Further development of the DGNB System for the construction of new buildings internationally
The DGNB has fundamentally revised its system for new construction of buildings in the international version. The criteria with the adapted requirements are available for public comment until 18 January 2026. Comments are welcome on the methodological practicality of the specific indicators and the feasibility of the requirements formulated therein. General comments on the focus of the topics are also welcome.
Save the dateOn 9 December 2025, we will present the draft of the new criteria set in a live online event. Following a brief introduction to the updated version and an overview of the changes from the previous edition, we look forward to receiving your feedback and comments.
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Key information about the draft at a glance
The new system version is a comprehensive further development of the existing DGNB System for the new construction of buildings internationally in the 2020 version.
General updates and optimised applicability
In addition to numerous refinements to the requirements for adaptation to current norms, standards and guidelines (e.g. Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, or EPBD for short), great importance was attached to optimising user-friendliness and accessibility during the revision of the criteria set. The new version therefore now comprises only 32 criteria instead of the previous 38. The reductions are mainly the result of optimisations through reorganisation, the elimination of redundancies and efforts to optimise the assessment process without compromising on ambitions. The following criteria have been removed or integrated into other criteria: SOC1.5, TEC1.2, TEC1.7, PRO2.2, PRO2.4, PRO2.5 and SITE1.2. The criterion ECO2.6 is new.
Compatibility
In addition, great importance was attached to compatibility with European assessment systems during further development. The revised version of the system is fully harmonised with the requirements of the EU Taxonomy and closely aligned with the Level(s) reporting framework and the international Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This makes it possible to comply with the requirements of all systems seamlessly. For a better overview, criteria relevant to the aforementioned assessment systems are marked with individual symbols in the criteria set.
Local adaptability
Another major focus of the revision was to optimise adaptability to local requirements and conditions. All criteria are based on internationally recognised benchmarks and draw predominantly on ISO and EN standards. Where technically possible, the new system version also allows local standards and regulations, local availability of materials, cost factors and climatic conditions to be taken into account for all criteria. This ensures that the criteria can be applied effectively worldwide despite differing geographical and economic conditions. For criteria that may require a particularly high degree of adaptation, this was taken into account when designing the criteria. These criteria are marked with a special symbol in the criteria set.
Overarching requirements
The DGNB aims to certify buildings that meet the highest ethical, social and environmental standards and prioritise the well-being of communities and the general public. Our certification process takes into account the far-reaching impact of buildings on all stakeholders, including users, neighbours, investors and owners. In the new version of its international system for the new construction of buildings, the DGNB has therefore explicitly laid down key principles and standards in the system basics that must be fully taken into account by all projects. These relate to labour standards and the well-being of employees, social justice and community empowerment, cultural and environmental responsibility, ethical business practices as well as resilience and sustainable development.
Weighting and innovations in the individual criteria
Like its predecessor, the current draft of the DGNB System New Construction Buildings, International is based on the three central sustainability areas of ecology, economy and socio-cultural quality and, in line with a holistic approach, also assesses technical and procedural quality as well as location. Despite adjustments to the criteria, the weighting of these topics is analogous to the previous version of the system:
- Environmental quality: 22.5 per cent | 6 criteria
- Economic quality: 22.5 per cent | 4 criteria
- Socio-cultural and functional quality: 22.5 per cent | 7 criteria
- Technical quality: 15 per cent | 6 criteria
- Process quality: 12.5 per cent | 6 criteria
- Site quality: 5 per cent | 3 criteria
Environmental quality
- Introduction of a simplified climate action plan as a minimum requirement (simplified method based on the climate action plan according to the DGNB Framework for carbon neutral buildings and sites)
- Alignment of requirements with the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 2024
- In addition: Option for inclusion of non-EPBD services and aspects of energy consumption by users in the assessment
- Alignment of the calculation method for the life cycle assessment with Level(s) indicators 1.1 and 1.2 and with the EU Taxonomy
- Evaluation of the results based on two indicators: total Global Warming Potential [kg CO2-eq./m²*a] and primary energy from non-renewable sources [kWh/m²a]
- New and more precisely defined benchmarks for the individual schemes and synchronisation of the observation periods for all schemes (LCA reference observation period: 50 years)
- Options for declaring complete life cycle assessment calculations (all modules) and all other environmental indicators
- Adaptation to updated standards: EN 15978 (2025) and EN 15804+A2 (2019)
- New ‘Agenda 2030’ bonus points (aligned with the updated DGNB Framework for carbon neutral buildings and sites)
- Introduction of a Minimum Quality Level 0 (QL0) based on European standards to ensure quality with regard to essential environmental and health standards for materials and products used
- Updating of the ‘criteria matrix’ based on relevant standards and regulations
- Provision of a comparison table for eco-labels and environmental labels with a focus on volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, including the requirements of the EU Taxonomy with regard to carcinogenic VOC emissions in categories 1A and 1B
Complete revision of the criterion – with the particular aim of simplification:
- Alignment of material grouping with the EU reporting framework Level(s) and the EU Taxonomy
- Alignment of requirements with the recycling rates of the EU Taxonomy
- Introduction of a procedure for the optional recognition of country-specific labels
Economic quality
- Development of new, dynamic benchmarks for a life cycle cost accounting that better integrates country-specific aspects and thus enables more precise calculations
- Expansion of the life cycle cost accounting tool to include additional countries (total: 54 countries)
- Inclusion of the CO2 tax for building energy in the assessment (overachievement)
Socio-cultural and functional quality
- Harmonisation of the criterion with the EU reporting framework Level(s)
- Climate-specific adaptation: Determination of heating and cooling requirements based on climate zone-specific Heating Degree Days (HDD) and Cooling Degree Days (CDD)
- Introduction of the concept of sufficiency: evaluation of the assessment of heating and cooling requirements, including an analysis of the building's construction, orientation and insulation to minimise energy requirements and optimise energy efficiency
- Simplification through predefined country/climate zone-specific options for adaptation with regard to cooling/heating
- Integration of indicators from the previous criteria PRO2.4 and SOC1.5 of the 2020 system version
- Introduction of a new ‘Agenda 2030’ bonus for resilient thermal comfort through nature-based solutions: additional points for the inclusion of nature-based solutions such as green roofs, natural ventilation or shading systems that improve thermal comfort while promoting sustainability and resilience
- Update of the list of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and introduction of special cases for timber constructions
- Harmonisation with the EU reporting framework Level(s)
- Adaptation to ISO and EN standards for ventilation
- New ‘Agenda 2030’ bonus with a focus on reducing pollutants in indoor air from incoming air
- Optimised wording
- Introduction of bonus points for:
- considering the climate factor of surface structures improving outdoor comfort through nature-based solutions (e.g. green spaces or shade from trees)
- implementing measures to promote CO₂ absorption, including the integration of vegetation or carbon-binding materials
Technical quality
- Simplification of methodology
- Introduction of an alternative approach to assessing circular economy performance at building and component level
- Introduction of the DGNB Building Resource Passport and automatic generation of the passport by entering data via the new TEC 1.6 tool
- Harmonisation with EU Taxonomy requirements
- Harmonisation of criteria with the EU reporting framework Level(s)
- Optimised wording and structure
- Introduction of a mobility concept in the planning process
- Updating of content and benchmarks for mobility infrastructure and electromobility
- Introduction of bonus points for the development and integration of a professionally designed mobility management concept into the overall mobility concept, as well as provision of a preliminary configuration for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) functionality, which enables bidirectional charging and discharging of electric vehicles
Process quality
- Introduction of a new indicator for the sustainability documentation provided to the building owner and operator
- Integration of the previous indicator ‘Facility Management Manual’ into the criterion ‘Commissioning and Monitoring’ (PRO2.3)
- Introduction of new bonuses:
- ‘Circular Economy' bonus for the development of databases on ‘urban mines’
- ‘Circular Economy' bonus for the additional digitalisation of existing structures (e.g. surrounding infrastructure or building components).
- ‘Agenda 2030' bonus for significantly reducing the digital footprint of data storage
- ‘Agenda 2030' bonus for conducting a BIM model-based assessment of the building's sustainability
- Introduction of a new indicator for low-waste construction
- Introduction of a new indicator for internal and external communication (with those involved in construction and local residents) about the construction project and the construction site
- Introduction of new indicators for resource conservation, including water consumption and water management
- Harmonisation with the requirements of the EU Taxonomy and the Level(s) reporting framework
Site quality
- Optimisation of criteria for consistent assessment of all risks
- Points awarded for incorporating the latest research findings, forward-looking assessment and consideration of probabilities of occurrence and impacts
- Adjustment of the ‘Agenda 2030’ bonus: Addition of the ‘climate action’ objective, taking into account environmental conditions and third-party adaptation solutions at local and regional level
- Introduction of the ‘Climate-related risks’ indicator based on future climate projections in accordance with the EU Taxonomy
- Relocation of compensation and safety measures for identified risks to the new ECO2.6 criterion
- Harmonisation with the requirements of the EU Taxonomy
