Amendment DGNB Buildings in operation - What's in store for existing buildings now

On February 11, 2026, the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) published the updated version of its certification system for buildings in operation (GiB). The 2026 version replaces the 2020 edition and reflects changing market expectations in the areas of decarbonization, regulatory compliance and biodiversity. For owners, portfolio managers and operators, the update sharpens the assessment of building-related sustainability performance.

Transition periods

The DGNB has set May 31, 2026 as the deadline for new registrations under the previous version. Projects registered before this date can be continued under GiB 2020. For re-certifications, existing agreements extend this option until 2032**. Organizations with short-term certification plans should consider registering in the near future.

What remains the same?

An estimated 70% of the system remains unchanged. This applies in particular to the basic idea and therefore the three-pillar model (ecology, economy, socio-cultural), the award levels (platinum, gold, silver, bronze at 80%, 65%, 50%, 35%), the audit process, the three-year recertification cycle and the scale of fees. The Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology, which creates synergies with frameworks such as GRESB, also remains the foundation.

Five main clusters of change

The adjustments can essentially be structured into five main clusters:

1. Concretization of the methodology through clearer definition of indicators and standardized templates.
2. greater weighting of the building fabric** so that high-performance buildings are rewarded even with less comprehensive process documentation.
3. Regulatory connectivity through explicit mapping of DGNB indicators to EU taxonomy requirements and CSRD KPIs.
   4 Stronger performance focus that enables alternative paths for buildings with excellent operating results.
   5 Biodiversity management as a new, tenth criterion.

Significant changes: ecological criteria

In the case of climate protection and energy, the focus is expanding from pure consumption values to include consideration of the entire energy infrastructure, i.e. efficiency, storage and grid feed-in. New DGNB climate protection categories consolidate various regulatory requirements in an integrated classification framework. The climate protection action plan is additionally upgraded and provides the basis for a large number of follow-up points.

In the case of water, consumption analyses are given a higher weighting. New requirements in the form of absolute flow rates in accordance with the EU taxonomy supplement the established evaluation logic of relative improvement. A bonus for flood and heat wave prevention and the option of external benchmarking have also been added.

Resource management (formerly resource management) is reduced from 5% to 3% weighting to make room for biodiversity management with 2% weighting. This new criterion uses a checklist as a low-threshold entry point alongside the tried-and-tested Plan-Do-Check-Act structure and offers several assessment approaches: Proportion of area promoting biodiversity, avoidance metrics such as light pollution reduction, promotion of local biodiversity projects or recognition of existing DGNB biodiversity certifications.

Significant changes: economic criteria

Green OPEX rewards the transparent identification of sustainability-related expenditure in operating costs. Risk management has been significantly expanded: previous approaches to assessing environmental risks have been supplemented by resilience factors and vulnerability analyses with adaptation measures in accordance with the EU taxonomy. Taxonomy conformity is considered as an independent parameter, which results in an assessment based on dynamic benchmarks. New indicators incentivize knowledge of the market potential and alternative use scenarios of the property. An explicit transition plan** is expected, linking decarbonization, climate adaptation and financial planning. Overall, the system aims to encourage higher initial investments, taking into account long-term risk reduction and the avoidance of brown discounts.

In procurement and management, implementation intention and proven implementation are now weighted equally at 50:50 - instead of the previous disproportionate reward for the mere existence of guidelines.

Significant changes: socio-cultural criteria

A significant new approach to indoor comfort makes it possible to bypass measurement requirements if a standardized user survey proves satisfaction in terms of comfort. The methodology for regular measurements has been specified so that at least three one-week measurements per year are now required. Offers to promote user satisfaction are clustered more roughly and thus offer more scope for individual asset solutions. Meanwhile, accessibility is based on the model building code instead of the new DGNB standards and therefore has fewer lock-in effects in the DGNB system world. New bonus fields reward allergy-friendly construction and social impact projects. For mobility, detailed requirements for bicycle parking spaces can be waived in the case of demonstrable user satisfaction.

Parallel to GiB 2026, the DGNB has announced an upcoming update of the "Framework for climate-neutral buildings and sites" and the "Climate Positive" award for buildings that are demonstrably climate-neutral in operation. Details are expected in the first half of 2026.

**Key findings

There are six key findings from the system update:

1. the proven system remains: With an estimated 70% overall continuity, the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle in particular remains as the foundation.
2. a market-oriented further development sharpens the focus on building substance, resilience, performance and biodiversity.
3. Binding planning replaces non-binding best practice: Climate protection categories and transformation plans replace isolated measures and call for a structured implementation logic.
   4 Climate risks become an economic factor: Financial, physical and transitory risks are included in the investment assessment. Insufficient adaptation is treated as a real value and earnings risk.
   5 System openness through alternative verifications and bonus options prevents structural disadvantages for certain building types.
   6 Use the transition phase: Despite high methodological continuity, the content requirements increase in detail. Organizations wishing to certify according to GiB 2020 must register by 31 May 2026.

Agradblue supports owners throughout the entire certification life cycle. With over 80 sustainability specialists, we offer the necessary complementary services such as energy audits, green FM concepts, climate risk assessments and biodiversity assessments that bring most portfolios within reach of gold. In combination with our strategic advisory capabilities, we offer integrated support from portfolio strategy to individual asset certification. Contact us at agradblue.com to discuss how the GiB 2026 scheme amendment affects your portfolio.