Who Are You?
CRREM serves different market participants in different ways. Select your role to see the most relevant workflow.
Investors & Asset Managers
Portfolio screening, transition risk quantification, science-based target-setting.
Assessment Workflowarrow_downward arrow_downwardSustainability Teams
Science-based targets, decarbonization roadmaps, annual performance tracking.
Target-Setting Workflowarrow_downward arrow_downwardTechnical Advisors
Retrofit sequencing, CAPEX modeling, engineering scenario analysis.
Retrofit Workflowarrow_downward arrow_downwardReporting & Compliance
GRESB, SBTi, TCFD/ISSB, regulatory alignment and disclosure.
Reporting Workflowarrow_downwardFour Ways to Apply CRREM
Each workflow addresses a specific use case. Select a tab to see the step-by-step process.
Transition Risk Assessment
Screen your portfolio against the CRREM Pathways to identify which assets are aligned, which are at risk, and when misalignment becomes material. This is the foundational CRREM workflow — most market participants start here.
Collect Building Data
Gather actual energy use intensity (EUI) and carbon emissions for each asset. Data quality determines the reliability of every downstream output.
- Metered energy consumption (kWh/m²/year)
- Scope 1 and 2 emissions data
- Property type and jurisdiction classification
- Gross internal area (GIA)
Select Relevant Pathways
Match each asset to its corresponding CRREM Pathway by country and property type. CRREM provides pathways for both carbon intensity and energy intensity.
- Country-specific emission factors
- Property-type-specific energy benchmarks
- 1.5°C and 2°C scenario options
Compare Performance
Plot each building's current performance against its CRREM Pathway. At its core, the CRREM Misalignment Year is calculated through a direct comparison of actual intensity against pathway values.
- Current performance vs. pathway values
- Carbon Risk Factor calculation
- Portfolio-level exposure mapping
Identify Misalignment Year
Determine when each asset's projected trajectory crosses its CRREM Pathway. This is the year when transition risk becomes financially material — and the primary output of any CRREM assessment.
- Asset-level misalignment timeline
- Portfolio heatmap by urgency
- Prioritization framework for action
Science-Based Target-Setting
Use the CRREM Pathways as a reference framework to set Paris-aligned targets at the asset, fund, or portfolio level. The pathways provide the science-based benchmark — you define the pace and sequencing of reduction.
Establish Baseline
Run a CRREM assessment to quantify current portfolio performance. The baseline year data anchors all subsequent target-setting.
- Current energy and carbon intensity per asset
- Weighted portfolio average performance
- Baseline year documentation
Define Target Scope
Determine whether targets apply at the asset level, fund level, or portfolio level. Decide on carbon intensity targets, energy intensity targets, or both.
- Scope boundaries (asset, fund, portfolio)
- Intensity metric selection (carbon, energy, or both)
- Target year horizon
Align Targets to Pathways
Map your proposed reduction trajectory against the CRREM Pathways for each property type and jurisdiction. Ensure targets meet or exceed pathway requirements at each milestone year.
- Year-by-year reduction trajectory
- Gap analysis vs. CRREM Pathway
- Interim milestone calibration (2030, 2035, 2040)
Track and Adjust
Monitor performance annually against targets and CRREM Pathways. Update as grid decarbonization, building improvements, and methodology updates change the picture.
- Annual performance vs. target comparison
- Grid emission factor evolution impact
- Re-baselining triggers and protocols
Retrofit Planning & CAPEX Sequencing
Translate CRREM risk outputs into actionable retrofit programs. The CRREM Misalignment Year provides the urgency signal; engineering analysis provides the intervention pathway. Assets closest to misalignment move to the front of the queue.
Prioritize by Misalignment
Rank assets by CRREM Misalignment Year to identify which buildings need intervention first. A building misaligning in 2028 demands more immediate action than one projected to misalign in 2038.
- Misalignment timeline ranking
- Carbon Risk Factor severity
- Asset value and portfolio weighting
Model Intervention Scenarios
For each priority asset, model the impact of potential retrofits on energy and carbon performance. Map post-intervention trajectories against the relevant CRREM Pathway.
- Energy efficiency measures (envelope, systems, controls)
- Fuel switching and electrification
- On-site renewable generation
Develop CAPEX Timeline
Sequence retrofit investments across the portfolio based on misalignment urgency, intervention cost, and expected performance improvement. Balance transition risk reduction against capital constraints.
- Year-by-year CAPEX allocation
- Cost-effectiveness ranking
- Misalignment year extension per intervention
Monitor Post-Retrofit
After interventions, reassess each asset against its CRREM Pathway. Verify that projected improvements materialized and update the portfolio risk profile accordingly.
- Post-retrofit performance verification
- Updated Misalignment Year calculation
- Portfolio-level risk profile refresh
Reporting & Disclosure
Use the CRREM Pathways as the science-based benchmark for climate-aligned reporting. Major frameworks — GRESB, SBTi, TCFD/ISSB, INREV — reference or integrate the CRREM Pathways. CRREM provides the denominator; you report the numerator.
Identify Disclosure Requirements
Determine which reporting frameworks apply and how they reference the CRREM Pathways. Requirements differ by framework, jurisdiction, and investor expectations.
- GRESB Real Estate Assessment alignment
- SBTi Buildings pathway validation
- TCFD/ISSB physical and transition risk disclosure
- INREV Sustainability Guidelines
Prepare CRREM-Aligned Data
Run a current CRREM assessment to generate the metrics required by each framework. Ensure data covers the correct reporting period and uses the most current CRREM Pathway version.
- Portfolio-level CRREM Misalignment Year distribution
- Carbon Risk Factor by asset class
- Year-on-year performance trajectory
Map to Framework Templates
Translate CRREM outputs into the specific data fields and narrative requirements of each reporting framework. Document methodology, assumptions, and any deviations from standard CRREM approach.
- CRREM methodology version and pathway year
- Data coverage and quality disclosure
- Assumptions and limitation documentation
Publish and Benchmark
Submit disclosures and benchmark your portfolio's CRREM performance against sector peers. Use year-on-year comparison to demonstrate progress toward climate alignment.
- Peer benchmarking via GRESB and industry reports
- Investor communication and narrative
- Annual reporting cycle alignment
All data required to calculate the CRREM Misalignment Year is published open-access
The CRREM Pathways, underlying datasets, and emission factor projections are freely available on crrem.org. No software is required — at its core, the CRREM Misalignment Year is a direct comparison of building performance against pathway values.
Access Pathway Data arrow_forwardKey Concepts & FAQ
CRREM uses specific terminology. Here is what it means and why it matters for your work.
The CRREM Pathways are science-based decarbonization trajectories for buildings. They translate global carbon budgets derived from IPCC scenarios into property-level emissions and energy intensity targets — specifying the maximum permissible carbon intensity (kgCO₂/m²/year) and energy intensity (kWh/m²/year) for each property type in each country, year by year.
More than 1,000 CRREM Pathways cover 44+ countries and all major property types. Each pathway is jurisdiction-specific and property-type-specific, grounded in local climate commitments and building stock realities.
The CRREM Misalignment Year is the projected year when a building's performance trajectory crosses below its relevant CRREM Pathway — the point when it transitions from aligned to misaligned. This signals when transition risk becomes financially material, when retrofit costs tighten, and when the window for orderly action narrows.
A building with a Misalignment Year of 2028 faces more immediate exposure than one projected to misalign in 2038. The Misalignment Year is the primary output of a CRREM assessment and the single most important metric for investment decision-making.
The Carbon Risk Factor measures how far a building deviates from its relevant CRREM Pathway, expressed as a percentage above or below pathway compliance. A building with a Carbon Risk Factor of +15% is 15% above (worse than) its pathway target.
Higher positive values indicate greater transition risk and more urgent need for intervention. The Carbon Risk Factor provides a continuous measure of misalignment severity, complementing the binary aligned/misaligned signal of the Misalignment Year.
No. All data required to calculate the CRREM Misalignment Year is published open-access on crrem.org. At its core, the calculation is a direct comparison of a building's actual energy and carbon intensity against the corresponding CRREM Pathway values. No additional software is required.
That said, most market participants access the CRREM Pathways through License Partner platforms — the more than 40 analytics and ESG tools that embed CRREM into their workflows. These platforms handle data collection, computation, and reporting at scale.
CRREM Pathways are subject to regular review on a 3–5 year cycle, with updates governed by the CRREM Technical Council and approved by the Foundation Board. Changes are classified by impact: low-impact maintenance (data corrections, formatting) is handled by the Secretariat; medium-impact development (new country pathways) requires Technical Council approval; high-impact revisions (methodology changes) require both Technical Council recommendation and Foundation Board adoption.
The ongoing EUI Methodology Review — the first formal review of CRREM's global energy pathways since their initial publication — is expected to deliver enhanced guidance later in 2026. Proposed changes will be subject to public consultation before adoption.
GRESB, SBTi, INREV, IIGCC, and NZAOA all reference, integrate, or build on the CRREM Pathways. CRREM serves as the foundational science layer for climate alignment assessment in real estate across these frameworks.
This means that using CRREM for your internal assessment simultaneously positions you for compliance with the external frameworks that investors, regulators, and rating agencies require.
The CRREM Risk Assessment Tool — the free Excel-based calculation tool available on crrem.org — will be retired on 1 July 2026. The decision reflects the maturation of the CRREM ecosystem: with more than 40 License Partners and nearly all major real estate ESG platforms embedding the CRREM Pathways, most market participants now access CRREM through these integrated tools.
The CRREM Pathways, the Misalignment Year methodology, and all underlying datasets remain unchanged. All data required to calculate the CRREM Misalignment Year will continue to be published open-access on crrem.org, together with transparent computation guidance.
Getting Help
CRREM provides multiple pathways to the guidance you need.
Find a Service Provider
Accredited Service Providers specialize in CRREM assessment, retrofit planning, and reporting across three defined service tracks.
Browse Providersarrow_forwardReference Guides
Technical documentation covering methodology, data structures, computation guidance, and implementation best practices.
Browse Guidesarrow_forwardContact CRREM
Questions about the CRREM Pathways, partnership, or how CRREM applies to your specific context? Get in touch with the team.
Get in Toucharrow_forwardReady to start?
Access the CRREM Pathways or find an accredited advisor to guide your transition planning.
