Frequently asked questions regarding sustainability at DORMA

"Sustainable development means according equal priority to environmental, social and financial considerations." Doing business sustainably therefore means: the world we leave our children and grandchildren must be ecologically, socially and economically intact. It cannot be one without the other (source: "Council for Sustainable Development", convened by the German Federal Government).

Green has stood for nature and environmental protection since the 1980s. Based on its associations with nature, green is also used to symbolise sustainability (source: wikipedia.org/wiki/Grün). Green stands for an intact ecological relationship; sustainability focuses on actions that ensure long-term economic success. Because without economic success, there can be no sustainability.

Certification systems have been introduced around the world to ensure greater transparency in sustainability assessment. The organisations concerned endeavour to record and assess all key sustainability aspects relating to buildings. These sustainability aspects are then certified according to various categories.

• LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), USA, since 2000
• BREEAM (The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), UK, since 1990
• HQE (Association pour la Haute Qualité Environnementale), France, since 2004
• DGNB (Deutsches Gütesiegel Nachhaltiges Bauen), Germany, since 2008
• CASBEE (Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency), Japan, since 2001
• Green Star (Environmental Rating System for Buildings), Australia, since 2003
• ÖGNB (Österreichische Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen), Austria, since 2009
• MINERGIE (Sustainability brand for new and refurbished buildings), Switzerland, since 1994

Below you will find several representative buildings equipeed with DORMA products.

• European Investment Bank, Luxembourg
  The European Investment Bank was the first building in Continental Europe to receive certification to the British BREEAM standard. It incorporates automatic doors and glass solutions from DORMA.
• Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, USA
  In 2007, the Leopold Legacy Center was presented with a Platinum Certificate, the top level of certification awarded by the LEED, making it the first project in the USA to receive such an accolade. DORMA products are installed throughout the Center, which consumes 70% less energy than comparable buildings.
• INFRAX West, Belgium
  The new head office of Belgian energy provider WVEM in Torhout was presented with the “2020challenge Award”, a spin-off from the Kyoto Protocol, as the most innovative building of 2009. It is equipped with DORMA automatic door systems and glass hardware solutions.

Extremely robust and with a long service life, DORMA products are highly compatible with ecological sustainability. There are also a number of product groups that make an additional contribution to sustainability.

• KT revolving door
  DORMA revolving door systems are an energy-efficient solution for entrance areas. Their functional and enclosed design effectively segregates the interior and the exterior, thereby ensuring a consistent room temperature. As a result, heating and air conditioning systems consume less energy.
• MOVEO Glass partition system
  The MOVEO Glass flexible partition system brings natural light into building interiors. This not only saves energy but also ensures a pleasant working environment.

This is just the beginning. As well as ensuring the quality and practical functionality of our products, we also assign a high level of importance to reducing electricity consumption in our product development work.

As a member of various organisations and a partner of research projects being carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute (FutureLab) and the University of Lucerne (iHomeLab), DORMA is also involved in forward-looking development programmes relating to both the project/contract sector and housing construction.