The growth in participants and gross asset value (GAV) covered by the GRESB Real Estate Benchmark in the past 15 years highlights an increasing interest in real estate that is sustainable, efficient and resilient. In 2024, the Real Estate Benchmark included more than 2,200 participants, up from only 198 at its inception in 2009. These participants together oversee US$7 trillion in gross asset value across 15 sectors in 80 markets.

Questions that are often asked: What financial value does this increasing sustainable action and transparency bring? The basic premise is that green buildings should combine lower risk with strong returns, but is it true, and how can this be measured?

Investor, tenant and regulatory demands have driven the shift to greener assets, a trend that is increasingly recognised by valuers. Valuation bodies such as RICS and the United States’ Appraisal Institute have previously issued guidance about sustainability and valuation. However, the recent