Developed, built and supported exclusively for New Zealand and Australia
Whether you’re new to GRESB or looking to enhance your existing approach, this resource is designed to help you navigate the unique challenges and opportunities in our region.
The world of real estate is rapidly evolving as investors, regulators, and communities place more emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. GRESB has emerged as a leading benchmark, providing a structured way to measure, compare, and improve the sustainability of property and infrastructure portfolios.
This guide will take you step by step through the essentials of GRESB, highlight practical strategies for managing data and compliance, and introduce solutions tailored to local requirements. You’ll find insights on recent trends, common pitfalls to avoid, and how to use technology to streamline your sustainability journey. Our aim is to support you in achieving meaningful results – moving beyond compliance to build future-proof, high-performing portfolios that deliver value for owners, occupants, and the wider community.
GRESB (Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) is the investor-led organization that provides standardized, validated ESG data to financial markets worldwide. Since 2009, GRESB has established itself as the definitive benchmark for assessing environmental, social, and governance performance across real estate and infrastructure investments.
GRESB offers a comprehensive framework that goes far beyond traditional rating systems. While initiatives like NABERS Ratings or Green Star focus on specific elements, GRESB provides assessment across entire portfolios—from commercial properties to critical infrastructure including roads, railways, electricity distribution, and communication systems.
The GRESB assessment framework aligns directly with international reporting standards and emerging regulations, ensuring sustainability data meets investor expectations and compliance requirements. Organizations begin with existing data, and GRESB’s standardized methodology provides clear visibility into asset performance and identifies areas for improvement.
For property owners and asset managers, GRESB transforms complex ESG requirements into measurable outcomes. The platform enables organizations to demonstrate sustainability performance to investors and stakeholders through validated metrics that drive operational improvements. This approach positions sustainability reporting as strategic asset management rather than just compliance activity.
Organizations use GRESB to meet the transparency and benchmarking requirements that capital markets demand. The platform provides structured support to elevate sustainability reporting from basic compliance to strategic advantage, helping organizations understand their position in the market and identify pathways for enhanced performance.
For property and infrastructure organizations in Australia and New Zealand, GRESB performance provides important insights into sustainability practices and market positioning. The benchmark serves multiple stakeholders – investors use it to assess ESG risks and opportunities, while organizations use it to understand their performance relative to peers and identify areas for improvement.
GRESB’s influence on investment decisions varies by investor, but the trend is notable. Research shows that 75% of GRESB investor members engage with their managers about participation, with 44% requiring it in their investment agreements. Academic studies have found correlations between GRESB participation and financial performance, including research showing funds reporting to GRESB experienced mean increases of 1.94% in quarterly performance compared to non-participants.
The assessment process itself offers value beyond external reporting. Organizations must systematically review their sustainability practices, data collection processes, and operational efficiency. This often reveals gaps in monitoring systems or opportunities for improvement that might otherwise go unnoticed. The structured approach helps shift from scattered sustainability initiatives toward more coordinated efforts with measurable outcomes.
GRESB provides standardized benchmarking across different markets and property types. The 2024 benchmark includes over 2,200 participants managing USD 7 trillion in assets across 80 markets, offering substantial peer comparison data. Participants receive detailed analysis of their performance relative to entities with similar characteristics – geography, property type, and investment structure.
The scoring methodology evaluates three components: management policies and processes, operational performance data, and development practices. Each component provides specific feedback on strengths and areas for enhancement. Historical data shows participants typically improve their scores over time, with average increases of 10 percentage points in their second year as they refine their reporting and practices.
GRESB results create transparency for stakeholder communications. Organizations can demonstrate their sustainability commitments through standardized metrics that investors, tenants, and regulators recognize. The benchmark’s alignment with frameworks like TCFD, GRI, and PRI helps organizations meet multiple reporting requirements through a single assessment process.
The assessment standards continue evolving to reflect industry priorities and regulatory developments. Recent updates emphasize embodied carbon measurement, renewable energy procurement quality, and climate resilience planning. These changes mirror broader market shifts toward comprehensive sustainability measurement and disclosure.
Participation in GRESB reflects the real estate industry’s growing focus on systematic ESG integration. While not universal, adoption continues expanding as stakeholders increasingly expect transparent sustainability data. The benchmark provides a structured approach to sustainability measurement, peer comparison, and continuous improvement for organizations committed to understanding and enhancing their environmental and social performance.
GRESB assessments comprise three main components:
| CATEGORY | FOCUS AREA | TYPICAL WEIGHT | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Management | Leadership, governance, ESG policies, risk, engagement | 30% |
 | Performance | Operational results: energy, water, waste, emissions, certifications, social impact | 70% |
 | Development | ESG performance in new construction or major refurbishments | Variable |
Through GRESB’s comprehensive assessment, your sustainability indicators are validated and evaluated against rigorous ESG criteria across two key dimensions: Management & Policy, and Implementation & Measurement.
Your GRESB Score provides absolute clarity on your sustainability performance, expressed as a percentage out of 100. This score reflects your actual achievements across energy consumption, emissions, water usage, waste management, and governance practices – giving you a clear picture of where your organization stands today.
Your GRESB Rating puts this performance in competitive context. Using a proven quintile system, you’re benchmarked against industry peers in your investment type and region, receiving 1 to 5 stars based on your relative performance. The top 20% earn 5 stars, providing clear visibility into your market position.
Together, these metrics deliver the insights you need: your percentage score shows your fundamental ESG maturity, while your star rating reveals your competitive advantage. This dual perspective helps you identify specific improvement opportunities and benchmark your progress against industry leaders – giving you the clarity to act with confidence on your sustainability strategy.
Make sure you’re familiar with the current requirements – these can change each year.
Determine the Reporting Scope
Involve asset management, operations teams, tenants, and service partners as early as possible. Early and regular data collection makes year-end far easier.
Gather complete, annual data at the building or asset level – focusing on energy, water, waste, emissions, certifications, and your documented ESG practices. Aim for both breadth (coverage) and depth (quality, completeness).
Make sure all required information and evidence are accurate, full, and well organized. Quality documentation supports better scoring and less follow-up.
Complete submission before the July 1 deadline. Be prepared to answer validator questions or supply additional details quickly.
Use your GRESB results as a tool for learning. Acknowledge achievements, identify gaps, and update your roadmap for continuous ESG progress.
BraveGen Building Optimisation software is purpose-built for New Zealand and Australian property teams who want to streamline GRESB reporting, improve building efficiency, and advance their ESG and carbon goals. By automating data capture and delivering clear, actionable insights, BraveGen helps you move quickly from manual climate admin to impactful climate action.
Capture utility and sustainability data – including energy, water, waste, gas, and more – automatically from invoices or via rugged BraveGen Connect IoT gateways, minimizing reliance on tenants and manual entry.
Access all your utility, cost, and carbon data in one secure platform, with real-time visibility across your entire portfolio.
Standardize, validate, and map data to your organizational structure for consistent, audit-ready results and easy reporting that aligns with GRESB, NABERS, Green Star, CRD, and ASRS requirements.
Generate custom, compliant reports at the click of a button – supporting internal teams, regulatory needs, and external audits – while saving time and reducing stress at reporting season.
Clive AI continuously reviews data for usage anomalies, leaks, faults, and inefficiencies – alerting you to critical issues quickly so you can prioritize fixes and prevent costly surprises.
Use benchmarking, variance tracking, and actionable alerts to measure, monitor, and accelerate performance improvements year-round – not just when reporting is due.
Seamlessly add comprehensive carbon accounting and assurance-grade audit support, all within a familiar interface tailored to local regulations.
GRESB is an ESG benchmark for property and infrastructure investors, owners, managers, and stakeholders who want a consistent, comparable measure of sustainability performance.
April 1 to July 1. Early preparation makes a smoother season.
Gather comprehensive, asset-level data on energy, water, waste, emissions, alongside management, governance, and social responsibility documentation.
Yes – GRESB is increasing its focus on data verification, renewable energy procurement, embodied carbon, and efficiency. Be sure to check the latest rules.
Gaps in data or asset coverage usually reduce your score. Proactively address these areas early.
Set up regular internal reviews, keep up with annual changes, build ESG knowledge across your team, and use GRESB feedback as a learning tool – not just a scoreboard.
