DGNB System Version 2020 International

We build for ourselves – the people who spend a large portion of their lives inside buildings. With this in mind, it almost goes without saying that people's health and happiness should be a focal point when making design and construction decisions. The DGNB has anchored this principle in its system from the very beginning. In the latest version, this fundamental principle is systematically expanded and further promoted. This includes, for example, casting a critical eye over the kinds of technology and equipment used in a building, and considering the disempowerment of users that could result if their requirements are ignored in the decision-making process. The self-determination and responsibility of the users is a necessary and fundamental factor in ensuring that building management is both effective and appropriate.

One of the DGNB's primary concerns is promoting the responsible use of resources. It is about the forward-looking selection of products in terms of their ingredients and in the context of their application, as well as the consideration of possible structural modifications during use. Also, to close the circle, dismantling the building at the end of its useful life should be considered when choosing products at the planning stage. For this version of our system, we have systematically developed this topic and anchored it more firmly in the system. Through its certification system, the DGNB is thus ensuring that material cycles are ready for later reuse or further use in accordance with the cradle-to-cradle philosophy - via new business models as well as responsible and forward-looking product development. This makes the DGNB System the first building certification system which consistently integrates circular economy and that over a wide variety of topics in order to make it assessable and measurable at building level. So to promote new approaches, these solutions are rewarded with appropriate incentives (in the form of bonus points), which have a positive effect on certification results.

The DGNB considers design quality to be an integral part of sustainable building. For instance, we introduced the "DGNB Diamond Award" in 2016 – a way of evaluating over and above standard certification with regard to sustainability. This aspect is systematically further developed in this version of the DGNB System by focusing more closely on the contribution that the building and its outdoor space make in the context of urban planning. The criteria for site quality have therefore not only been revised, but will also be included directly in the certification results. Furthermore, greater emphasis has been placed on design aspects in order to foster a more integral, holistic approach to planning. This includes, for example, rewarding the architectural office winning the competition as well as the associated specialist planner team by continuous commissioning them. In addition, a new criterion with regard to FM-compliant planning has been included in the process quality criteria, in order to take facility management aspects into account right from the design stage.

With Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) being the focus of the Agenda 2030, the United Nations set out a number of specific objectives in 2016 that described a pragmatic approach involving a long-term shift in the way we think to further develop our world, which in turn enables us to live in a more sustainable world. The DGNB supports these objectives and seeks to encourage a concrete step in the right direction through certification. In order to firmly establish the concept of sustainable building in compliance with the SDGs and make this process transparent, we have checked that all the criteria in this version fulfil the objectives of the UN, and have provided the necessary information so that this can be verified accordingly. As a result, every project that obtains DGNB certification will, in future, also be issued with a statement specifying the extent to which a project contributes to the realisation of the SDGs. This will also provide motivation to users and facility managers to act in accordance with these goals during the use and operation of a building. As an additional incentive, we award an "Agenda 2030 bonus" for selected criteria for projects that contribute to the UN sustainability goals.

It will be the biggest challenge of our time to tackle the issues of the climate change by reaching the goals set by the Paris Agreement in 2015. Meanwhile, it is widely understood that buildings play a major role in this challenge by extensively reducing CO2 emissions. Nevertheless, a systematic approach from governments is still lacking in most countries. For more than ten years now, the DGNB has been committed to voluntarily achieve above and beyond what it required by codes and regulations. During that time, buildings certified by the DGNB have become more and more ambitious in reducing their carbon emissions during construction and while in use. Therefore, it was a logical step to enhance the importance of the climate goals in the newest version of the DGNB certification by implementing a tailor-made bonus system that rewards better buildings. The bonuses are given to buildings which are designed to be at least carbon neutral, meaning they produce more energy than they consume during operation. With this, the DGNB is setting a clear signal to the market that every new building can be designed as a carbon neutral building in order to make a positive contribution towards reaching global and national climate goals.

Sustainability has been, and still is, a key issue for the future. We can already see plenty of good examples of this when we look at today's buildings and urban districts. However, the DGNB plans to push this even further, with bold, new ideas. In light of this, a new method has been integrated into the criteria in this version of the system: Innovation areas. This has been added to many criteria and is intended to encourage designers to devise optimal solutions that most closely match the requirements of the project. The innovation areas now incorporated into these criteria are also intended to foster a design culture based on actively addressing the requirements of the specific building task and tailoring solutions to individual projects.

The adaption process

DGNB System Version 2020 International is an "umbrella document" for all new building schemes available under the DGNB Certification System.

It currently covers nine new building schemes:

• new office and administration buildings
• new educational buildings
• new residential buildings
• new hotel buildings
• new consumer market buildings
• new shopping centre buildings
• new department stores
• new logistic buildings
• new production buildings

Additionally, several new schemes are currently under development and will be integrated in this version of the system.

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