Preface -- Principles -- Sustainable building -- Global change -- Sustainable development -- Building assessment and certification -- Certification - the systems in detail -- BREEAM -- LEED -- DGNB -- CASBEE -- MINERGIE -- HQE -- EU GreenBuilding Programme -- Planning process and documentation requirements -- Planning process -- Certification and building documentation -- BREEAM certification process -- LEED certification process -- DGNB certification process -- System comparison -- Structural comparison -- International and European system comparison -- Assessment and certification modules -- Distinctive features -- Economic aspects and market potentials -- Economic aspects of building certification -- Relevance of certificates in the market according to property management experts -- Case studies -- BREEAM: European Investment Bank, Luxembourg -- LEED: Katharinum, Leipzig -- LEED: New headquarters for the Deutsche Börse Group, Eschborn -- DGNB: Zentrum für Umweltbewusstes Bauen, Kassel -- DGNB /BNB: Federal Ministry of Health, Bonn -- DGNB: Office and administration building, Munich (pre-certificate) -- Summary and outlook -- Appendix.