DGNB certification provides bonuses for applying circular economy principles in sustainable construction
The German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) with more than 1,200 members is the German and international knowledge platform for sustainable building and provides the world’s most advanced sustainable building certification system. Its aim is the planning and assessment of sustainable interiors, buildings and districts.
From the very first version of the DGNB System in 2008, a strong focus has been placed on the holistic assessment over the entire life cycle, on conscious resource use and on recycling and disassembling aspects. The DGNB Certification System plays an important role in ensuring that material cycles are put in place so that products can be re-used or reclaimed. These ideas can be incorporated in new business models and become part of responsible, future-centric product development. The 2018 version of the DGNB System particularly focuses on circular economy principles turning them into assessable and measurable aspects of buildings and rewarding their implementation with bonuses.
Examples of circular economy bonuses that can be achieved in the DGNB System:
- Reuse and recycling of building components;
- Avoidance of waste and the reduction of material input;
- The implementation of sharing models;
- An increased intensity of usage of the building;
- The production of renewable energy and the provision of a surplus of energy produced in the building within the district.
Full list of circular economy bonuses (in German)