ASHRAE targets for energy and GHG intensity

This article explains how ASHRAE 2030 energy and GHG intensity targets are displayed and used in Scaler, including:

Scaler displays ASHRAE 2030 benchmark targets for:

These targets are shown directly alongside each asset’s actual performance in the Analytics Portal, allowing users to benchmark assets against ASHRAE-aligned decarbonisation pathways without leaving Scaler.

ASHRAE targets behave like benchmarks, not internal commitments. However, many organisations use them as de facto targets when aligning portfolios to industry-standard decarbonisation pathways.

ASHRAE targets are displayed in the Asset List table in the Analytics Portal.

Navigation path:

Analytics Portal → Portfolio → Asset List

For assets with compatible data, Scaler shows:

Scaler automatically selects the appropriate ASHRAE benchmark based on two asset-level attributes:

These are matched against ASHRAE’s reference categories.

Scaler’s property-type mapping follows the taxonomy referenced in the GRESB Real Estate Scoring Methodology (2025), ensuring alignment with industry-standard classifications.

For ASHRAE targets to appear for an asset, the following fields must be completed:

If either field is missing:

Once both fields are populated and correspond to a supported ASHRAE combination, targets appear automatically.

Scaler validates:

Only ASHRAE-supported combinations are shown with target values. If ASHRAE does not publish a benchmark for a given combination, no target is displayed.

ASHRAE targets provide a clear reference point for understanding asset performance relative to recommended 2030 thresholds.

They can be used to:

ASHRAE targets are benchmarks, not Scaler-calculated projections, and do not require any configuration beyond completing the required asset fields.

However, many users treat ASHRAE targets as reference pathways when evaluating progress toward industry-aligned decarbonisation goals.

ASHRAE targets and CRREM pathways serve different purposes in Scaler:

In practice, many organisations use CRREM pathways as their operational targets, even though they are technically benchmarks rather than internally defined goals.

To support ASHRAE targets and building-type-specific emissions accounting, Scaler maps its Property Types and Subtypes to the corresponding ASHRAE Building Types.

This mapping aligns with the classification used in Appendix 1 of the GRESB 2025 Real Estate Scoring Document, which defines the relationship between GRESB property types and ASHRAE building types.

Appendix 1 of GRESB 2025 Real Estate Scoring Document – GRESB vs. ASHRAE Property Types Classification