DGNB

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.

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

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

• Sustainable building certification
• Green building standards
• Building sustainability assessment
• ESG real estate verification
• Circular construction frameworks

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Deutscher Städtetag (German Association of Cities)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2025Memorandum 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 BankminorOthersKfW 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)minorOthersGerman 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 GemeindenmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerDGNB 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

Regional 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

• Xx.com/dgnb_ev
• Facebookfacebook.com/DGNB.eV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dgnb-german-sustainable-building-council

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DGNB