Water Use & Efficiency

This indicator provides contextual information to help investors and other stakeholders interpret the entity’s responses to the Water Use & Efficiency indicators. Its purpose is to enable the entity to disclose any material circumstances, operational factors, or site-specific considerations that may influence its water use and efficiency performance and how that performance should be addressed.

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

Water usage effectiveness

A measure of water use efficiency, expressed as the ratio of the amount of water consumed to the energy consumed by IT equipment over a year. For more information, see The Green Grid White Paper 35: Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE)

Water efficiency measures

Actions undertaken to reduce water consumption and improve efficient use of water as a sustainable resource.

No evidence required.

This indicator assesses whether the entity has set a water use and efficiency strategy and/or direction of travel, including short- and medium- to long-term targets/objectives and, where relevant, alignment with external voluntary frameworks. A clear strategy supports proactive management of water-related risks and costs and helps maintain stakeholder support.

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

If applicable, select the framework with which the strategy is aligned.

• Government frameworks reported should only include non-binding frameworks established by government bodies. Legislative frameworks fall outside the scope of this category.

• Examples include, but are not limited to, ISO 46001 Water Efficiency management systems, where applied voluntarily.

• Other: State the other framework with which the strategy is aligned. Ensure that the other answer provided is not a duplicate of a 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

Direction of travel

The overall trajectory of an entity's approach over time, which outlines its strategic priorities and the milestones it expects to achieve.

Industry-agnostic framework(s)

Frameworks that are intended to be applied across multiple sectors and are not specific to one industry.

Industry-specific framework(s)

Frameworks tailored to a the data center sector, addressing industry-specific greenhouse gas emissions sources and reduction approaches.

Governmental framework(s)

Non-binding guidelines or initiatives established by government bodies to support greenhouse gas emissions management.

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 implemented systems or processes to manage water use and efficiency. Robust management processes support accountable oversight and consistent delivery against the entity’s water strategy.

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

Other: State the other practice used to manage water use and efficiency. Ensure that the other answer provided is not a duplicate of a selected option above.

Terminology

Communication protocol

Formally established processes for sharing relevant information.

Corrective action

Corrective action in the context of safety refers to the systematic steps taken to eliminate the root causes of safety incidents, hazards, or non-compliance issues to prevent their recurrence. It typically involves investigating the underlying causes, implementing specific measures to address deficiencies, and monitoring the effectiveness of these measures to ensure lasting improvement in workplace safety performance.

Day-to-day implementation responsibility

The assigned responsibility for carrying out, managing, and monitoring the regular activities needed to put a policy, program, or process into practice.

Dedicated employee(s) on sustainability issues

Employee(s) whose primary responsibility is defining, implementing and monitoring the sustainability objectives at entity level.

External

Individuals or groups outside the reporting entity who influence or are influenced by its activities or decisions (e.g., investors, customers/tenants, communities).

Internal

Individuals or groups within the reporting entity who directly contribute to, oversee, or are affected by its operations and decisions (e.g., employees, leadership, contractors working under the organization's direction).

Policy

A policy is an organizational commitment, direction or intention that is formally adopted by the organization. It may serve the purpose of:

1. Outlining rules and procedures

2. Providing principles that guide action

3. Setting roles and responsibilities

4. Describing values and beliefs

5. Stating an intention to act or achieve defined goals and/or company vision

Mechanisms for evaluation and corrective action

Processes used to review greenhouse gas emissions performance and implement changes or improvements where needed.

Risk assessment

Careful examination of the factors that could potentially adversely impact the value or longevity of a data center. The results of the assessment assist in identifying measures that have to be implemented in order to prevent and mitigate the risks.

Risk evaluation

Comparing risk analysis results with risk criteria to determine whether the residual risk is tolerable.

Senior decision-maker responsible for sustainability-related issues

A senior individual with sign off (approval) authority for approving strategic sustainability objectives and steps undertaken to achieve these objectives. The responsible person oversees day-to-day execution, coordinates relevant stakeholders, and ensures progress towards define sustainability goals, but does not hold final-sign off authority for approving strategic decisions.

System(s) for performance measurement, data management, and reporting

The processes, tools, and systems used to collect, manage, analyze, and report energy-related data. These systems enable the monitoring of energy performance, tracking of targets, identification of trends, and disclosure of energy information to support decision-making and accountability.

Evidence

The evidence provided will be subject to manual validation.

The evidence should support each of the selected practices. The provided evidence must ensure the following:

1. Senior decision-maker vs. day-to-day responsibility: If the same person is selected for both “a senior decision-maker or executive with end responsibility” and “one or more persons with responsibility for day-to-day implementation,” the evidence must explicitly state that this person both signs off on the water use and efficiency approach and oversees its implementation on a day-to-day basis.

2. Policy: The evidence must demonstrate the existence of a formal policy document that addresses water use and efficiency, and not simply a list of general goals and/or commitments. A policy is a guide for action and may serve the purpose of:

   • outlining rules and procedures;

   • providing principles that guide action;

   • setting roles and responsibilities;

   • describing values and beliefs;

   • stating an intention to act or achieve defined goals and/or company vision.

   Acceptable evidence may include, but is not limited to, a water use and efficiency policy, official internal documents, or links to online resources describing the entity’s water use and efficiency policy. References such as bullet points or extracts from the policy may be provided to show the relevant sections. Where overarching policy documents cover multiple issues, the evidence must clearly identify the section(s) relevant to water use and efficiency.

3. Systems for performance measurement, data management, and reporting: The evidence must demonstrate a systematic process used to measure, manage, and report water use and efficiency performance data. This may include tools, systems, dashboards, registers, or other formal processes used for tracking and reporting water use and efficiency information.

4. Internal and external communication protocols: The evidence must demonstrate the process used to communicate material water use and efficiency information internally and, where relevant, externally. If a policy is in place, what matters here is not only the existence of the policy, but also the communication channels or protocols used to share relevant water use and efficiency information with the appropriate stakeholders.

5. Mechanisms for evaluation and corrective action: The evidence must demonstrate the method used to review water use and efficiency performance and address identified issues. This may include incident investigation processes, corrective action plans, audits, root-cause analysis, escalation procedures, or other methods used to respond to incidents, accidents, breaches, or non-compliance.

Other Answer

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

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 identifies whether the entity can describe activities implemented during the reporting year to support its water use and efficiency strategy. Demonstrating implementation provides evidence that the strategy is being translated into action across the portfolio.

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

Other: State the other outcomes from the entity's water use and efficiency strategy. Ensure that the other answer provided is not a duplicate of a 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.

Control-Weighted

Control: The extent to which the reporting entity has the authority and ability to (i) implement actions and/or (ii) influence and collect performance measurement outcomes for a given sustainability topic.

Control-Weighted Score: GRESB provides a Control-Weighted Score as a supplementary score in the Insights Report. This score adjusts results based on the entity’s level of control over the indicators, illustrating how the GRESB Base Score changes when control is taken into account.

Scoring Basics

Terminology

Water efficiency measures

Actions undertaken to reduce water consumption and improve efficient use of water as a sustainable resource.

Water replaced

The substitution of high-quality potable water with lower-quality non-potable water for suitable uses.

Water reduced

A decrease in water consumption achieved through efficiency improvements or conservation measures.

Water replenished

Water returned, restored, or offset through actions taken to compensate for water consumption.

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.

Campbell and Schwaab, 2025. How to use water wisely in data centres. Ramboll, December 2. Link

Walsh, 2024. Sustainable by design: Transforming data center water efficiency. Microsoft, July 25. Link

This indicator assesses whether the entity can measure and report quantitative water use and efficiency perfromance during the reporting year, including key metrics, any additional monitored metrics, coverage, and whether data is externally reviewed. Measurement strengthens transparency and accountability by enabling tracking over time and confidence in reported results.

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 (Total water consumption). The remaining metrics (Site-level WUE, Other metrics, and External Review) are optional.

• Other: State the other additional metrics that the entity monitors. Ensure that the other answer provided is not a duplicate of a 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.

External Review

Select 'Yes' or 'No': If “Yes,” specify the highest level of scrutiny applied to the submitted data (checked or verified/assured). If “verified/assured” is selected, indicate whether the review covered all or a subset of the data and provide supporting evidence.

Control-Weighted

Control: The extent to which the reporting entity has the authority and ability to (i) implement actions and/or (ii) influence and collect performance measurement outcomes for a given sustainability topic.

Control-Weighted Score: GRESB provides a Control-Weighted Score as a supplementary score in the Insights Report. This score adjusts results based on the entity’s level of control over the indicators, illustrating how the GRESB Base Score changes when control is taken into account.

Scoring Basics

Terminology

Cooling

The collection of mechanical, electrical, and control systems used to maintain environmental conditions required for reliable IT operation. Cooling systems may include chillers, cooling towers, computer room air conditioners (CRACs), computer room air handlers (CRAHs), pumps, fans, heat exchangers, liquid cooling systems, and associated controls.

Cooling tower

A cooling tower is a heat rejection device which extracts waste heat to the atmosphere through the cooling of a water stream to a lower temperature. Reduction of potable water consumption for cooling towers (or evaporative condenser equipment) can be achieved through effective water management, including conducting a water analysis to measure the concentration of at least five control parameters in order to optimize the cooling tower cycles and/or use of non-potable makeup water for a minimum of 20% of the makeup water.

Externally checked

Applies to instances when a third party has reviewed the data in a structured and consistent process, but no official certification has been awarded.

Externally assured

Applies to instances where a third party has reviewed the data against an existing scheme.

Externally verified

Applies to instances where a third party has reviewed the data against an existing scheme.

Total water consumption

Total water consumption refers to the sum of all water used by an organization, facility, or system from all sources. It includes water from municipal supplies, wells, surface water, and any other sources used for cooling, sanitation, irrigation, and other purposes.

Utilization

The proportion of installed IT capacity that is actively used, expressed as the ratio of actual IT load to total installed IT capacity.

Water cooling technology

Cooling technologies that rely on water to remove or transfer heat from data center operations. Examples include cooling towers, evaporative cooling systems, water-cooled chillers, and direct-to-chip or immersion liquid cooling systems.

Water reuse

Water reuse refers to the practice of treating and repurposing wastewater or other non-potable water sources for beneficial uses such as irrigation, industrial processes, toilet flushing, or even drinking water after appropriate treatment. This approach helps conserve freshwater resources, reduce wastewater discharge, and provide a reliable alternative water supply, particularly in water-scarce regions.

Water stress

Water stress refers to the condition where water demand exceeds available water supply or where poor water quality restricts usage. This has impacts such as reduced agricultural productivity, industrial constraints, ecosystem degradation, and access for local communities, particularly in water-scarce regions.

Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE)

A measure of water use efficiency, expressed as the ratio of the amount of water consumed to the energy consumed by IT equipment over a year. For more information, see The Green Grid White Paper 35: Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE)

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.