The German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) has revised its certification system for new buildings while reducing administrative burden. The adjustment aims to lower barriers for building owners and planners without diluting substantive requirements regarding material selection, life cycle analysis, and sustainability criteria. For the industry, this could be a relevant step, as documentation efforts – particularly for EPD certifications and life cycle assessments according to DIN EN 15804 – have been considered an obstacle to broader market penetration. The revised version is intended to increase acceptance of sustainable building standards without limiting the evaluation of building materials according to criteria such as CO₂ balance, recyclability, or freedom from harmful substances.
This article was created with AI assistance and editorially reviewed.
