DGNB e.V. – German Sustainable Building Council

The German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB e.V.) is a non-profit organization based in Stuttgart whose mission is to develop and promote ways and solutions for sustainable planning, construction and use of buildings. Since its foundation in 2007, the DGNB has been committed to good buildings, liveable neighborhoods and a sustainable built environment. Its aim is to establish an appropriate understanding of quality in the construction and real estate market as the basis for responsible and sustainable action. The DGNB pursues these goals through the association and its own certification system, among other things:

• The DGNB e.V. association has around 1300 member organizations that are jointly committed to a holistic understanding of sustainability.
  The DGNB is Europe’s largest network for sustainable building.
  Its members include architects, engineers, construction companies, owners, project managers, operators and representatives from the world of science.
• Members have the opportunity to further develop the DGNB certification system in working groups and, for example, to expand it for different usage profiles.
• The DGNB certification system is a planning and optimization tool for assessing sustainable buildings, interiors and districts. It evaluates various aspects of sustainable planning, construction and operation and thus helps to support and increase sustainable practice in construction projects. For the fulfillment of various criteria, the Sustainable Building seal of approval is awarded in platinum, gold, silver or bronze.
• Experts for sustainable building and DGNB auditors are trained worldwide via the DGNB Academy training and further education platform.

The organization

Development and mission statement

> The content of the DGNB is based on a holistic understanding of sustainability that includes ecological, economic and socio-cultural issues.
It is therefore equally concerned with the environment, economic efficiency and people.
In the DGNB’s view, sustainability is synonymous with quality and future viability. < DGNB e.V.

The development over the years shows the evolution of the certification system into an internationally successful tool for sustainable construction, which combines ecological, economic and social objectives and considers the entire life cycle of the building, from planning to dismantling.

2007:	The DGNB is founded on June 25, 2007 with 121 founding members.
2008:	On January 18, 2008, the official kick-off event will take place under the motto “Making living spaces fit for the future. Sustainable building: Fundamentals of certification.” The DGNB also becomes an official German partner in the World Green Building Council, the global umbrella organization for sustainable building. On June 17, 2008, the German certification system (Sustainable Building Seal of Approval) is launched on the market.
2009:	At BAU 2009, the first 16 office and administrative buildings are awarded a DGNB certificate. From April 2009, commercial, industrial and educational buildings, residential buildings and urban districts can also be certified in new system variants. The Austrian Sustainable Building Council (ÖGNI) becomes the first international DGNB system partner. The training of the first DGNB auditors and consultants begins.
2010:	Switzerland becomes a DGNB system partner with the Swiss Sustainable Building Council (SGNI). The system variants New Hotel Building and Modernization of Office and Administration Buildings are added as new usage profiles.
2011:	The Danish Green Building Council becomes the next international system partner of the DGNB. With the DGNB certification of master plans, the DGNB introduces a solution for the certification of almost identical buildings.
2012:	The logistics building and laboratory building usage profiles become part of the portfolio.
2013:	The DGNB is developing a further system variant for the certification of small residential buildings. The German Sustainability Award Foundation and the DGNB are jointly awarding the “Sustainable Building” prize for the first time.
2014:	The DGNB starts cooperating with universities in order to anchor the topic of sustainability as part of the self-image of future architects and engineers. The DGNB moves its office into a DGNB-certified building in the heart of Stuttgart. A Living Showroom is also being created here, in which a sustainable interior design has been realized with 32 member companies. The first certificate for an industrial site is awarded at Expo Real 2014.
2015:	The DGNB renews the award logic and introduces the platinum certificate for the certification of buildings and urban districts. In addition to the certification system, an assessment of the design and architectural quality of buildings is being introduced. In this context, the Commission for Design Quality makes recommendations for pilot projects. At Expo Real 2015, the 1000th DGNB certificate is awarded to the central workshop and administration building of the green space authority in Frankfurt am Main.
2016:	The DGNB joins over 50 other organizations in signing the German civil society’s Climate Action Plan 2050. Ten key demands formulate concrete proposals for the German government to tighten the national climate protection targets and enshrine them in law. Introduction of a system variant for buildings in operation. The first DGNB “Diamond” for design and architectural quality is awarded to the 50Hertz Netzquartier in Berlin.
2017:	A new system variant for sustainably developed and furnished interiors is being developed. This can be used in addition to the systems for new and existing buildings or for interiors in non-certified buildings. The “New construction of small residential buildings” system is recognized as eligible for KfW funding. The subsidy is linked to the KfW product “Energy-efficient construction and refurbishment” and can relate to various services within the scope of certification, such as auditor services, specialist planning and the performance of indoor air quality or airtightness measurements. A preliminary version of the new DGNB System Version 2017 is published. A record number of 90 projects receive awards at Expo Real 2017 in Munich.
2018:	The DGNB System Version 2018 is published. The focus is on the motivation to build better and quality-assured buildings. A framework for climate-neutral buildings and locations is published, with the aim of making the CO2 neutrality of the building stock practically feasible by 2050. The DGNB is nominated for the Baden-Württemberg Environmental Award 2018. The new Freiburg Town Hall is awarded the “Sustainable Building” prize at the 11th German Sustainability Day in Düsseldorf.
2019:	The DGNB launches a procedure for the recognition of sustainability ratings for construction financing. A credit institution thereby receives official confirmation that the requirements formulated in its own rating system have a defined conformity with the criteria of DGNB certification. The Green Building Council España (GBCe) becomes a new international partner for the adaptation of the certification system for the Spanish market. A link with the Spanish VERDE certification system is also planned. The first projects will be awarded ClimatePositive certification by the DGNB at Expo Real in Munich.
2020:	The DGNB celebrates its 5000th award. award as part of the certification process. The 5000. certificate is presented to the new laboratory building of the NRW State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (LANUV) on January 20 in Düsseldorf. The new version of the certification system for buildings in operation is introduced. An international version of the certification system for new buildings is published, covering topics such as climate protection, circular economy and health. The system for the certification of sustainable neighborhoods is also updated. A new system variant for the certification of the demolition of buildings is introduced.

Sources: DGNB e.V. DGNB System Status: 2021