Sebastian Gyr from Berninvest shares his experience of REIDA data input. He is the portfolio manager of the two listed real estate funds IMMO Helvetic and Good Buildings.
When did you join REIDA and why did you decide to take part in the REIDA CO₂e benchmark?
With the 2025 annual reports, we are publishing our REIDA data for the two listed real estate funds “Immo Helvetic” and “Good Buildings Swiss Real Estate Fund” for the first time. The decisive factors for participating in the REIDA CO₂e benchmark were, on the one hand, the self-regulation of AMAS and, on the other, the desire for an objective, standardized and industry-wide comparable assessment of the CO₂e emissions of our real estate portfolios. The benchmark creates transparency, enables a realistic assessment of our position and helps us to further develop our sustainability strategy based on data. KGAST and ASIP have now also adopted the REIDA basis.
The REIDA CO2 benchmark
REIDA (Real Estate Investment Data Association) is a non-profit association of around 30 players in the real estate industry that is committed to transparency. While the association has been setting standards for financial data for years, the CO2 benchmark has become firmly established as a standardized methodology for calculating environmental indicators.
The REIDA CO2 benchmark is based on a standardized, nationally recognized methodology for calculating environmentally relevant KPIs. The aggregated benchmark values from all participating portfolios are public; benchmark participants also receive a REIDA CO2e report for their own portfolio.
How did you find the REIDA data entry process in general?
The process is clearly structured and easy to follow. For larger portfolios, however, data entry is associated with an increased coordination effort. With good preparation and clear responsibilities, the process can be implemented efficiently.
What challenges do you see in collecting and processing the data required for the REIDA CO₂e benchmark?
The biggest challenge is the availability and quality of the data. Consumption and building data is often incomplete, not centralized or available in varying degrees of detail. Standardizing and checking the plausibility of the data therefore involves considerable effort, particularly because we work with external property management companies. We assume that data entry will be faster in future, as the process is now established with the external property management companies.
Alphaprop supports owners in collecting energy data and preparing it for REIDA data entry
- Collection of energy data (e.g. automated reading of invoice data using AI)
- Calculation of environmentally relevant KPIs according to AMAS/KGAST
- Preparing the data for participation in the REIDA CO2 benchmark (filling the REIDA template)
- Calculating the CO2 reduction path on the basis of a refurbishment plan
- Preparation of the data in an interactive analysis dashboard
What advantages do you see in the digitalization and automation of processes?
Digitized and automated processes increase efficiency, reduce errors and improve data quality. They enable KPIs to be updated on an ongoing basis, improve comparability over several years and increase transparency for internal and external stakeholders. In the long term, they are a key prerequisite for effective ESG and CO₂ management.
Last year, we were able to do the data preparation for REIDA data entry for you. What is your experience of working with Alphaprop?
We have known the Alphaprop team for some time and have found the collaboration to be very professional, structured and solution-oriented. We particularly appreciated the high level of understanding of real estate practice, the careful data review and the clear communication. Alphaprop’s support has made the REIDA process significantly more efficient and improved data quality at the same time.
What advice would you give other owners?
Good preparation and clear responsibilities are essential. You should definitely allow more time for the initial onboarding than you think. In the second year, the economies of scale will take effect and the processes will become more efficient.
Thank you very much for the interview!