, they’ll be rewarded for maintaining strong performance.
This update is part of GRESB’s broader move toward performance-based scoring, so it’s a win for anyone investing in long-term efficiency, not just short-term deltas.
Residential Properties? You’ve Got Your Own Score Now
For the first time, residential participants will receive a supplemental score based on indicators tailored to the sector. That means metrics, weights, and benchmarks that actually make sense for how residential portfolios operate.
You’ll still receive your main score, but the supplement provides added visibility into your performance under a more relevant lens.
New Data Collection—But Not (Yet) New Scoring
GRESB is taking a measured approach with new topics that are critical for long-term ESG progress. These include:
- Renewable Energy procurement quality (aligned with RE100 standards)
- Embodied Carbon measurement for development projects
- Biodiversity and Nature strategies
- Building Certification criteria differentiation
These indicators won’t affect your score in 2025 but will shape scoring in future years. Translation: start collecting and reporting the data now to avoid scrambling later.
Back in September 2024, we explored how green certifications support stronger GRESB outcomes. If certifications are part of your strategy this year, it’s still worth a read.
Streamlined Reporting, Retired Indicators
GRESB has trimmed some of the fat, retiring indicators like “Personnel Responsible for ESG” and “Employee Engagement.” Others, like “Employee Safety”, now require more robust reporting to receive full credit.
The changes aim to reduce burden, reflect more meaningful metrics, and prepare the Standard for upcoming evolutions in 2026 and 2027.
Why This Matters and How Conservice Can Help
GRESB isn’t just a reporting tool. It’s a signal to investors, regulators, and stakeholders that your ESG program is real, measurable, and improving. And as the standard matures, expectations will only grow.
Conservice provides full-spectrum ESG solutions that meet you where you are, from strategy and data alignment to reporting and third-party assurance. We know the GRESB portal inside and out, and we’re already helping clients navigate the 2025 updates without stress or surprises.
Ready to simplify your submission and boost your score before the July 1 deadline? Talk with a Conservice ESG expert.
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