What is dgnb
Last updated: April 1, 2026
Key Facts
- DGNB was founded in 2007 and is Germany's leading organization for sustainable building certification
- The DGNB certification system evaluates buildings across environmental, social, and economic criteria
- DGNB certification is applicable to new construction, refurbished buildings, and interior fit-out projects
- The organization operates certification programs not only in Germany but in over 20 countries worldwide
- DGNB standards are recognized internationally and are comparable to other green building certification systems like LEED and BREEAM
Overview
DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen, or German Sustainable Building Council) is a leading certification organization that promotes and certifies sustainable building practices. Founded in 2007, DGNB develops holistic sustainability standards for buildings, focusing on environmental quality, social responsibility, and economic viability throughout a building's lifecycle.
Certification System
The DGNB certification system evaluates buildings across multiple sustainability dimensions including energy efficiency, material selection, indoor air quality, social aspects, and lifecycle costs. Unlike some systems that focus primarily on environmental metrics, DGNB takes a comprehensive approach that balances ecological, social, and economic factors in building design and operation.
Certification Process
Buildings can be certified as new construction, existing buildings, or interior fit-outs. The certification process involves evaluating criteria across multiple categories, awarding points based on performance, and receiving gold, silver, or bronze certification levels. Assessment criteria are tailored to regional climates, building types, and local regulations.
International Reach
Although headquartered in Germany, DGNB has expanded internationally with certification programs in over 20 countries. The organization adapts its standards to local conditions while maintaining core sustainability principles, making it increasingly recognized as a global green building certification system.
Comparison with Other Systems
DGNB is comparable to international standards like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method). However, DGNB is noted for its holistic approach incorporating social and economic factors more comprehensively than some competing systems.
Related Questions
How does DGNB certification differ from LEED certification?
DGNB takes a more holistic approach by equally weighing environmental, social, and economic criteria, while LEED focuses more heavily on environmental performance. DGNB also considers lifecycle costs and local relevance, making it particularly suited to European building practices.
What criteria does DGNB use to evaluate buildings?
DGNB evaluates buildings across environmental quality (energy, materials, water), social aspects (comfort, health, safety), economic factors (lifecycle costs, market value), technical standards, and process quality. Evaluation criteria vary based on building type and regional conditions.
Is DGNB certification recognized internationally?
Yes, DGNB certification is recognized internationally and operates in over 20 countries beyond Germany. However, recognition and adoption vary by region, with LEED and BREEAM being more established in certain markets like North America and the United Kingdom.
More What Is in Daily Life
- What Is a Credit ScoreA credit score is a three-digit number, typically ranging from 300 to 850, that represents your cred…
- What Is CD rates make no sense based on length of time invested. Explain like I'm 5CD (Certificate of Deposit) rates often don't increase with longer lock-up times the way people expe…
- What is a phdA PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is a doctoral degree earned after completing advanced academic research…
- What is a polymathA polymath is a person with deep knowledge and expertise across multiple different fields or academi…
- What is aaveAAVE stands for African American Vernacular English, a dialect with distinct grammar, pronunciation,…
- What is aarch64ARMv8-A (commonly called ARM64 or AArch64) is a 64-bit processor architecture developed by ARM Holdi…
- What is about menTopics and discussions about men typically encompass masculinity, male identity, gender roles, men's…
- What is abiturAbitur is the German academic qualification awarded upon completion of secondary education, typicall…
- What is abrosexualAbrosexual is a sexual orientation identity where a person's sexual attraction changes or fluctuates…
- What is abgABG is an Indonesian acronym standing for 'Anak Baru Gede,' which refers to adolescent girls or teen…
- What is aaaAAA batteries are a standard cylindrical battery size measuring 10.5mm in diameter and 44.5mm in len…
- What is aacAAC (Advanced Audio Codec) is a digital audio compression format that provides better sound quality …
- What is aaa gameAAA games are high-budget video games developed by large studios with budgets typically exceeding $1…
- What is a proxyA proxy is a server that acts as an intermediary between your device and the internet, forwarding yo…
- What is ableismAbleism is discrimination and prejudice against people with disabilities based on the assumption tha…
- What is absAbs, short for abdominal muscles, are the muscles in your core that flex your spine and stabilize yo…
- What is abortionAbortion is a medical procedure that ends pregnancy by removing the fetus before viability. It can b…
- What is accutaneAccutane (isotretinoin) is a powerful prescription medication derived from vitamin A used to treat s…
- What is acetaminophenAcetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, is an over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer use…
- What is acidAcid is a chemical substance that donates protons (hydrogen ions) to other substances, characterized…
Also in Daily Life
- How To Save Money
- Why are so many white supremacist and right wings grifters not white
- Does "I'm 20 out" mean youre 20 minutes away from where you left, or youre 20 minutes away from your destination
- Why are so many men convinced that they are ugly
- What does awol mean
- What does asl mean
- What does ad mean
- What does asap mean
- What does apex mean
- What does asmr stand for
- What does atp mean
- What causes autism
- What does abg mean
- What does am and pm mean
- What does a fox sound like
More "What Is" Questions
Trending on WhatAnswer
Browse by Topic
Browse by Question Type
Sources
- DGNB - German Sustainable Building Council proprietary
- Wikipedia - DGNB CC-BY-SA-3.0