Procurement & Construction

This indicator provides the entity with the opportunity to disclose additional context to support the interpretation of its responses to the Procurement & Construction indicators, helping stakeholders better understand the entity’s approach and circumstances.

Select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. If ‘Yes’, provide context to support the interpretation of the entity’s responses to this aspect’s indicators.

Open text box: The content of this open text box is not used for scoring, but will be included in the Reports. Participants should use this open text box to provide further details, context, or comments related to the subject.

Terminology

Construction Requirements

Formally defined criteria or standards that must be followed during construction activities.

Sustainable Procurement

Encourage, facilitate or require the reduction of consumption of goods within the building or premises and/or the sourcing of sustainable or ethical goods. Clauses can relate to reduction of paper consumption, supply of biodegradable materials, use of recycled paper, building materials, etc.

No evidence required.

This indicator assesses whether the entity has established sustainability requirements for equipment used in development projects, including how these requirements are defined and applied. Setting clear specifications can help reduce environmental impacts and improve the overall sustainability performance of installed equipment.

Select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. If 'Yes', select all applicable sub-options.

• The sustainability requirements need to exceed code or regulatory requirements.

• Other: State the other sustainability specification that the entity has established. Ensure that the other answer provided is not a duplicate of the selected option above.

Open text box: The content of this open text box is not used for scoring, but will be included in the Insights and Benchmark Reports. Participants should use this open text box to provide further details, context, or comments related to the subject.

Terminology

Code or Regulatory Requirements (equipment)

Formally defined criteria or standards that equipment must meet during procurement or development.

Exceeding Regulatory Requirements (equipment)

Performance criteria that go beyond minimum legal or code requirements applicable to the equipment.

Sustainability Equipment Specifications

Requirements or preferences for equipment that address sustainability performance and exceed applicable regulatory or code requirements.

Sustainability Objectives

Strategic priorities and key topics for the management and/or improvement of sustainability, resilience, and efficiency issues.

Sustainability Strategy

Strategy which (1) sets out the participant’s procedures and (2) sets the direction and guidance for the entity’s implementation of sustainability measures.

No evidence required.

The scoring of this indicator is equal to the sum of the fractions assigned to the selected options and respective sub-options, multiplied by the total score of the indicator.

This indicator examines whether the entity has specified sustainability requirements for materials used in construction, including the scope of materials covered. Establishing such requirements supports improved transparency on material impacts and helps identify opportunities to reduce embodied carbon and other environmental impacts.

Select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. If 'Yes', select all applicable sub-options.

• If the entity uses Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), it should indicate which building components are typically included within the LCA scope, as well as which lifecycle phases are covered.

  • This should include LCAs conducted for new construction projects, as well as for retrofits and renovations.

• Other: State the other materials to which the requirements apply. Ensure that the other answer provided is not a duplicate of the selected option above.

Terminology

Envelope

The envelope is the outer elements of a building, including walls, windows, roofs, and floors, including those in contact with earth.

Lifecycle assessment (LCA)

A comprehensive methodology for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service throughout its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction through manufacturing, use, and end-of-life disposal or recycling. It quantifies resource consumption, emissions, and other environmental effects across all stages, providing a holistic view that helps identify opportunities for improvement and supports informed decision-making in product design and sustainability strategies.

Modules A1-A3

A1-A3 (also referred to as ‘cradle to gate’) cover the carbon emissions released during extraction, processing, manufacture (including prefabrication of components or elements) and transportation of materials between these processes, until the product leaves the factory gates to be taken to site. Note that biogenic carbon sequestered in the products used should not be included in the assessment of the upfront carbon. 

Module A4

A4 covers the carbon emissions released from the transport of materials or products from the factory gate to the construction site. 

Module A5

A5 covers carbon emissions due to activities on site (site huts, machinery use etc.) and the production, transportation and end of life processing of materials wasted on site. 

Sustainability Attributes (materials)

Characteristics of materials related to environmental impact, such as embodied carbon, resource use, recycled content, or lifecycle performance.

Evidence

The evidence provided will be subject to manual validation.

The evidence should support each of the selected issues. The evidence must demonstrate that the entity has defined sustainability-related requirements for materials, such as embodied carbon, recycled content, responsible sourcing, environmental certifications, or similar material attributes.

Other Answer

The other answer(s) provided will be subject to manual validation.

State the specific material or building element for which the entity has specified sustainability-related requirements. Other answers cannot be a duplicate of a previously selected option. Multiple Other answers are acceptable, but only one will count toward the score.

The scoring of this indicator is equal to the fraction assigned to the selected option, multiplied by the total score of the indicator.

Evidence: For selections subject to manual validation, the validation status acts as a multiplier to determine that selection's final score.

If any requirements are not met, the evidence may not be accepted, depending on the level of alignment with the requirements.

Other: The 'Other' answer is manually validated and assigned a score, which is used as a multiplying factor, as per the table below:

​Scoring Basics

This indicator assesses whether the entity can measure and report embodied carbon for new development projects, including baseline and as-designed carbon intensity. Quantifying embodied carbon supports transparency and helps identify opportunities to reduce emissions associated with construction.

Select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. If 'Yes', select all applicable sub-options.

• Selecting 'Yes' to the indicator will require reporting a value for at least the required metrics (average baseline carbon intensity and as-designed embodied carbon for new development data centers).

  • The entity should select the requirements that it uses in its procurement and purchasing processes. This should include materials used for new construction as well as renovations and retrofits.

Terminology

As-designed Embodied Carbon

The estimated embodied carbon of a project based on its final design specifications prior to construction.

Baseline Embodied Carbon

A reference scenario representing typical or business-as-usual embodied carbon performance against which improvements can be measured.

Carbon intensity

The amount of greenhouse gas emissions expressed per unit of output.

Embodied Carbon

Refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with the extraction, manufacturing, transportation, construction, and end-of-life disposal of building materials and products, excluding operational emissions. It represents the carbon footprint "embedded" in materials before a project even begins operation.

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

A standardized, third-party verified document that transparently communicates the environmental impacts of a product throughout its life cycle, including information on carbon footprint, energy use, waste generation, and resource consumption. EPDs follow international standards (ISO 14025) and provide comparable, credible data that helps architects, designers, and purchasers make informed decisions about the environmental performance of building materials and other products.

Health Product Declaration

Products and materials for which the inventory of all ingredients used is publicly available, with a full disclosure of all known hazards and associated effects.

Rapidly Renewable Materials

Materials made from agricultural products that are typically harvested within a 10-year or shorter cycle, such as bamboo, wool, cotton insulation, Agrifiber, linoleum, wheatboard, strawboard and cork.

No evidence required.

The scoring of this indicator is equal to the sum of the fractions assigned to the selected options and respective sub-options, multiplied by the total score of the indicator.

GRESB, 2026. What is embodied carbon in the real estate sector and why does it matter? Link

This indicator assesses whether the entity includes sustainability best practices in construction requirements, including the scope of practices applied. Implementing such practices helps reduce environmental impacts during construction and supports more sustainable project delivery.

Select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. If 'Yes', select all applicable sub-options.

Other: State the other typical construction requirements set by the entity. Ensure that the other answer provided is not a duplicate of the selected option above.

Terminology

Air Pollution

Air pollutants are particles and gases released into the atmosphere that may adversely affect living organisms. Additionally, some pollutants contribute to climate change or exacerbate the effects of climate change locally. Pollutants of major public health concern include ozone-depleting substances (ODS), NOx, SOx, particulate matter (PM), lead, mercury and/or other standard categories of air emissions identified in relevant regulations.

Construction and Demolition Waste Diversion

Measures implemented during construction to manage waste generated from construction and demolition activities to divert it from landfill through reuse, recycling, or recovery.

Construction-related Air Pollution Mitigation

Measures implemented during construction to monitor, manage, and reduce air pollutants generated during construction activities.

Construction Requirements

Formally defined criteria or standards that must be followed during construction activities.

Habitat

The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

Habitat enhanced or restored

Disturbed habitat that is identified and improved for the benefit of native animal and plant species that occur there.

Light Pollution Mitigation

Measures implemented during construction to minimize light emissions and their impact on surrounding environments, including reducing light trespass, limiting skyglow, and protecting sensitive receptors such as watercourses and nocturnal habitats.

Noise Pollution Mitigation

Measures implemented during construction to minimize noise impacts on surrounding communities and environments on-site during and after construction.

On-site Habitat Protection

Measures to protect native habitat structure, function, or ecological conditions on-site during and after construction.

On-site Habitat Restoration

Measures to restore and enhance native habitat structure, function, or ecological conditions on-site during and after construction.

Rainwater or Stormwater Management

Measures implemented to manage water flows and quality during and after construction to reduce runoff, prevent pollution, and protect receiving water bodies.

Site Disturbance Minimization

Measures implemented during construction to limit disruption to existing site conditions, including soils, vegetation, and habitats.

Sustainability Best Practices (construction)

Established construction practices that reduce environmental impact and are commonly recognized in industry standards or green building frameworks.

Evidence

The evidence provided will be subject to manual validation.

The evidence should support each of the selected issues.

The evidence must demonstrate that the selected requirements are included in the entity’s construction requirements, standards, specifications, or equivalent construction-phase documentation. A general sustainability practice or aspiration that is not a well-defined requirement set by the entity is insufficient and not applicable.

Other Answer

The other answer(s) provided will be subject to manual validation.

State the specific sustainability best practice included in the entity’s construction requirements and ensure that it relates to a sustainability-related requirement that applies during the construction phase of development projects.

The scoring of this indicator is equal to the fraction assigned to the selected option, multiplied by the total score of the indicator.

Evidence: For selections subject to manual validation, the validation status acts as a multiplier to determine that selection's final score.

If any requirements are not met, the evidence may not be accepted, depending on the level of alignment with the requirements.

Other: The 'Other' answer is manually validated and assigned a score, which is used as a multiplying factor, as per the table below:

​Scoring Basics