DGNB

DGNB stands for Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen, the German Sustainable Building Council. It is a non-profit organization based in Germany that develops and promotes a comprehensive sustainability certification system for the built environment. Established to advance sustainable construction practices, the DGNB System assesses the environmental, economic, sociocultural, and functional performance of buildings, districts, and urban areas across their life cycle.

The DGNB assessment framework is structured around six quality categories: Ecological Quality, Economic Quality, Socio-cultural and Functional Quality, Technical Quality, Process Quality, and Site Quality. Projects are evaluated on a points-based scale, emphasizing lifecycle thinking, resource efficiency, occupant comfort, resilience, and long-term value. The scheme covers new-builds, existing buildings, renovations, as well as neighborhood and urban-scale projects.

Certification levels reflect overall performance and range from DGNB Certified to Silver, Gold, and Platinum, with Platinum representing the highest level. The certification process involves data submission, assessment by DGNB-accredited auditors or partners, and documentation review, sometimes including on-site verification.

DGNB operates primarily in Germany but has a growing international footprint through national implementations and partner networks. It also provides education and training through the DGNB Academy, aiming to professionalize sustainable building practice worldwide. The DGNB system is one of several voluntary green-building certifications used to demonstrate sustainability performance in the construction sector.