The DGNB will once again be present with its own stand (B3.141) at Expo Real in Munich from 6 to 8 October 2025. Visitors can look forward to a varied programme of talks, panel discussions and networking opportunities, all hosted at a stand designed entirely with sustainability in mind.
If you would like to talk to us in more detail, you can make an appointment now. Please send an e-mail with the reason for your meeting and two or three suggested dates to service@dgnb.de.
The stand programme
| 11 am - 11.30 am | Driving the Transformation in Europe: A Comparison between DGNB, LEED und BREEAM Talk | The renowned engineering firm Buro Happold has conducted a study into the extent to which sustainability certification is driving the transformation of the construction and property industry in Europe. The most common certification systems DGNB, LEED and BREEAM were compared with each other. The results of the survey will be presented for the first time at Expo Real. Speaker:
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| 11.30 am - 11.45 am | The talk will be held in German. Less bureaucracy, same ambition: What simplifications will version 2023.2 of the DGNB System bring? Talk | World premiere: The DGNB is publicly presenting the update to its certification system for new construction for the first time. Currently, the DGNB is evaluating all assessment indicators and verification procedures with its network of experts in terms of effort and impact. The result is an update that will streamline the system in an appropriate manner without reducing the level of ambition in terms of sustainability. At Expo Real, the criteria and indicators that will be simplified in future will be presented in concrete terms. Speaker:
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| 12 pm - 12.45 pm | The panel discussion will be held in German. Now more than ever: Why sustainability and ESG will continue to guide construction in the future Panel discussion | The call for less bureaucracy is growing louder. But how far can we get in the search for simple answers to a complex problem? How can we find the right balance to create appropriate incentives for climate-friendly and economically viable construction? The panel discussion will examine current regulatory and social developments and place them in the broader context of ESG, sustainability and climate action. Speaker:
Further speakers will be announced shortly. Moderation: Dr Christine Lemaitre, DGNB |
| 1.15 pm - 2 pm | The panel discussion will be held in German. Sustainability as the new normal: How certification is becoming a construction standard Panel discussion | For more and more building owners, project developers and property managers, certification of their projects has long been a matter of course. Through the principle of multiple certification, they have defined a construction standard for their projects that harmonises internal processes with the requirements of the DGNB, thus maximising efficiency. In this panel discussion, some of these serial certifiers will report on their motivation, the challenges they face in practice and the added value they have achieved. Speakers:
Further speakers will follow shortly. Moderation: Johannes Kreißig, DGNB |
| 2 pm - 2.45 pm | Time to celebrate: DGNB certificates awarded to outstanding projects Award ceremony | It has become a tradition for the DGNB to present a number of awards at Expo Real to projects that have successfully completed the certification process. At the award ceremonies held directly at the DGNB stand, project participants briefly present their award-winning buildings and districts before receiving their certificates. Moderation:
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| 3 pm - 3.45 pm | The panel discussion will be held in German. ESG in focus: How to easily evaluate sustainability in existing properties Panel discussion | Reporting sustainability metrics will continue to gain relevance in the future. This makes it all the more important for investors, portfolio managers and owners to prepare for this in good time. But how can this be achieved for individual buildings and entire portfolios where data of varying quality is available from different sources? The panel discussion will present the transfer of the REMMS method from Switzerland to Germany and discuss its potential. Speakers:
Further speakers will follow shortly. Moderation: Johannes Kreißig, DGNB |
| 4 pm - 4.20 pm | SHIFT the mindset: Why modern architecture has failed Panel discussion | The international SHIFT initiative takes a critical look at architectural strategies in our globalised world. Instead of carrying the design principles of the Global North further into regions of the world, SHIFT advocates a radical change of perspective - based on learning from the architectural heritage of the Global South. The session will shed light on what this means in practice and what we can learn from it for the way we build in Europe. Speakers:
Moderation: Felix Jansen, DGNB |
| 4.30 pm - 5 pm | The panel discussion will be held in German. Key role for local authorities: How cities are becoming pioneers in sustainable construction Panel discussion | The public sector plays an important role as a role model for sustainable, climate-friendly construction – after all, the federal states and municipalities themselves are major property owners and are involved in both new construction and renovation of existing buildings. In practice, however, they often lack the budget or the relevant expert knowledge within the authorities. The panel discussion will examine the extent to which it is nevertheless possible to transform our cities in a way that benefits both citizens and the environment. Speakers:
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| 5 pm - 6 pm | Cities and local authorities in transition: Networking meeting for mayors with responsibility for construction Networking meeting | The traditional network meeting for mayors responsible for construction at Expo Real will take place again this year. The Federal Foundation of Baukultur, the DGNB and the ‘Climate-Positive Cities and Communities’ initiative invite you to attend at the DGNB stand. The exchange format will be accompanied by a high-calibre panel discussion on the topic of ‘Transforming infrastructure – design and sustainability’. |
| 9.45 am - 10 am | Networking meeting for DGNB auditors, consultants and ESG managers Networking meeting | As a meeting place for all qualified certification experts, the DGNB is offering an informal networking meeting at the start of the second day of Expo Real. Anyone looking to exchange ideas with experienced DGNB auditors and ESG managers is also welcome to attend. |
| 10 am - 10.30 am | The talk will be held in German. Green buildings: How is the market for sustainable buildings developing in Germany? Networking meeting | Has certification become widespread or is it only for flagship projects? Which uses are particularly active and where is demand stagnating? The session will provide an overview of the DGNB's current key figures and discuss drivers and obstacles for the market development of sustainability assessment for buildings and neighbourhoods in Germany. Speakers:
Moderation: Felix Jansen, DGNB |
| 10.45 am - 11.30 am | The panel discussion will be held in German. Market failure or government failure: What federal policy can change Panel discussion | Once again, there is much debate in the real estate industry. The paths taken towards sustainability and ESG are suddenly being called into question – and, when in doubt, politics is to blame. The federal government, on the other hand, is fuelling the construction boom and at the same time revising its own BNB assessment system at great expense and with a lot of taxpayers' money. Instead of spending a long time investigating the causes, the panel will discuss what needs to be done in the coming years to prevent a reversal of climate protection efforts and make the building stock fit for the future. Speakers to follow shortly. Moderation: Klaus-Peter Hesse, von Beust & Coll. |
| 11.30 am - 11.45 am | The talk will be held in German. Fact check: Why more sustainability in construction does not have to be more expensive Talk | The DGNB, in collaboration with the Building Performance Institute Europe (BPIE), has investigated the extent to which the life cycle costs of buildings and their climate impact are related. Can climate-friendly buildings also be constructed cost-effectively? And how does the result of DGNB certification correlate with this? The presentation will outline the most important findings of the study. Speaker:
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| 11.45 am - 12.30 pm | The panel discussion will be held in German. The myth of additional costs: when does sustainable construction pay off? Panel discussion | Few arguments against sustainable construction are as persistent as the claim that it involves higher financial outlays. Is this justified? Or do the facts tell a different story? What do the costs actually consist of? What is necessary and what is nice to have? Where are the levers for savings? And what positive effects offset the costs? The panel discussion will explore all these questions in a nuanced and unemotional manner. Speakers:
Further speakers will be announced shortly. |
| 1 pm - 1.15 pm | The talk will be held in German. Fact check: How important is renovation for climate action? Talk | In a short study, the DGNB and BPIE took a closer look at the climate impact of renovation projects. How important is the timing of modernisation? What form of revitalisation is most suitable? And is renovation really that much better than new construction in terms of climate action? The presentation will showcase the key findings of the study. Speaker:
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| 1.15 pm - 2 pm | The panel discussion will be held in German. Certification of existing districts: pilot projects of the new DGNB System Panel discussion | The renovation or transformation of existing districts is one of the key tasks in meeting the climate action and climate adaptation requirements in our cities. The DGNB has developed a new version of its certification system for this construction task and has successfully tested it in pilot projects over the past few months. The panel discussion will focus on the experiences gained in applying the new assessment system. Speaker:
Further speakers will be announced shortly. Moderation: Dr Stephan Anders, DGNB |
| 2 pm - 2.45 pm | Time to celebrate: Presentation of DGNB certificates to award-winning projects Award ceremony | It has become a tradition for the DGNB to present a number of awards at Expo Real to projects that have successfully completed the certification process. At the award ceremony at the DGNB stand, project participants will give a brief presentation of their award-winning buildings and districts before receiving their certificates. Moderation:
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| 3 pm - 3.45 pm | The panel discussion will be held in German. Health in buildings: How can properties be built and operated in a way that is allergy-friendly? Panel discussion | Allergies are the most common chronic disease in all industrialised countries. At the same time, houses can make an important contribution to our health and productivity. But what needs to be considered in the planning and implementation? How can rooms be created in which people with allergies also feel comfortable? And how can this be measured and evaluated? The panel discussion will explore the question of what healthy, allergy-friendly construction can look like. Speakers:
Further speakers will be announced shortly. Moderation: Johannes Kreißig, DGNB |
| 4 pm - 4.45 pm | The panel discussion will be held in German. ESG, sustainability and climate neutrality: What will be important for existing buildings in the future? Panel discussion | It is no secret that transforming the building stock towards climate neutrality is one of the key tasks facing the real estate sector. With its certification system for buildings in use, the DGNB has a suitable assessment and optimisation tool that addresses precisely this issue. This has been revised in recent months, as has the framework for climate-neutral buildings and locations. The panel discussion will present the most important changes and discuss the benefits for property owners. Speakers:
Further speakers will be announced shortly. Moderation: Dr Anna Braune, DGNB |
| 5 pm - 6 pm | Networking meeting for architects Networking meeting | The International Architects' Reception organised by the Network for Architecture Export NAX at Expo Real will take place again this year in cooperation with the DGNB and the Phase Sustainability initiative. All architects at the trade fair are cordially invited to a get-together with accompanying discussion round. |
| 10.30 am - 11 am | The panel discussion will be held in German. From transport infrastructure to existing districts: Which certification systems is the DGNB currently developing? Panel discussion | In addition to its existing and regularly optimised certification systems, the DGNB is constantly developing new variants for evaluating the sustainability quality of specific construction projects. The discussion will provide exclusive insights into the new certification offerings currently being developed by the DGNB. These include the new DGNB System for Transport Infrastructure Projects and the certification of existing districts. Speakers:
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| 12 pm - 12.45 pm | The panel discussion will be held in German. Circular construction: Where the industry stands on the path from buzzword to real practice Panel discussion | Whether it's building resource passports, material registers or cradle-to-cradle: there is certainly no shortage of buzzwords when it comes to circular construction. But how much substance is there behind the much-discussed debates? What is already common practice today and what is pure window dressing? The panel will discuss the status quo of the circular economy in construction and real estate practice and classify the significance of this topic in the context of holistic sustainable construction. Speaker:
Further speakers will follow shortly. |
Your contacts
Katrin Wolf
Manager Trade Fairs, Events and Partnerships
- Phone: +49-711-722322-38
- Email: K.WOLF@DGNB.DE
Christine Klingel
Project Manager Trade Fairs and Events
- Phone: +49-711-722322-139
- Email: C.KLINGEL@DGNB.DE