DGNB International.
Setting standards. Internationally. The DGNB worldwide.
As a leading cross-industry organization, the DGNB is the main driver for sustainable development in its sector in Germany. The DGNB is the hub at the center of the wheel. Internationally, the DGNB also plays an important role. As an active member of the World Green Building Council we played an important role in setting up the European Network. The European headquarters of the World Green Building Council in London and Stuttgart supports the work of current and emerging European Green Building Councils. Furthermore, we are integrated as researchers in major European EU projects. The internationalization of the DGNB goes hand in hand with the further development of the DGNB certification system. To optimally fulfill the specific requirements of different parts of the world, we work closely with non-profit and non-governmental organizations abroad. These organizations will handle and adapt the DGNB system in their countries. An DGNB international board has also been established to ensure our high quality standard worldwide. This board consists of representatives of the DGNB and its partner organizations. The Austrian Green Building Council (ÖGNI) was the first to adapt the system and awarded the first certificates for the Austrian version of the DGNB system in May 2010. Bulgaria, Switzerland and Thailand have also founded their organizations. And with the Chinese DGNB partner, we have entered one of the most promising future markets in the world. Other organizations in Brazil and Russia have also entered into such partnerships. Furthermore the new DGNB international system offers the possibility to certify buildings all over the world without a previous process.
A global focus. Local adaptation increases acceptance.
The DGNB‘s approach allows its certification system to be easily and quickly adapted to the requirements of other countries and building cultures. The internationality of the DGNB core system, which is based on the EU‘s targets, standards, and regulations, serves as the basis for future developments. This approach offers a number of benefits. For instance, if a country-specific adaptation does not include a standard for a certain criterion, the European requirement in the core system can be adopted. The process is similar to eco-balances. If there are no country-specific data for a construction material, the data records from the DGNB international core system are used. For international users, the DGNB has one major benefit: it can be largely adapted to country-specific building cultures, which increases acceptance and minimizes the work required for an international portfolio to be certified. At the same time, buildings in one country can still be compared to buildings in another. One important aspect in the process is that the requirements for a DGNB bronze certificate are based on common building practice in the country in question. In contrast, the DGNB gold certificate is based on an international standard that is the same for all countries. In this way, the assessments are still meaningful on an international scale.
The DGNB‘s Austrian partner organization ÖGNI (Austrian Green Building Council) was founded in the fall of 2009 by 120 founding members. ÖGNI‘s certification system committee adapted the DGNB system to Austria‘s standards and regulations. After just a few months, the certification of the first offices and administrative buildings began. The DGNB‘s new schemes are now gradually being adapted to Austrian conditions.
