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

This guide by the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) outlines two methodologies for establishing building proxies for Non-Residential and Residential Buildings to achieve Climate Bonds Certification: benchmarking against local market emissions performance and analyzing the proportion of total ratings or labels awarded.

• 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 serves as the starting point for an emissions performance trajectory that must decline to zero carbon emissions by 2050.
• Data used for benchmarking must meet five specific criteria: it must come from a reliable source, include a representative sample of the market, reflect the full fuel cycle (scopes 1, 2, and 3), relate to actual operational performance 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. A proxy remains valid only as long as it delivers performance in line with the declining emissions threshold.
• A second option for establishing proxies is available when local emissions data is lacking, based on the proportion of total ratings or labels awarded. To be approved, a rating or label must be demonstrated to be in the top 15% of all awards under a scheme that primarily rates energy efficiency or emissions.
• For the rating/label proxy method, CBI requires the scheme to maintain a verified database of energy/emissions performance data of sufficient size for statistical significance and a representative market coverage with an adequate spread of performance levels. 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} }