WT1: Water Use

Intent

Consistent collection of water consumption data provides property companies and fund managers the information to monitor their environmental impact, reduce the burden on potable water consumption and wastewater systems, assess exposure to risks of disruptions in water supplies, and reduce water expenditures.

Requirements

Total water consumption of the portfolio

The indicator below is automatically populated by GRESB based on information provided through the reporting entity’s GRESB Asset Portal. Participants can access the Asset Portal via the Assessment Portal menu, section ASSETS.

Total data coverage of the portfolio

The table above is automatically populated by GRESB based on information provided at the asset level by the GRESB participants through the GRESB Asset Spreadsheet. It displays a summary of aggregated Data Coverages and Like-for-Like consumption changes per property type, split by Landlord Controlled and Tenant Controlled areas. While “Area - Aggregated Data coverage” only accounts for the floor area size of assets when aggregating values, “Time - Aggregated Data coverage” accounts for the period of ownership. Consequently, “Area/Time - Aggregated Data coverage” aggregates both dimensions and is used for benchmarking purposes.

Reused and recycled water

The table above is automatically populated by GRESB based on information provided at the asset level by the GRESB participants through the GRESB Asset Spreadsheet. It displays the aggregated Reused and Recycled water captured/purchased per property type, on-site and off-site, as well as the Percentage of total Consumption by category.

Provide additional context for the answer provided (not validated, for reporting purposes only)

________________________

In 2020, participants are required to report their water consumption and water reuse and recycling at the asset level through the completion of the GRESB Asset Spreadsheet. Note that all fields in WT1 will be automatically populated once the GRESB Asset Spreadsheet is completed and uploaded to the Asset Portal.

It is recommended to:

• Prepare and upload the GRESB Asset Spreadsheet onto the Assessment;
• Review all fields in WT1 to ensure it is accurate and complete.

Estimates: When landlord-obtained annual consumption data is partially unavailable or unreliable for an asset, estimations may be necessary. Estimation allows the completion of annual data to be calculated for an asset where data is partially missing or unreliable. GRESB allows participants to use estimated data when reporting on water consumption if this is aligned with one of the predefined methodologies (see Appendix 7)and not used as a substitute to gather complete and accurate data.

Data Coverage calculations: GRESB calculates Data Coverage based on floor area for which consumption data is available and on the total floor area for which consumption data could have been collected, which is the total supply area. Data Coverage is calculated separately for Whole Building, Base Building and Tenant Space.

Validation

This indicator is subject to automatic validation.

See Appendix 2a for additional information about GRESB Validation.

Scoring

7 points, E

The score of this indicator equals the sum of the scores achieved by:

1. Data coverage = 4 points;
2. Like-for-Like performance improvement = 2 points;
3. Water reuse and recycling = 1 point. The water reuse and recycling score is split as follows:
   • On-site water reuse and recycling = 0.25 points;
   • Performance = 0.75 points.

Open text box: The open text box is not scored and is for reporting purposes only.

See the Scoring Document for additional information on scoring.

Terminology

See definitions in Appendix 9b and in the Instructions tab of the GRESB Asset Spreadsheet.

Data Coverage: The part of the asset for which data is available, per space type. The floor area reported in these fields reflects the floor area of the portfolio for which Absolute Consumption data is collected from.

Note: If the floor area for common areas is unknown, report an estimated floor area as a proportion of lettable floor area. Participants who do not track the gross floor area of their assets can use the estimated intervals proposed in Appendix 3a to calculate the size of their common areas. Report the details of the estimate in the open text box below the Water Consumption Table.

Like-for-Like (LFL): Figures that only include comparable data points from two consecutive reporting periods. Only assets that meet all of the following criteria, for both current and previous reporting years, are eligible for inclusion in the LFL calculations:

• Data Availability covers the full year (> 355 days);
• Data Coverage is positive;
• Data Coverage is the same (within 1% error threshold);
• The asset is classified as Standing Investment.

Percentage reused and recycled water: The percentage of the whole portfolio’s total water use that is sourced from reused and recycled water. This is calculated based on (a) the total amount of reused and recycled water and (b) total water consumption of the whole portfolio, per property type.

References

EPRA Best Practices Recommendations on Sustainability Reporting 3rd version, September 2017: 5.2, Coverage

GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards (2016): 303-3, Water recycled and reused

INREV Sustainability Reporting Recommendations, 3.8-3.9

LEED v2009 for Existing Buildings, WE Prerequisite 1

International Property Measurement Standard (IPMS).

SASB-Real Estate Owners, Developers & Investment Trusts, March 2016: IF0402-06; IF0402-07

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