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The key commercial real estate research, verified and summarised, from real sources. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.

Global Real Estate Intelligence

GREI is an independent research index. For third-party research we summarise and link to the original; all rights remain with the publishers. Public-record, regulatory and market data (e.g. SEC EDGAR, SEDAR+) is public information that we compile and host, with its source cited.

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© 2026 Global Real Estate Intelligence. An independent research index.Third-party research remains owned by its publishers; we summarise and link to the original. Public-record, regulatory and market data is compiled and hosted by GREI, with its source cited.
Policies & Regulation

The rules that reprice buildings.

Legislation, zoning, rent, tax, monetary and prudential policy that moves real estate markets, plus the sustainability, disclosure and energy standards investors hold real assets to — each entry links to the official primary source. (For what firms publish about themselves, see Reports & policies.)

News & DealsMarket ReportsPoliciesFundsInvestorsManagersMedia

26 of 68 regulations

All policyLegislation & regulationSustainability & standards
AllZoningRent regulationHousing financeMonetary policyPrudentialTaxDecarbonizationDisclosureEnergyStandardsEUUSUKCanada

Summaries are for orientation only, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements on the official source.

Newly added
United States — Washington, DCHousing Investment Protection Act of 2026 & Illegal Occupancy Enforcement Amendment Act of 2026 (DC)5 days agoUnited StatesENERGY STAR Portfolio ManagerCanadaBank of Canada interest rate announcement and release of the Monetary Policy ReporttodayCanadaPress Conference: Monetary Policy Report – July 20262 days agoUnited States — FederalSuspended Counterparty Program (2026-14036)
United States· in force; phasing out after 30 Jun 2026
179D Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction

Federal tax deduction (up to ~$5/sq ft with prevailing-wage compliance) for energy-efficient property in commercial buildings achieving at least 25% energy-cost savings. Phasing out for projects beginning construction after June 30, 2026.

Internal Revenue Service
energytax incentivedecarbonizationus
US — Boston· phasing in
Boston Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO)

Requires large existing buildings to report annual energy and water use and meet declining GHG emissions standards, reaching net zero by 2050. Imposes both disclosure and emissions-cap obligations on Boston CRE.

City of Boston
decarbonizationdisclosureemissionsenergyus
Global· voluntary standard
BREEAM

A sustainability assessment method for buildings and infrastructure covering energy, carbon, health, circularity and resilience across the lifecycle. Widely used in Europe to certify environmental performance.

BRE (Building Research Establishment)
voluntarycertificationenergydecarbonization
US — California· in force
California 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, Part 6)

Mandatory energy-efficiency requirements for new and altered nonresidential buildings, expanding heat-pump use, electric-readiness and ventilation standards. Applies to permits filed on or after January 1, 2026.

California Energy Commission
energydecarbonizationbuilding codeuscalifornia
Canada· in force
Canada Green Buildings Strategy

Federal strategy to cut emissions and energy costs across Canada's buildings sector by accelerating retrofits and low-carbon new construction. Affects CRE owners via retrofit programs and future code stringency.

Natural Resources Canada
decarbonizationenergycanadastrategy
US — Chicago· in force
Chicago Energy Benchmarking Ordinance

Requires buildings larger than 50,000 sq ft to track and report whole-building energy use annually via ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, with periodic data verification. Provides energy-transparency benchmarking for Chicago CRE.

City of Chicago Department of Environment
disclosurebenchmarkingenergyus
Global· voluntary standard
CRREM (Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor)

Science-based decarbonization pathways that let owners assess when buildings risk becoming 'stranded' against 1.5C/2C targets. Used for transition-risk analysis, retrofit planning and capital allocation.

CRREM
voluntarybenchmarkdecarbonizationenergy
Global· voluntary standard
EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies)

A green-building standard requiring at least 20% savings in energy, water and embodied carbon versus a local baseline, with free design software. Used by developers in emerging markets.

International Finance Corporation
voluntarycertificationenergydecarbonization
US — Denver· in force
Energize Denver Building Performance Policy

Requires commercial and multifamily buildings 25,000 sq ft and larger to meet progressive energy-use targets through 2030, with prescribed upgrades for smaller buildings. Binding performance obligations for most large Denver properties.

Denver Office of Climate Action
energydecarbonizationbenchmarkingus
United States· voluntary
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager

A free tool to benchmark a building's energy, water, waste and GHG performance and earn an ENERGY STAR score and certification. The reporting backbone for many state and city building-performance mandates.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
energybenchmarkingvoluntaryus
EU· in force
EU Energy Efficiency Directive (recast)

Establishes 'energy efficiency first' as a binding EU principle and a target to cut final energy consumption 11.7% by 2030, with stronger obligations to renovate public buildings and expand energy audits. Tightens efficiency expectations across building operation.

European Parliament and Council
energyefficiencybuildingsdecarbonizationeu
EU· in force
EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD recast)

Sets a path to a fully decarbonised EU building stock by 2050: a zero-emission standard for new buildings, minimum energy performance standards triggering renovation of the worst-performing non-residential buildings, solar-ready requirements, and strengthened energy performance certificates. Directly drives capex and asset-value risk for CRE owners.

European Parliament and Council
decarbonizationenergybuildingseurenovation
EU· in force
EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III)

Raises the EU's binding 2030 renewable target to at least 42.5%, with sectoral targets for heating and cooling in buildings and faster permitting for on-site renewables. Pushes CRE owners toward on-site solar and renewable heating.

European Parliament and Council
energyrenewablesbuildingsdecarbonizationeu
Global· voluntary standard
ISO 50001 (Energy Management Systems)

An international management-system standard to establish, maintain and continually improve an organization's energy performance. Used by building operators to systematically manage and reduce energy use.

International Organization for Standardization
voluntarycertificationenergydecarbonization
Global· voluntary standard
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

The most widely used green-building rating system, certifying buildings on energy, water, materials and indoor environmental performance. Used by developers, owners and tenants worldwide.

U.S. Green Building Council
voluntarycertificationenergydecarbonization
Australia· voluntary standard
NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System)

A government-run system rating the operational environmental performance of buildings on a one-to-six-star scale covering energy, water, waste and indoor environment. Used to measure and disclose in-use performance.

NSW Government / NABERS
voluntarycertificationbenchmarkenergyaustralia
US — New York City· in force
NYC Local Law 84 — Energy & Water Benchmarking

Requires owners of buildings 50,000 sq ft or larger to annually report whole-building energy and water use via ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, underpinning NYC's building-emissions program.

NYC Department of Buildings
disclosurebenchmarkingenergyus
US — New York City· in force
NYC Local Law 97 — Greenhouse Gas Emissions Limits

Caps annual GHG emissions for most buildings over 25,000 sq ft, with limits from 2024 tightening sharply in 2030 en route to net zero by 2050. Owners must file annual emissions reports or face penalties.

NYC Department of Buildings
decarbonizationenergyemissionsdisclosureus
Global· voluntary standard
Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) — Buildings

Criteria and sector guidance (including buildings/real estate) so companies can set GHG-reduction targets aligned with climate science and net-zero by 2050. Used to validate emissions-reduction targets.

Science Based Targets initiative
voluntarydecarbonizationdisclosureenergy
US — Seattle· phasing in
Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS)

Requires existing nonresidential and multifamily buildings over 20,000 sq ft to meet progressively stronger GHG targets, reaching net zero between 2041 and 2050. A core decarbonization mandate for large Seattle CRE.

Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment
decarbonizationemissionsenergyus
Canada — Toronto· in force
Toronto Green Standard (Version 4)

Tiered sustainable-design requirements applied through planning approvals, Tier 1 mandatory and higher tiers incentivized, covering energy, emissions, water and ecology. Affects mid/high-rise residential and ICI developments in Toronto.

City of Toronto
decarbonizationenergycanadabuilding standards
UK· in force
UK Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) — commercial

Requires an EPC, valid 10 years, whenever a commercial building is built, sold or let. Affects every CRE transaction and underpins the MEES minimum-rating regime.

Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
energyukcompliancedisclosure
UK· in force
UK Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) — commercial

Prohibits landlords from letting non-domestic property in England and Wales unless it holds at least an EPC E rating or a valid exemption. Owners must upgrade or register exemptions for sub-E commercial stock.

Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
energydecarbonizationukcompliance
UK· in force
UK Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR)

Requires large UK companies, quoted companies and large LLPs to disclose energy use, GHG emissions and efficiency actions in annual reports. Affects larger CRE owners, REITs and property funds.

UK Government (DESNZ)
disclosuredecarbonizationenergyukreporting
US — Washington· phasing in
Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard

Mandatory energy-performance standards and benchmarking for existing commercial buildings over 50,000 sq ft, phased by size. Largest Tier 1 buildings must comply by June 1, 2026.

Washington State Department of Commerce
energydecarbonizationbuilding performanceuswashington
US — Washington DC· in force
Washington DC Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS)

Sets minimum energy-performance standards (benchmarked to the local median ENERGY STAR score) for privately owned buildings 50,000 sq ft and larger. Buildings below standard enter a multi-year compliance cycle.

DC Department of Energy & Environment
energydecarbonizationbenchmarkingus
2 days ago
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