At a glance
What the symbols mean
- (+)Can contribute towards points or creditsThe module delivers some or all of the analysis or evidence the criterion is scored on.
- →Provides design directionThe module shapes the design decision; the credit is earned once the team develops the design in detail and documents it.
- •Provides the data basisThe module supplies some or all of the underlying data; the team interprets it and produces the evidence required to claim the point.
- –No contributionNothing in this scheme that the module speaks to.
The symbol beside each criterion is C4B’s strongest contribution to it; the symbols beside the modules show what each module contributes on its own.
- 8DGNB criteria supported
- 4(+) Can contribute towards points or credits
- 3→ Provide design direction
- 1• Provide the data basis
Coming soon: contributions to 1 more DGNB criterion, from modules that are not live yet.
| C4B | Criterion | C4B modules that contribute |
|---|---|---|
| (+) | ENV1.1 Climate action and energy — life cycle CO₂ balance in early phases10 pts · 1.04 % |
|
| • | ECO1.1 Life cycle cost — design variantsup to 15 of 100 pts · 1.5 % |
|
| → | ECO2.6 Climate resilience45 pts · 2.25 % |
|
| → | SOC1.1 Thermal comfort35 pts · 1.47 % |
|
| → | SOC1.4 Visual comfort — daylight availability and glare protectioncoming soon40 of 100 pts · 1.68 % |
|
| → | SOC1.6 Quality of indoor and outdoor spacespartial scope20 pts · 0.84 % |
|
| (+) | TEC1.3 Quality of the building envelope — PV application potential10 pts · 0.22 % |
|
| (+) | TEC1.4 Use and integration of building technology60 pts · 1.32 % |
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| (+) | SITE1.1 Local environment85 pts · 2.13 % |
|
Environmental quality
Climate action and energy — life cycle CO₂ balance in early phases
C4B modules used
- (+)Preliminary Energy Balance
- →Energy Use: Orientation and Aspect Ratio Optimization
- →Suggested Focus for Reducing Overall Carbon Emissionscoming soon
- •Country Grid Carbon Intensity Assessment
- •Country Average Embodied / Operational Energy Ratioscoming soon
What C4B contributes
The operational energy demand from the preliminary energy balance, with grid carbon factors and a comparison of orientation and form — the building operation part of the early CO₂ balance. Embodied-to-operational ratios are coming soon.
What the team completes
Add the embodied carbon of construction to complete the early balance, and carry out the later life cycle assessment indicators of the criterion.
Data to obtain: Material quantities for the embodied carbon calculation.
Economic quality
Life cycle cost — design variants
C4B modules used
- •Preliminary Energy Balance
- •Energy Use: Orientation and Aspect Ratio Optimization
- •Suggested Focus for Reducing Overall Carbon Emissionscoming soon
What C4B contributes
The operational energy demand of each design variant from the preliminary energy balance, and how orientation and building form change it: the energy figures behind the use-phase costs the variants must compare. Coming soon: the variants’ operational CO₂ emissions priced with the expected CO₂ price, the figure the mandatory first variant has to show.
What the team completes
For indicator 1.1.1 (7.5 points per variant): set up a life cycle cost model in an early design phase, with production costs and use-phase costs shown separately. Develop at least two integral variants. The first is mandatory and includes the expected CO₂ price (for example as per EU specifications) or the climate costs published by the German Federal Environment Agency; the second covers another option, such as reused building components, a higher energy standard, net greenhouse-gas-neutral operation or a longer or shorter reference period. Present both variants to the client, document the discussion and show how the results informed the design decisions. Until C4B’s CO₂ pricing is live, the cost consultant prices the operational emissions with the chosen CO₂ price.
Data to obtain: Construction, maintenance, cleaning and energy costs for each variant, the expected CO₂ price or climate cost rate, and the reference period of the calculation.
Climate resilience
C4B modules used
- →Passive Design Strategies for Indoor Environments
- →Comfort Strategies for Outdoor Environments
- •Typical Hourly Temperature, Humidity and Adaptive Comfort
- •Location Information and Data Summary
- •Project Summary report
What C4B contributes
Climate data and future scenarios to identify the risks the building must respond to, with passive adaptation strategies for indoor and outdoor spaces. Covers the building concept for the identified risks (15) and climate change adaptation (30).
What the team completes
Develop the building concept for the risks identified in SITE1.1 by design phase 4, and implement the adaptation measures. Basic resilience to natural hazards is a minimum requirement for every DGNB certificate.
Sociocultural and functional quality
Thermal comfort
C4B modules used
- →Typical Hourly Temperature, Humidity and Adaptive Comfort
- →Passive Design Strategies for Indoor Environments
- →Technical Comfort Strategies
What C4B contributes
The DIN EN 16798-1 comfort band for the site, and passive and technical strategies that keep operative temperatures within it.
What the team completes
Verify the operative temperatures with a thermal simulation of the design and the chosen plant, and document compliance per room type.
Visual comfort — daylight availability and glare protectioncoming soon
C4B modules used
- →Daylight Analysiscoming soon
What C4B contributes
Coming soon: daylight provision to EN 17037 method 2 and the daylight glare probability (DGP) with each shading device, for a representative room per facade — the basis for daylight availability across the building (indicator 1, up to 20 points) and the absence of glare (indicator 4, up to 20 points).
What the team completes
Calculate the daylight availability for the whole building and the glare protection at the permanent workplaces with a simulation of the design, and document the glare protection system chosen.
Data to obtain: Surface reflectances, the visible light transmittance of the glazing, and the buildings and trees that obstruct sky or sun.
Quality of indoor and outdoor spacespartial scope
C4B modules used
- →Outdoor Comfort (UTCI)
- →Comfort Strategies for Outdoor Environments
- →Directional Outdoor Comfort Strategies
- →Window Shading Recommendations
- →Annual and Daily Wind Rose Diagrams
- →Wind Protection Module (beta)
What C4B contributes
Outdoor thermal comfort (UTCI), shading and wind protection advice for the common outdoor areas (15), and climate protection options for the outside facilities (5).
What the team completes
Design and build the outdoor areas with the recommended shading and wind protection, and document the measures. The indoor indicators — communication zones, additional facilities, family-friendly design and interior circulation — are outside what C4B addresses. C4B does not model the existing context: account for the neighbouring buildings, trees and terrain, which change sun, shade and wind in the outdoor areas.
Technical quality
Quality of the building envelope — PV application potential
C4B modules used
- (+)PV Energy: Aggregate Yearly Potential
- (+)Optimal PV Panel Orientation
- →Solar Radiation
What C4B contributes
The PV potential of the envelope — yearly yield and the optimal panel orientation — which is what this indicator assesses.
What the team completes
Document the PV study for the project and, where PV is planned, integrate it into the envelope design. C4B does not model the existing context: account for the neighbouring buildings, trees and terrain that shade the roof and facades and lower the PV yield.
Use and integration of building technology
C4B modules used
- (+)Passive Design Strategies for Indoor Environments
- →PV Energy: Aggregate Yearly Potential
- →Wind Energy: Aggregate Yearly Potentialcoming soon
- →Geothermal Potential
- →PV and Wind Energy Potential: Yearly Distributioncoming soon
What C4B contributes
Planning of the passive building concept (15): the passive design strategies are the planning evidence this indicator asks for. For renewable energy use and on-site generation (20), the PV and geothermal potentials show what the site can supply; the wind potential is coming soon.
What the team completes
Implement the passive concept in the design: +5 points per topic area, up to 25 (indicator 1.2). For indicator 5, cover at least 85 % (5 points) or 95 % (10 points) of the regulated final energy demand with renewables, and fit PV or solar thermal on at least 60 % (5 points, a Platinum minimum) or 80 % (10 points) of the roof area suitable for solar use. C4B does not model the existing context: account for the neighbouring buildings, trees and terrain, which shade the roof and facades, change the wind at the site and lower the yield.
Site quality
Local environment
C4B modules used
- (+)Location Information and Data Summary
- •Climate Zone
- (+)Project Summary report
What C4B contributes
The climate risk analysis for the site from current and future climate scenarios based on IPCC data — the basis of the criterion’s largest indicators: the risk analysis (55) and its data basis (15).
What the team completes
Interpret the results for the project and show how they are used in the design and in ECO2.6.
Data to obtain: Natural hazard data for the site — flood, earthquake, storm — from local sources.
Working with C4B on a DGNB project
- Run the site in C4B early
Enter the project location at pre-design or concept stage, while orientation, form and the energy concept are still open.
- Share the PDF report and the module outputs
Pass the PDF report and the individual module outputs to the design team, energy modeller and DGNB assessor or consultant.
- Work through “What the team completes”
It is the checklist of what remains for each criterion: the analyses, designs and data that turn C4B’s contribution into an awarded credit.
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Frequently asked questions
Can C4B earn DGNB points on its own?
C4B contributes the analysis, design direction or data behind each criterion. Every point is earned by the project team and confirmed by the assessor on the evidence submitted.
Is C4B endorsed by the DGNB?
No. C4B is independent of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) and is not a DGNB-approved tool. It produces climate, energy and comfort analysis that the team uses and submits as part of its own evidence; the assessor decides what it is worth.
What does the percentage after the DGNB points mean?
DGNB scores each criterion out of 100 points and then weights it into the total performance index. The percentage is what those points are worth as a share of the whole certificate, using the office weightings; other building types weight the criteria slightly differently.
When should we run C4B on a DGNB project?
At pre-design or concept stage, while orientation, form and the energy concept are still open. Enter the project location, share the PDF report and the individual module outputs with the design team, energy modeller and DGNB assessor or consultant, then work through what the team completes for each criterion.
Sources
DGNB scores each criterion out of 100 points and weights it into the total performance index. Values show the criterion points C4B contributes towards, and what they are worth as a share of the whole certificate, using the office weightings. Weightings differ slightly by building type. DGNB System, Criteria Set New Construction Buildings, version 2023, DGNB GmbH. Criteria not listed here are outside what the platform addresses. DGNB is a trademark of the German Sustainable Building Council.
Other certification guides
LEED v4.1 BD+C certification guide
The eleven LEED v4.1 BD+C requirements C4B supports today, from Integrative Process and Site Assessment to rainwater, energy and comfort; daylight is coming soon.
BREEAM International NC v7.1 certification guide
The nine BREEAM issues C4B supports today, from thermal comfort and natural hazards to the energy strategy, low carbon design and flood risk; visual comfort is coming soon.
VERDE Edificios 2030 certification guide
The eight VERDE Edificios 2030 indicators C4B supports today: climate risk, bioclimatic design, energy, renewables and comfort; daylight is coming soon.
Certification contribution by module
The full table: for every live module and every scheme, the criteria behind each symbol and the points, credits or score share they carry.