EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) is a green building certification system aimed at making buildings more resource-efficient. It was created by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, with the goal of promoting sustainable building practices, especially in emerging markets. The key focus of EDGE is on reducing the environmental impact of buildings by improving their energy efficiency, water use, and the energy embodied in materials.
What is EDGE Certification?
EDGE Certification is designed to be practical and affordable, providing developers, architects, and building owners with the necessary tools to optimize building designs for sustainability without a significant cost premium. It leverages an easy-to-use software that helps project teams quantify savings in energy, water, and materials. Once a building demonstrates a 20% improvement in energy efficiency, water savings, and embodied energy in materials compared to standard practices, it qualifies for EDGE certification.
Why was EDGE Developed?
The construction and operation of buildings are major contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and environmental degradation. According to estimates, buildings account for approximately 39% of global carbon emissions. As urbanization increases, especially in developing countries, the demand for new buildings rises, further stressing natural resources. The construction industry needs sustainable solutions to curb emissions and reduce the environmental footprint of buildings.
In response to this, EDGE was developed with emerging markets in mind, aiming to foster sustainable growth in regions that are rapidly developing. It serves as a solution that promotes both environmental sustainability and cost savings, making green building more accessible to a wider range of projects and stakeholders.
How Does EDGE Certification Work?
EDGE Certification is unique because of its integrated software that simplifies the process of making a building sustainable. The EDGE App is a cloud-based platform that helps users quickly determine the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy, water, and materials consumption in their projects. Here’s how the process works:
EDGE App: Building Efficiency Assessment
The EDGE App is an interactive tool that allows project teams to assess various design strategies and their impact on energy and resource consumption. By inputting basic building information, such as the location, size, and type of building, the tool generates recommendations on how to make the project more efficient. It provides an array of green solutions, from using energy-efficient lighting to installing water-saving fixtures, and even offers suggestions for materials with lower embodied energy.
The platform calculates the percentage savings for energy, water, and materials compared to a typical building in the same location, allowing users to choose the most feasible and cost-effective design strategies. The tool can be accessed for free, making it a cost-efficient starting point for green building certification.
Achieving the Minimum Requirement
To qualify for EDGE certification, a project must achieve at least a 20% reduction in energy usage, water consumption, and the embodied energy of building materials, as compared to a standard building. This requirement is consistent across building types, whether it’s for residential, commercial, or industrial buildings.
The 20% savings threshold is designed to be achievable, ensuring that even small and medium-sized projects can participate. The modular nature of the software allows users to test different combinations of design solutions to determine the most practical ways to achieve the required savings.
Independent Audit and Certification
After achieving the necessary performance improvements using the EDGE App, projects must go through an independent audit process. EDGE auditors are trained professionals who review the building design and actual construction to ensure compliance with EDGE standards. They verify that the measures claimed by the project team have been implemented correctly.
Once the audit is complete and the project is deemed to meet the certification criteria, the building receives official EDGE certification. Depending on the depth of green measures taken, projects can also strive for higher certification levels, such as EDGE Advanced and Zero Carbon certification.
Key Benefits of EDGE Certification
EDGE Certification offers multiple benefits to developers, building owners, and tenants. Below are some of the main advantages of opting for EDGE certification:
1. Cost Savings
One of the primary benefits of EDGE is its emphasis on cost-effectiveness. By targeting a 20% reduction in energy, water, and material use, building owners can reduce operational costs over the lifespan of the building. For example, energy-efficient lighting, appliances, and HVAC systems help lower utility bills, while water-saving fixtures reduce water consumption. These savings can translate into lower overall operating costs, making the building more profitable in the long run.
2. Accelerated Market Entry
EDGE provides a fast and simple certification process, helping developers gain certification within a shorter time frame compared to other green building certifications. The EDGE App streamlines the process by offering precise and actionable recommendations, reducing the time spent on design iterations. Furthermore, since the requirements are clear and achievable, developers can more easily integrate green building solutions without extensive revisions.
3. Sustainability and Environmental Impact
By adopting EDGE Certification, developers and building owners contribute to a more sustainable future. The energy, water, and material savings help reduce a building’s carbon footprint and lessen its environmental impact. This can be especially significant in areas where resources are scarce or where infrastructure is strained by rapid urbanization.
Furthermore, EDGE promotes the use of locally sourced materials, which reduces transportation emissions and boosts local economies. By prioritizing resource efficiency, EDGE-certified buildings not only reduce operating costs but also conserve vital resources for future generations.
4. Meeting Regulatory and Market Demands
Many governments and financial institutions are increasingly requiring or incentivizing green building certifications. For example, some countries have introduced regulations mandating energy efficiency standards for new buildings, while others offer financial incentives for projects that meet certain sustainability benchmarks.
Additionally, consumers and tenants are increasingly interested in sustainable buildings, as environmental awareness grows globally. Properties with EDGE certification may appeal more to environmentally conscious tenants and buyers, helping developers stay competitive in the real estate market.
5. Alignment with Global Climate Goals
EDGE certification aligns with global efforts to combat climate change. By promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, EDGE contributes to the goals outlined in international climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement. Through the widespread adoption of EDGE, buildings can play a crucial role in limiting global temperature rise.
EDGE Certification Levels
EDGE certification is available in three levels, depending on the performance of the building:
1. EDGE Certified
This is the basic certification level and is awarded to buildings that achieve a minimum of 20% savings in energy, water, and embodied energy in materials. This threshold ensures that the building is performing better than typical buildings in the same category and region.
2. EDGE Advanced
EDGE Advanced is awarded to buildings that achieve at least a 40% reduction in energy usage, in addition to the 20% reduction in water and materials. This higher level of certification represents significant progress in resource efficiency and provides even greater cost savings and environmental benefits.
3. EDGE Zero Carbon
EDGE Zero Carbon is the highest level of certification, granted to buildings that achieve 100% energy savings through a combination of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy generation. This level ensures that the building is fully aligned with the global movement towards net-zero carbon emissions. Buildings can achieve this status either by being fully operational as zero-carbon buildings or by using offsets to balance any remaining emissions.
EDGE and Global Impact
As a global certification system, EDGE is particularly impactful in emerging markets, where it provides a solution to growing resource demand and environmental pressures. Countries in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe have embraced EDGE as a tool to promote sustainable urban development. By reducing resource consumption in these regions, EDGE contributes to both local and global environmental goals, while also improving economic resilience.
In addition, the IFC has partnered with financial institutions to provide green building loans and financing programs for EDGE-certified buildings, further encouraging the uptake of sustainable practices in the construction industry.
How to Get EDGE Certified
The process of getting EDGE certified is straightforward, beginning with the use of the EDGE App for assessing potential savings. Below are the key steps:
Register the Project: Register the building on the EDGE platform and create a profile for the project. You will be required to enter details about the building, including its size, location, and type.
Use the EDGE App: Input basic data into the EDGE App to determine the project’s current resource use and explore various efficiency measures to meet the certification criteria. The app will calculate the anticipated savings and provide recommendations.
Implement Sustainable Measures: Based on the insights provided by the EDGE App, project teams can implement the necessary design changes and construction strategies to meet or exceed the 20% savings threshold.
Submit for Certification: Once the design and construction phases are complete, an independent EDGE auditor will verify that the sustainability measures have been implemented. After successful verification, the project is awarded EDGE certification.
EDGE Certification is an accessible, affordable, and impactful green building certification system. Its emphasis on energy, water, and material savings makes it particularly well-suited for emerging markets, where resource efficiency is critical to sustainable development. By offering a streamlined certification process through its innovative EDGE App, the program empowers developers and building owners to integrate sustainability into their projects without high upfront costs. Moreover, as more countries and companies commit to reducing carbon emissions, EDGE certification provides a pathway to achieving global environmental goals while driving economic savings and growth.
EDGE Certification in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has gained significant traction as the country undergoes rapid development aligned with its Vision 2030 objectives. This ambitious vision includes reducing the country’s carbon footprint, improving energy efficiency, and promoting sustainability across all sectors, particularly in the construction industry. As the nation pushes forward with infrastructure expansion, there is a growing demand for sustainable building practices, which is where EDGE Certification comes in.
The Role of EDGE Certification in KSA
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has set clear goals to enhance the sustainability of its built environment. EDGE Certification plays a critical role in achieving these targets by encouraging energy-efficient, water-saving, and resource-conscious designs. In a country with harsh climatic conditions, where cooling energy consumption is high, EDGE Certification offers a practical and effective solution for reducing energy use in buildings.
One of the primary benefits of EDGE Certification in KSA is its alignment with the country’s regulatory framework and sustainability goals. The government’s increasing focus on green building standards has made EDGE an attractive certification for developers and contractors looking to meet both local and international sustainability benchmarks. With its emphasis on measurable improvements in energy, water, and materials efficiency, EDGE helps developers in KSA achieve sustainability without sacrificing economic feasibility.
Benefits of EDGE Certification in KSA
Adaptability to KSA’s Climate:
EDGE Certification is particularly suited for KSA, where cooling demands are high due to the extreme heat. The certification encourages the use of energy-efficient cooling systems, insulation, and other design features that reduce the reliance on non-renewable energy sources. This is crucial for addressing the challenges posed by the hot desert climate.Cost-Effective Sustainability:
With its focus on practical, achievable sustainability measures, EDGE Certification offers a cost-effective way for developers in KSA to improve the efficiency of their projects. Whether it’s residential developments or commercial buildings, the 20% savings target in energy, water, and materials makes a real difference in both operational costs and environmental impact.International Recognition:
EDGE Certification in KSA is recognized internationally, making it an appealing option for developers aiming to attract global investors and tenants. It signals a commitment to sustainability and aligns with international environmental standards, thus enhancing the marketability of certified buildings both domestically and abroad.Support from Financial Institutions:
In KSA, financial institutions are increasingly offering green financing options for EDGE-certified projects. These incentives further encourage developers to adopt EDGE Certification, ensuring that sustainable buildings become the norm in the kingdom’s expanding real estate market.
Examples of EDGE-Certified Projects in KSA
Several high-profile projects in KSA have already achieved EDGE Certification, demonstrating the viability and benefits of sustainable construction in the region. These projects range from residential complexes to commercial office buildings, all designed with the EDGE principles of energy, water, and material savings in mind. The success of these projects has helped to establish EDGE Certification as a benchmark for green building in the country.
EDGE Certification is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of sustainable construction in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As the nation continues to prioritize environmental responsibility alongside economic growth, EDGE provides a straightforward and effective framework for achieving these goals. With the growing adoption of EDGE Certification in KSA, the country is well on its way to creating a more sustainable, energy-efficient, and resource-conscious built environment.
EDGE Consultancy is essential for guiding developers and architects through the certification process, ensuring that buildings meet the rigorous sustainability criteria set by EDGE Certification. Consultants provide expert advice on how to achieve the required 20% savings in energy, water, and embodied energy in materials, helping project teams make informed decisions about design, construction, and operational strategies.
A key benefit of EDGE Consultancy is the customization of sustainability solutions based on the specific needs of a project. Whether it’s a residential, commercial, or industrial building, consultants assess the local climate, building typology, and available resources to recommend the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly approaches. They also navigate clients through the EDGE App, helping them to identify the best opportunities for energy and water savings.
Furthermore, EDGE Consultancy ensures that all documentation and verification processes are completed efficiently, streamlining the journey toward certification like LEED. With their expertise, consultants facilitate independent audits and help achieve higher levels of EDGE Certification, such as EDGE Advanced or Zero Carbon.
In rapidly developing regions like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, EDGE Consultancy plays a vital role in meeting the growing demand for sustainable construction, enabling projects to align with global sustainability standards while achieving economic savings.