Navigating sustainability: Insights from BREEAM and GRESB leaders Europe

The global real estate sector is increasingly prioritising sustainability, yet investors face significant challenges in obtaining quality data and implementing consistent methodologies for measuring and reporting sustainable performance. Accurate and reliable data is crucial for making informed investment decisions that support sustainability goals. A standardised approach is necessary to evaluate and compare the sustainable performance of real estate assets, thus driving the market towards more environmentally responsible practices.

For 15 years, GRESB’s Real Estate Assessment has offered a common language and consistent approach for measuring and reporting on the sustainable performance of real estate assets, allowing for informed sustainable investment in the global buildings sector.

Green building certifications like BREEAM significantly contribute to this effort, accounting for 11% of an asset’s overall GRESB score under the 2024 Real Estate Standards. Recognising the importance of green building certifications and spikes in adoption, GRESB launched a formal stakeholder feedback process earlier this year to garner market insights and re-evaluate GRESB’s green building certification criteria. GRESB’s commitment to advance sustainable building performance is evident through these kinds of market-leading efforts, and BREEAM partners with industry leaders like GRESB to ensure that real asset sustainability is founded in consistent, data-driven standards and transparent, process-driven reporting.

With the 2024 GRESB consultation-based criteria updates set to be published in the Autumn, BREEAM invited experts from GRESB Europe to take part in a deep dive discussing the evolution of GRESB, burgeoning standard updates, and the future of the green building sector.

Meet the panellists

The webinar, "Navigating Sustainability: Insights from BREEAM and GRESB Leaders Europe," was hosted by James Fisher, Head of Strategic Partnerships at BRE. With 28 years at BRE, Fisher has extensive experience in ESG and sustainability.
The panel included:

• Tom Wilson: BREEAM Science Lead , leading the development of future versions of BREEAM.
• Charles Van Teel: Director of Real Estate at GRESB and Secretary of the Real Estate Standing Committee, responsible for maintaining and developing the GRESB standards.
• Alodie McLaren:  Sustainable Real Estate Specialist at GRESB, focusing on certification standards and residential topics.

Key topics discussed 

The webinar provided a rich discussion on the current and future state of sustainability in real estate, focusing on several interconnected themes.

The evolution of BREEAM and the importance of data quality

Tom Wilson opened the discussion by tracing the evolution of BREEAM, highlighting how the certification has expanded from a design tool to a comprehensive framework that includes measured performance. The upcoming BREEAM Version 7 exemplifies this shift, with a strong emphasis on accurate, verifiable data. This data-driven approach is crucial as it ensures consistency and transparency across the different lifecycle stages of buildings, encompassing operational and embodied carbon, water performance, and refrigerants. This evolution reflects a broader industry trend towards more robust and reliable sustainability metrics, enabling better decision-making and fostering trust among investors.

GRESB’s commitment to enhanced certification standards

Charles Van Teel provided insights into GRESB’s ongoing efforts to elevate the standards of building certifications. Recognising the proliferation of various certification schemes, GRESB is refining its criteria to better differentiate between certification levels and ensure robust governance, transparency, and performance measurement. The consultation process, which actively seeks industry feedback, aims to ensure that GRESB’s standards remain relevant and continue to drive the market towards higher sustainability performance. This initiative underscores GRESB’s role as a market leader in promoting rigorous and meaningful sustainability assessments.

Addressing carbon performance holistically

A central theme of the discussion was the critical importance of addressing both operational and embodied carbon in buildings. BREEAM Version 7 will introduce new requirements that not only ensure buildings are designed with minimal carbon footprints but also verify these outcomes through third-party validation. This dual focus on design and actual performance is pivotal in achieving real carbon reductions. By providing detailed reporting mechanisms and focusing on both carbon and energy use intensity, BREEAM and GRESB equip investors and stakeholders with the tools they need to make informed decisions that support long-term sustainability goals.

Leveraging digital platforms for better insights

Tom Wilson highlighted the development of a new digital platform designed to enhance the BREEAM assessment process. This platform aims to capture and analyse more detailed data, offering deeper insights into building performance. The integration with other systems, such as Energy Star, and the use of APIs will streamline data collection and reporting, making the process more efficient and comprehensive. The platform is set to transform how sustainability data is managed and utilised, enabling a more connected and informed approach to sustainable building management.
 

Aligning with investor expectations through collaboration

Throughout the webinar, the panellists emphasised the increasing expectations from investors for greater transparency and data accuracy. Both BREEAM and GRESB are responding to these demands by aligning their methodologies and working closely with industry stakeholders. This collaboration is essential in driving consistent and high standards across the real estate sector. By fostering an environment of open dialogue and continuous improvement, BREEAM and GRESB are helping to ensure that the built environment can meet the sustainability challenges of the future.