Ten years have passed since the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) awarded its first certificates at the BAU, the world's leading trade fair for architecture, materials and systems in Munich. Since then, the DGNB System has established itself as one of the leading standards for sustainable building. This applies, of course, first and foremost to German-speaking countries: in Germany, for example, the DGNB has a market share of over 80 percent for new buildings in the area of commercial real estate.

2018 a record year for the DGNB 

The DGNB System is also used extensively in the international environment. The almost 5000 buildings, interiors or districts awarded by the DGNB by the end of 2018 are distributed between around 30 countries worldwide. This includes China, where there are now more than 20 projects with a certificate or pre-certificate from the DGNB. Among them and throughout the country are numerous residential projects of China Gezhouba Group Real Estate Development. In Xi'an, two China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) buildings under the Xinfulindai project received a DGNB pre-certificate in platinum at the end of 2018. A DGNB gold certificate was issued for the Sino-German Ecopark in Qingdao. It is the first city district in China that has been awarded by the DGNB. 

In 2018, the DGNB achieved record growth. In a year-on-year comparison, almost 40 percent more certificates and pre-certificates were awarded by the DGNB. In nearly all areas a significant increase was achieved – and this after the DGNB was already very successful in the previous years. As of 31 December 2018, the total area certified by the DGNB is 57.5 million sqm.

The DGNB in China: New and growing partnerships 

Growth in 2018 was also noticeable in China. Here, the certified area has almost tripled in comparison to the previous year. But not only the certification progressed. Numerous important partnerships have been deepened, in particular with the China Society for Urban Studies (CSUS), the China Academy of Building Research (CABR) and the China Green Building Council (CGBC). 

 An important element for the further development of the DGNB in China is the close cooperation around the Chinese Three Star green building certification system. Here, the DGNB is working in partnership with CSUS on a comparison of the content of the two standards and an associated evaluation with the aim of being able to offer double certification in the future.

Comparability of certification systems 

This joint initiative is particularly important given the limited comparability of internationally available certification systems, such as DGNB, LEED or BREEAM. This often makes it difficult for investors to tell which system is right for them. Creating more transparency in the Chinese real estate market by offering double certification is an important step and benefits all parties involved. This is especially true for sustainable building, because it shifts the focus back to the actual value of certification as a planning and optimization tool for the implementation of holistic quality.

For the purposes of the DGNB, the certification system should address essential factors for a sustainable construction method, making it measurable, comparable and thus applicable for the client. At the same time, certification should be used to create incentives for more sustainability in the built environment in planning, design and building operations. In numerous even larger projects, certification is often understood and used as a management tool.

Sustainable is more than green 

A significant difference between the DGNB and other systems is already deducible from the designation. The internationally recognized "Green Building" is replaced by "Sustainable Building" at the DGNB. The term "green" is closely linked to the field of energy efficiency or ecology, which should, however, only be a partial aspect of sustainable building. Thus, the DGNB System is based on the classic understanding of sustainability, which rests on the triad of ecology, economy and social issues. Having no or only a limited focus on the economic sector – as is the case with the LEED system, which focuses more on energy-related topics – stands in clear contradiction to this understanding. For the DGNB, a building must always be planned and constructed in such a way that it: can be built and operated in an environmentally sound and resource-efficient manner, makes economic sense, is cost-effective in the long term and poses as little risk to investments as possible, is focusing on the human being by promoting health and comfort and increasing the quality of stay, making long-term use more likely, takes climatic and cultural events into account, adapts to them and thus represents the best possible solution for the local and Baukultur requirements.

DGNB paves the way to better buildings 

Whether a structural measure is appropriate for a building depends on a variety of different factors, often depending on the specific context in which a building is created. In this sense, unlike other certification systems, the DGNB System does not function as a rating tool in which individual measures are evaluated separately. Rather, the DGNB System always aims for a better overall performance of the building. The result is evaluated in terms of the effect achieved for the building, and not the implementation of individual predefined measures audited. Consistently, the goal to be achieved is at the forefront of all criteria. Thus, the discovery of or path towards a solution is the responsibility of investors and planners and opens up space for new and innovative concepts. Any additional cost for innovations can be taken into account, allowing for a fair evaluation and reward of the risks taken.

Sustainable development as the highest maxim 

With these and other principles, such as the consistent lifecycle orientation, the DGNB also wants to make an important contribution to sustainability in China. The responsibility for the sustainable development of the Chinese construction and real estate industry, especially in the global context, cannot be overestimated. Partnerships, such as those built by the DGNB in recent years, are fundamental here. The DGNB is in pursuit of a common goal that can only be achieved through cooperation: the goal of securing the future of our planet.

Article Resource: Econet Monitor Special Green Building