DGNB
DGNB is the German Sustainable Building Council, a Stuttgart-based non-profit that operates Europe's largest network for sustainability certification of buildings and districts. It serves architects, developers, investors, municipalities, and product manufacturers through certification, academy/training, and membership-fee revenue across 30 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersStuttgart, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DGNB does
DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen – German Sustainable Building Council) is a Stuttgart-based non-profit association, founded in 2007, that operates Europe's largest network for sustainable building and is positioned globally as the world's #2 of its kind. Its core offering is the DGNB Certification System, a holistic, lifecycle-oriented assessment and certification framework covering environmental, socio-cultural, economic, technical, and process-quality dimensions for buildings (new construction, renovation, buildings in use, interiors, deconstruction, construction sites) and districts (urban, business, commercial, industrial sites, event areas). The system is accredited for Germany's QNG (Qualitätssiegel Nachhaltiges Gebäude) quality seal and fully integrated with EU Taxonomy criteria and the European Level(s) reporting framework, enabling certified projects to access BEG federal energy-efficiency subsidies.
The technology backbone consists of proprietary criteria catalogs, the DGNB System Software for managing certification projects, the DGNB Navigator tool, the myDGNB networking platform, and the DGNB Lernplattform (academy LMS), supplemented by circular-economy artifacts such as the Building Resource Passport and Circularity Indices. The business is a hybrid non-profit / commercial structure: DGNB e.V. as the membership-funded association, with DGNB GmbH handling commercial operations across four recurring revenue streams - membership fees (with reduced municipality rates from 2025), certification fees, academy/training fees, and event/conference revenue. Go-to-market is sales-led and network-driven: projects are registered through a certified auditor pool that guides clients through certification, while committees, expert pools, the myDGNB platform, trade-fair presence (Expo Real, BAU), and qualification programs sustain engagement across the 2,800+ member organizations and 11,000+ certified projects in approximately 30 countries.
DGNB firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DGNB
- Legal name
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen – DGNB e.V.
- Website
- https://dgnb.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- DGNB is the German Sustainable Building Council, a Stuttgart-based non-profit that operates Europe's largest network for sustainability certification of buildings and districts. It serves architects, developers, investors, municipalities, and product manufacturers through certification, academy/training, and membership-fee revenue across 30 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DGNB industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Building Certification
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Document Management Systems (DMS) (HDAEAGAA)
Keywords
Where DGNB is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stuttgart
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
DGNB business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for organizations joining the DGNB network. Members receive reduced certification fees, access to expert pools, committees, and networking platforms like myDGNB. Special reduced rates available for municipalities since 2025.
- Certification Fees: Fees for certifying buildings and districts under the DGNB system. Certification fees are charged based on the DGNB fee schedule. Member discounts apply. Municipalities receive member rates without requiring membership since 2025.
- Academy and Training Fees: Revenue from professional training and qualification programs including DGNB Consultant, Auditor, Biodiverse Manager, Site Coordinator certifications. Approximately 30% member discounts on training courses.
- Event and Conference Fees: Revenue from annual congress, network events, expert days, and participation in trade fairs like Expo Real, BAU, and Forum Nachhaltige Architektur
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Academy Training - Member Rate |
| Subscription | Annual | Academy Training - Non-Member Rate |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Certification Fees - Member Rate |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Certification Fees - Municipality Rate |
| Freemium | Monthly | myDGNB Platform Access |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
DGNB product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DGNB operates a holistic sustainability certification system for buildings and districts, evaluating environmental, socio-cultural, economic, technical, and process quality dimensions across the full lifecycle. The organization sells certification services, professional training through its Akademie, and digital tools (DGNB System Software, myDGNB platform, Navigator) used by architects, developers, investors, and municipalities, with accredited status to issue QNG quality seals enabling access to BEG government subsidies.
Product overview
DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen - German Sustainable Building Council) is Europe's largest network for sustainable building, offering a comprehensive certification ecosystem. The core offering is the DGNB System, a holistic planning and optimization tool for assessing sustainable buildings and districts based on environmental, social, and economic criteria. The portfolio includes: the DGNB Zertifizierung certification system with variants for buildings (Neubau, Sanierung, Gebäude im Betrieb, Innenräume, Rückbau, Baustelle) and districts (Stadtquartiere, Businessquartiere, Gewerbegebiete, Industriestandorte, Event Areale); specialized DGNB Flex, DGNB Diamant, and special awards (Klimapositiv, Allergikerfreundliches Bauen, Umweltzeichen, Social Positive); the digital platforms (DGNB System Software, myDGNB networking platform, DGNB Navigator, DGNB Lernplattform, DGNB User Account); the DGNB Akademie offering expert qualifications (Consultant, Auditor, Biodiversitätsmanager); ESG/Taxonomy verification services; and practical toolboxes for climate protection and circular building. The organization was founded in 2007 and has certified over 11,000 projects in approximately 30 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- myDGNB: Digital networking platform for DGNB members, certification experts, and committee members to exchange information and access protected content.
- DGNB Akademie
- DGNB System Software
- DGNB Navigator
Products and services
- DGNB Certification System (DGNB Zertifizierung) Global benchmark certification system for sustainability in buildings and districts, available in variants for new construction, renovation, buildings in operation, interiors, deconstruction, construction sites, and urban/business/commercial/industrial/event districts. Used by building owners, developers, architects, and municipalities.
- DGNB System Software
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 11,000 projects certified in approximately 30 countries
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use DGNB
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
DGNB technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
DGNB partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.
- Deutscher Städtetag (German Association of Cities)coreMemorandum of understanding signed at the German Association of Cities' general meeting in Hannover. The partnership aims to systematically support municipalities in transforming the built environment toward sustainability and climate protection. DGNB provides exclusive offers and special rates for municipalities including discounts on academy training and reduced certification fees for all building and district certifications.
- KfW BankminorKfW Program 432 Energetische Stadtsanierung provides partial funding for measures implemented during DGNB district certification including green space inventory, energy efficiency analysis, overall energy balance, and stakeholder involvement. Certification fees themselves are not eligible for this program.
- Städtebauförderung (Urban Development Funding)minorGerman urban development funding program that may provide financing for DGNB certification fees and auditor costs on a case-by-case basis.
- Initiative Klimapositive Städte und GemeindenmoderateDGNB co-developed a strategic working aid for municipal heat action planning with this initiative. Participation in the initiative is free for municipalities.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DGNB competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- DGNB Schweiz (Swiss DGNB system operator): The Swiss DGNB system operator running DGNB certification adapted for the Swiss market. Comparable as a regional affiliate/sister organization using the same DGNB methodology in a neighboring non-German market.
- ÖGNI (Österreichische Gesellschaft für Nachhaltige Immobilienwirtschaft): Austrian sustainable building council using a DGNB-aligned certification system for the Austrian market. Closely comparable to DGNB as a regional Green Building Council operating in a German-speaking neighboring market with overlapping methodology.
- SGBC (Sweden Green Building Council): Swedish national green building council operating the Sweden Green Building Council certification system and Miljöbyggnad standard. Comparable as a national Green Building Council in a different European geography with similar sustainability assessment services.
- CaGBC (Canada Green Building Council): Canadian national green building council administering LEED and Zero Carbon certification programs. Comparable as a national Green Building Council in a non-European market with similar member-based sustainable building certification services.
Direct peers
- U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): Operates the LEED green building rating system, the world's most widely used sustainable building certification. Directly comparable to DGNB as a national/regional building council offering competing certification standards across overlapping geographies and building types.
- International WELL Building Institute (IWBI): Administers the WELL Building Standard, a leading certification focused on occupant health and wellbeing in buildings. Comparable to DGNB as a premium building certification often pursued alongside sustainability certifications like LEED/BREEAM.
- BRE Group (BREEAM): Operates the BREEAM certification standard, one of the longest-established and most internationally deployed sustainable building certifications. Direct competitor to DGNB in the European and international markets with similar holistic environmental, social, and economic assessment methodology.
Emerging players
- Sphera (formerly thinkstep): Enterprise sustainability and LCA software provider with strong building and construction product LCA capabilities. Comparable to DGNB's LCA-focused offerings as a technology-driven sustainability assessment platform serving overlapping corporate and project customers.
- One Click LCA: Leading software platform for life cycle assessment (LCA) and embodied carbon calculations in buildings. Comparable to DGNB's software and circularity tools as an adjacent technology that supports sustainability certification workflows and could partially automate certification preparation.
Broad incumbents
- Drees & Sommer: Large European engineering and consulting firm offering comprehensive sustainable building consulting including ESG, certification advisory, and project management. Comparable to DGNB as a broad incumbent sustainability services provider serving overlapping real estate developer and investor clients.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DGNB social profiles
Digital presenceDGNB compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
DGNB financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DGNB leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
DGNB funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DGNB M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DGNB
What does DGNB do?
DGNB operates a holistic sustainability certification system for buildings and districts, evaluating environmental, socio-cultural, economic, technical, and process quality dimensions across the full lifecycle. The organization sells certification services, professional training through its Akademie, and digital tools (DGNB System Software, myDGNB platform, Navigator) used by architects, developers, investors, and municipalities, with accredited status to issue QNG quality seals enabling access to BEG government subsidies.
Is DGNB a public or private company?
DGNB is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was DGNB founded?
DGNB was founded in 2007. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is DGNB based?
DGNB is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does DGNB make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are certification Fees, academy and Training Fees and event and Conference Fees.
Who are DGNB's main competitors?
Regional players on record are DGNB Schweiz (Swiss DGNB system operator), ÖGNI (Österreichische Gesellschaft für Nachhaltige Immobilienwirtschaft), SGBC (Sweden Green Building Council) and CaGBC (Canada Green Building Council). Direct peers are U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and BRE Group (BREEAM). Emerging players are Sphera (formerly thinkstep) and One Click LCA. Drees & Sommer is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does DGNB have an API?
No public API is recorded for DGNB.
What industry is DGNB in?
DGNB's product category is Sustainable Building Certification. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAMAK, Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC), with a secondary code of HDAEAGAA, Document Management Systems (DMS). Its NAICS code is 541380 and its SIC code is 8734.