# DBC1.2: Green Building Certifications

<table data-column-title-hidden data-view="cards" data-full-width="false"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="image">Cover image</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><i class="fa-bullseye">:bullseye:</i> Maximum Score</td><td><strong>9 points</strong></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-input-pipe">:input-pipe:</i>  Input Method</td><td><strong>Assessment Portal</strong></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-pen-to-square">:pen-to-square:</i> Prefill</td><td><i class="fa-xmark">:xmark:</i> <strong>Not eligible</strong></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-calculator">:calculator:</i> Scoring method</td><td><strong>Relative</strong></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-shield-check">:shield-check:</i> Validation</td><td><strong>Evidence not required</strong></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i class="fa-arrow-trend-up">:arrow-trend-up:</i> 2026 Updates</td><td><a href="/pages/ZpNqAZFiIbxn1RLbntl5"><strong>Yes</strong></a></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

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**Does the entity’s development portfolio include projects that obtained or are registered to obtain a green building certificate?**

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## Assessment Instructions

<details>

<summary><strong>Intent</strong>: What is the purpose of this indicator?</summary>

This indicator assesses whether projects in the entity’s development portfolio have obtained, or are registered to obtain, third-party green building certifications. Certification provides external validation of a project’s sustainability performance, strengthening transparency and demonstrating a commitment to high-quality, resilient development.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Input</strong>: How do I complete this indicator?</summary>

Select yes or no. If yes, select all applicable sub-options.

**Scheme name and sub-scheme name:**  Select from the dropdown list of green building certifications at the time of design/construction.&#x20;

Refer to the [Scheme Lists](/completingassessments/2026-real-estate-assessment/info/scheme-lists.md) page for the complete list of recognized building certification schemes, which will remain eligible for the 2026 and 2027 assessments.&#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
GRESB updated its building certification evaluation criteria in December 2024 and retired the existing criteria in June 2025. All certification schemes must meet the revised evaluation criteria to be recognized for the 2028 GRESB Standard.\
\
For more information about the scheme re-evaluation process and status, see [here](https://www.gresb.com/nl-en/building-certifications/).
{% endhint %}

Report on green building certifications obtained before or during the reporting year. In addition, building certifications obtained after the end of the reporting year can be reported under the following conditions:

* It applies to a project in development before or during the reporting year.
* The project registration is issued on or before the official GRESB submission deadline. Any project registration issued after the official GRESB submission deadline cannot be reported.

Participants may include pre- or interim assessments conducted by the official certification authority that result in an official pre-certification.

Some green building certificates are valid for a limited period only – the certificate should be effective and official during the reporting year.

**Projects registered to obtain a green building certificate**: Report projects that have registered with the certification body to obtain (but not yet achieved) a green building certificate by the end of the reporting year.

**Projects that obtained a green building certificate**: Report projects that have obtained a green building certificate by the end of the reporting year.

**Portfolio coverage**: Portfolio coverage is calculated based on floor area. The numerator is the floor area to which the selected answer option applies, and the denominator is the total floor area of all development projects as reported in DR1. Projects that have obtained building certification schemes may report each applicable scheme separately. However, the total combined portfolio coverage must be capped at 100%.

**% of GAV (optional)**: % of GAV is calculated based on the GAV of assets registered or certified. To do so, this number should be calculated as the % of GAV of all assets certified to the respective scheme, adjusted by the *% of floor area certified.*

* For example, certified Asset A makes up 20% of the portfolio GAV. However, only 80% of its floor area is certified. The *“% of GAV certified”* of Asset A will be 20% \* 80% = 16%.

**Number of registered/certified projects**: The number should be smaller than or equal to the number of reported assets in DR1.

#### Terminology

**Green building certificate**

> Recognition that a project has received a green building rating. A certificate indicates the name and location of the project, version of the rating system, date of certification, and level of recognition.

**Level of certification**

> The level achieved with successful completion of the rating scheme.

**Number of certified projects**

> The number of projects within the total portfolio for which green building certificates were obtained for projects (a) that are complete and/or (b) were in progress at the end of the reporting year.

**Performance period**

> The period during which the performance of a building is assessed to demonstrate compliance with the established criteria of a building certification.

**Scheme name**

> The name of the certification scheme.

**Sub-scheme name**

> A Green Building Certificate’s sub-category to a Scheme name used to certify a particular property type and/or to specify the type of building certificate (whether a Green Building Certificate is an Operational Green Building Certificate or a New Construction Green Building Certificate).

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Validation</strong>: What evidence is required?</summary>

Evidence not required.

</details>

## Scoring

<details>

<summary><strong>Scoring</strong>: How does GRESB score this indicator?</summary>

**Step 1: Calculate Floor Area Coverage**

GRESB calculates a certification coverage by:

1. Weighting the area certified and/or registered for certification per scheme by its validation status (see below), and
2. Dividing the weighted floor area by the total floor area of development projects, as reported in DR1.&#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
Multiple certifications can contribute to the area covered, but the total is capped at 100%.

GRESB does not consider the "% portfolio covered by floor area" fields in this calculation.
{% endhint %}

GRESB validates each certification according to a list of predefined criteria. This results in one of the following validation outcomes and scoring weights:

| Validation status | Scoring Weight |
| ----------------- | -------------- |
| Full points       | 1.0            |
| Partial plus      | 0.6            |
| Partial minus     | 0.3            |

**Step 2: Benchmark the Certified Floor Area**

GRESB compares the certification coverage against a relevant benchmark distribution based on the same property subtype and country to achieve a score.

**Step 3: Determine Final Score**

GRESB multiplies the score achieved in step two by the maximum score of DBC1.2 (9 points) to identify the entity's score.

<a href="/pages/SmkaMa2MwR7Pm97QbSwO" class="button primary" data-icon="hundred-points">Scoring Basics</a>

</details>

***

<details>

<summary><em>References</em></summary>

EPRA Best Practices Recommendations on Sustainability Reporting, 3rd version, September 2017: Cert-Tot, CRE8

</details>

## Get Support: Solution Providers

**GRESB Solution Providers** are independent, third-party organizations within the GRESB Partner network that offer specialized products, tools, and services to support sustainability performance outside the GRESB Assessment process.

The organizations below deliver commercially available solutions designed to help drive improvement for this indicator. Engagement is managed directly between the reporting entity and the Solution Provider.

GRESB will continue to update this section as the GRESB Solution Provider network grows. Please check back regularly to find GRESB Solution Providers who can support your sustainability performance.

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="image">Cover image</th><th data-hidden></th><th data-hidden></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.gresb.com/partners/garc-holding-spa-societa-benefit/">See Directory Profile</a></td><td></td><td><a href="/files/xYMqbv56O4HNGjuboEba">/files/xYMqbv56O4HNGjuboEba</a></td><td></td><td>GARC Holding</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://www.gresb.com/partners/nova-group-gbc/">See Directory Profile</a></td><td><a href="https://www.gresb.com/nl-en/partners/nova-group-gbc/">https://www.gresb.com/nl-en/partners/nova-group-gbc/</a></td><td><a href="/files/njLB5cqOO3vbt7c1tsI9">/files/njLB5cqOO3vbt7c1tsI9</a></td><td>Nova Group</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://www.gresb.com/partners/tekser-s-r-l/">See Directory Profile</a></td><td><a href="https://www.gresb.com/nl-en/partners/tekser-s-r-l/">https://www.gresb.com/nl-en/partners/tekser-s-r-l/</a></td><td><a href="/files/QIOyoh7e4QnLDHm5LZFH">/files/QIOyoh7e4QnLDHm5LZFH</a></td><td>Tekser</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>


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