Methodology for establishing (Non-Residential & Residential) building proxies

The document describes two methods for establishing building proxies for Climate Bonds Certification: benchmarking against local market emissions performance and analyzing the proportion of total ratings or labels awarded. The first method uses the top 15% of energy-efficient buildings to create an emissions performance trajectory that declines to zero by 2050, requiring proxies to have 'sunset dates' when they no longer meet the tightening threshold. The second method is used when emissions data is lacking, requiring evidence that a specific rating or label falls within the top 15% of all awards under a representative scheme, with these proxies reviewed every two years.

• The first methodology for establishing proxies involves benchmarking against the emissions performance of the top 15% most energy-efficient buildings of a specific type in a local market. This performance level marks the start of an "emissions performance trajectory" that is designed to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050.
• Data used for benchmarking must be from a reliable source, represent the market with a sufficient sample, reflect the full fuel cycle (scopes 1, 2, and 3), relate to operational rather than modeled performance, and be expressed annually in kgCO2.
• Proxies approved via benchmarking are assigned 'sunset dates' because the emissions performance trajectory becomes more stringent over time, eventually making the proxy insufficient to meet the required thresholds.
• A second methodology is available when local emissions data is lacking, which allows a building rating or label to serve as a proxy if it is proven to be in the top 15% of all ratings or labels awarded under a scheme that primarily rates energy efficiency or emissions.
• For the rating/label proxy method, the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) requires the scheme to have a representative database of sufficient size to support statistically significant conclusions and a verified register of energy or emissions performance data. These proxies are reviewed every two years.

APA

Climate Bonds Initiative (2016). Methodology for establishing (Non-Residential & Residential) building proxies. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/Methodology%20for%20Establishing%20Proxies.pdf

Chicago

Climate Bonds Initiative. Methodology for establishing (Non-Residential & Residential) building proxies. 2016. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/Methodology%20for%20Establishing%20Proxies.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Bonds Initiative |title=Methodology for establishing (Non-Residential & Residential) building proxies |date=December 2016 |url=https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/Methodology%20for%20Establishing%20Proxies.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatebondsinitiative2016methodology, author = {{Climate Bonds Initiative}}, title = {{Methodology for establishing (Non-Residential \& Residential) building proxies}}, institution = {Climate Bonds Initiative}, year = {2016}, month = dec, url = {https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/Methodology%20for%20Establishing%20Proxies.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }