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DGNB - the certification for sustainable construction

DGNB - the certification for sustainable construction

DGNB stands for 'German Society for Sustainable Building' and is the name of the association that has developed this certification for sustainable construction.

Directly translated into Danish, it means 'The German Association for Sustainable Building'. The DGNB certification scheme is voluntary for those who want to make an effort for more sustainability in the operation and new construction/construction of buildings and urban areas.

What is DGNB?

The Danish Council for Sustainable Building, which is at the forefront of promoting sustainability in the construction industry in Denmark, describes DGNB as "sustainability put into a formula". The system was developed in Germany by the association that also lends its name to it, and was introduced in 2009. As a certification system, DGNB primarily plays a role for existing buildings, new construction and urban development.

It is important to point out that DGNB is a certification that is continuously developed and adapted to the specific area of ​​application, which means that new topics and criteria may be added to the certification. DGNB also aims to ensure that the tools can be used throughout the life cycle of an entire project – as a planning, optimization and management tool, respectively. This means that DGNB is not only used to certify a building as sustainable, but also as guidance on where to start and how to do it.

The idea behind DGNB

DGNB is a system that is based on what is called a holistic approach to sustainability. This means that social, economic and environmental factors are taken into account in assessing sustainability, rather than just the latter. This is based on the true meaning of 'sustainability', which was defined back in 1987: "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". This is also the definition that the UN Sustainable Development Goals are based on. DGNB therefore places emphasis on ensuring an approach to construction, buildings and urban areas that can live up to this definition and at the same time takes into account the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

DGNB has the three above-mentioned factors as its central pillars and thus emphasizes that construction has high social quality, economic quality and environmental quality. In addition, there are some of the certification types in DGNB that further evaluate technical quality, process quality and the quality of the area.

DGNB in ​​practice

There are currently five certification types in DGNB, as you can see below. Each certification type thus offers a framework for the different areas of application.

DGNB auditors are responsible for each individual certification, while the Danish Council for Sustainable Building is responsible for checking the documentation of the certifications. DGNB certification can be achieved at three levels: silver, gold or platinum, and a certification lasts for three years before it must be renewed.

Certification types

  1. New buildings and extensive renovations

Developed to evaluate the construction process of brand new buildings or buildings that avoid major renovation, this certification has five themes that address different types of quality: environmental, process, economic, socio-cultural, and functional and technical.

  1. Urban area

Designed to evaluate urban areas and is based on the same themes as above, namely new buildings and major renovations. In addition, there are three certification options during the development period of the urban area: plan certification, mid-term certification and final certification.

  1. Villa

Focuses on family homes and has 12 criteria under the three main topics of environment, economy and social. Here a sustainability score is awarded rather than silver, gold or platinum.

  1. Space

Still in the pilot phase, but is being developed to be a framework for sustainable renovation and interior design. So far, this certification type focuses on offices, but is being updated continuously.

  1. Operation

For buildings that have been in operation for at least one year, DGNB is an optimization tool to make buildings more sustainable than they are. That is, to improve the status quo. This is based on the PDCA approach, which is also used in ISO 14001.

PDCA stands for Plan-Do-Check-Act and is a system for continuous improvement; the focus is on making continuous efforts to improve the operation of buildings. You start by planning what you want to achieve and setting goals for the improvement (Plan), after which data on current operations is collected and quantitative indicators are recorded (Do). This data must therefore be analyzed and evaluated to find out where you can optimize (Check). In the last part of the phase (Act), future actions are defined to improve the effort. However, it is important to remember that the work is not finished after the last phase. PDCA is an iterative process that should be carried out again and again to ensure continuous improvement.

When buildings in operation are to be assessed for DGNB certification, there are nine criteria, distributed across the three main qualities, which are weighted to varying degrees:

Environmental quality: total 40%

  • Climate action and energy (30%)
  • Water (5%)
  • Waste management (5%)

Economic quality: total 30%

  • Operating costs (10%)**
  • Risk management and value preservation (15%)
  • Purchasing and operations

Social quality: total 30%

  • Indoor climate (10%)
  • User satisfaction (10%)
  • Mobility (10%)

As you can see, all factors are important, but the single biggest player is climate action and energy. The emphasis here is on creating operations that are optimized in terms of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Ultimately, the goal is for operations to be CO2-neutral. It is emphasized that this can largely be achieved through optimal and active energy management – ​​that is, energy optimization, so that energy is used as efficiently as possible. This helps to reduce CO2 emissions and is thus an important tool in climate action.

Optimized ventilation systems and DGNB

So what does DGNB have to do with ventilation systems? Since ventilation systems are essential for indoor climate (remember that this counts for a full 10% in the assessment for buildings in operation) and a significant factor in energy consumption, optimizing ventilation systems can go a long way towards achieving some of the goals defined in DGNB – especially those for buildings in operation.

By ensuring that your ventilation system is tight and functioning flawlessly, energy consumption is reduced and well-being and well-being are increased among the building's users. In addition, optimized ventilation systems can help reduce the risk of moisture damage and mold, which extends the building's lifespan, minimizes the need for maintenance and repairs, and thus also resource consumption and environmental impact.

All in all, optimized ventilation systems are a significant part of the effort for more sustainable buildings, which not only improve the indoor climate and user experience, but also contribute significantly to environmental protection and sustainability.

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FAQ

What does DGNB stand for?

DGNB stands for "Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen" – in Danish: The German Association for Sustainable Building. DGNB is also the name of the voluntary certification scheme for sustainable buildings and areas.

Where can I start with DGNB?

You can start by looking at the website of the Danish Council for Sustainable Building, where you can find more information about the different certification types as well as manuals for the criteria.

Why do I need to know what DGNB is?

DGNB is a great starting point if you want to ensure that your project contributes to a more sustainable future. Even if you are not yet at the point where you can be certified, DGNB serves as a good tool to move in the right direction.