Control Input
Control is a key concept in the GRESB Data Center Assessment. The level of control an entity has over certain indicators will directly affect GRESB's calculation of the entity's Control-Weighted Score. GRESB defines control as:
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.
Read about how control works and how to complete those fields in Control Input
Follow the steps below to understand how to report site-level control and aggregate it to the portfolio level:
Complete the Portfolio Evidence Template
Use the Portfolio Evidence Template to record site-level information and calculate portfolio-level control percentages.
For each site, enter:
Site name (optional)
Lifecycle: New Development or Operational ↗
Business model ↗
Report Level: Facility, Campus, or Multi-Campus ↗
Capacity (MW) ↗
Control value (0–100%) for each applicable indicator (values are explained in Step 2)
Assign Site-Level Control
Assign a control value between 0% and 100% for each relevant sustainability topic based on the entity's level of authority, influence, and ability to collect performance data.
Full Control (100%): The reporting entity has complete authority to introduce, implement, and/or influence actions, policies, measures, and performance measurement related to the sustainability topic at the site.
No Control (0%): The reporting entity has no authority to introduce, implement, and/or influence actions, policies, measures, or performance measurement related to the sustainability topic at the site.
Partial Control (1–99%): The reporting entity has some authority to introduce, implement, and/or influence actions, policies, measures, and performance measurement related to the sustainability topic at the site. In this case, input a control value between 0% and 100% that reflects the proportion of site capacity over which the entity can reasonably influence actions, policies, measures, or performance measurement outcomes.
For example, a reporting entity may operate a 100 MW multi-tenant site but only have authority over 90 MW of the site's capacity for a particular sustainability topic. In this case, the participant may report 90% control for that site.
Alternatively, participants may choose to represent such situations by splitting the site into multiple entries with different control values. Participants should use a consistent and reasonable approach that reflects the substance of their operational influence and reporting responsibilities.
You must report control at the site level for each applicable indicator. The following indicators require a portfolio-level control percentage:
Retrieve the Portfolio-Level Control
Identify portfolio-level control for each control-dependent indicator using the Portfolio Evidence Template.
You do not need to calculate portfolio-level control manually.
The GRESB Data Center Portfolio Evidence Template calculates the portfolio-level control percentage for each applicable indicator automatically based on the site-level values and capacities you enter, using the formula below:
Control (%)=Total relevant portfolio MW capacityCapacity-weighted sum of site-level control values×100
Link Control to RC4 and Applicable Indicators
RC4: Business Model and Entity Composition
Once completed, you must submit the Portfolio Evidence Template as evidence for indicator RC4.
It reveals the reporting entity's composition, including lifecycle breakdown, business model classification, site capacities, and the site-level control inputs used to calculate portfolio-level control percentages.
Applicable Indicators
Use the control percentages calculated in the template to answer control-dependent indicators throughout the assessment. When an indicator requires this information, enter the relevant control percentage for that specific indicator.
The value entered in each applicable indicator must match the percentage calculated in the Portfolio Evidence Template submitted for RC4. Entering a different value will create an inconsistency that may affect validation and scoring.
How Control Affects Your Score
The GRESB Data Center Assessment provides two final scores:
GRESB Base Score: calculated from the standard scoring structure, independent of control.
Control-Weighted Score: adjusts results based on the control percentages reported for applicable indicators. It reflects the maximum points available given the degree of influence the participant has over those topics.
To understand how different control scenarios affect your score, use the Assessment Explorer.
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