The certification system of the German Sustainable Building Council DGNB is used to objectively describe and assess the sustainability of buildings and neighbourhoods. The key sustainability areas of ecology, economy and socio-cultural aspects are included in the assessment with equal weighting.

The Sustainable Building Quality Seal is a state seal of quality awarded by the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction (BMWSB). It is the required proof for the promotion of sustainability aspects in a separate sustainability class within the framework of the BEG (Federal Subsidy for Efficient Buildings). The quality seal sets requirements for the socio-cultural and functional, economic, ecological and technical quality, the process quality and the comfort and functionality of buildings.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environment Design and is a US-American certification system for assessing the sustainability of buildings over their entire life cycle. The assessment focuses in particular on ecological aspects such as energy, waste, water and materials, but social aspects are also taken into account.

BREEAM, Building Research Establishments Environmental Assessment Method, was the first system for assessing the sustainability of buildings and was developed in the UK. Aspects such as energy and water consumption, materials, the ecological impact of the building and the health and comfort of users are taken into account throughout the life cycle.