The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB) has revised its certification system for new buildings, aiming to reduce administrative burden without compromising technical rigour. The updated scheme consolidates several documentation requirements and streamlines the assessment of life cycle analyses (LCA) and environmental product declarations (EPD). For planners and material specifiers, this means fewer redundant submissions when demonstrating compliance with criteria such as embodied carbon limits, recycling quotas, and thermal performance thresholds. The changes address long-standing industry criticism that certification processes were too resource-intensive, potentially accelerating uptake of verified sustainability standards in commercial and residential construction sectors.
This article was created with AI assistance and editorially reviewed.
