5 Fast Facts about PERFORM - And Why Your ESG Team Should Care in 2025

I think we all know the big stats, but they're still worth repeating...

Buildings are responsible for ~40% of global CO2 emissions.  Existing buildings make up around 80% of the global building stock.

That means the greatest opportunity we have for meaningful emissions reduction lies not in new construction - but in improving what already exists.

This is why I'm excited about PERFORM, a new program from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) which was officially launched last year at Greenbuild in Philadelphia .

It's a flexible, portfolio-wide approach that empowers organizations to track, improve, and verify the sustainability performance of their existing real estate assets.

1 - Portfolio Assessment is the Future

Most ESG software focuses on data wrangling - but PERFORM is about progress.

It helps organizations show real, credible movement toward their sustainability goals (not just checking a box or tracking data). Because the platform is managed by USGBC / GBCI you know your data is secure with a trusted entity. (Especially given the uncertainty around ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager). Unlike other existing green building rating systems, it's designed for building portfolios at all stages of the journey: From early baseline-setting to advanced net-zero tracking. It allows you to set your own goals, and then helps verify that you're actually moving the needle.

BONUS: Having an established credible third-party like GBCI involved doesn't just boost credibility, it streamlines the organization's ability to meet reporting requirements from frameworks like GRESB, TCFD, or CSRD.

2 - It Tracks YOUR KPIs

PERFORM tracks up to 20 customizable KPIs across these categories: 📊Emissions ⚡Energy 💧Water 🗑️Waste 😷Health 🌿Biodiversity 🌍Resilience 💬Social Impact

These are metrics we were proud to help identify in collaboration with USGBC - focused on what currently matters to the industry and market for climate action and operational performance - but with room to grow and adapt in the future.

3 - It's Portfolio-Based, not Asset-by-Asset

We also all know that green building certification across 100% of a portfolio isn't always achievable. But that doesn't mean you can't showcase decarbonization or sustainability progress portfolio-wide.

PERFORM isn't limited by certification eligibility - every property counts, even if it's leased, underperforming, or doesn't meet LEED thresholds. Data entry can be done through Arc, USGBC's upgraded data management platform (which will also be the delivery for LEEDv5 and other USGBC and GBCI products, going forward), or by uploading your GRESB Asset spreadsheet. You don't need to start with property-level data - just begin where you are.

You can go from "My real-estate portfolio of 100 buildings has 30 LEED-certified buildings." to "My real-estate portfolio of 100 buildings has 30 LEED-certified buildings and my entire portfolio has received PERFORM verification for a 41% reduction in total energy use compared to our 2008 baseline."

4 - Verification is optional (but Powerful)

Not every organization is ready for third-party verification, and that's okay. PERFORM allows you to:

Track and monitor performance internally. The value is not just in reporting: it’s in setting incremental performance goals across buildings that may never certify individually. Verification methodology informed by ISO 17029 Submit some or all metrics for GBCI verification, which gives you the option to use those results in frameworks like GRESB .

Speaking of which, PERFORM is also a recognized assurance scheme for GRESB. For four GRESB indicators, a verification letter from GBCI can be used to support GRESB’s data monitoring and review (MR) section as "externally assured" after a successful review and limited assurance engagement with GBCI for up to 5 points in Data Monitoring & Review section indicators MR1, MR2, MR3, MR4. More details in this article from USGBC .

5 - enrollment is FREE through 2025

No strings, no sales pitch. You can sign up now at no cost and start inputting data or setting goals through 2025. Verification fees are transparent, reduced through July 31, 2025, and based on how many metrics you choose to verify (not an 'all or nothing' pricing model).

Details here: https://www.usgbc.org/perform

Want to Learn More? Let's Talk.

BranchPattern is proud to collaborate directly with USGBC on the early development of the PERFORM platform, helping shape performance categories and ESG alignment and we are thrilled to actively support its implementation for our clients.

PERFORM works for every building, no matter where you’re starting from.

Whether you're trying to meet reporting mandates, assess climate risk, or just want to get arms around emissions and energy data, this is a tool worth understanding. Though PERFORM isn’t just a tool, it’s a process to assess, track, and verify sustainability improvements across an entire portfolio to meet decarbonization, resilience, and reporting goals... even if an organization is just starting out on that journey.

Let's connect. We'd love to share more about how it works, compares to other platforms, and discuss how PERFORM can support your organization's goals.

In the meantime:

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about PERFORM available here . The PERFORM Program Guide  details eligibility requirements and the engagement steps: enrolling the portfolio, setting performance goals, tracking progress, and submitting for verification. The PERFORM Performance Metrics  describes the performance categories and metrics available for an organization to track, report, and verify across its portfolio.