Skip to main content

EDGE basics

  • Updated

What is EDGE?

EDGE is a green building certification system focused on making buildings more resource efficient. An innovation of IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, EDGE empowers emerging markets to scale up resource-efficient buildings in a fast, easy, and affordable way.

EDGE enables developers and builders to quickly identify the most cost-effective strategies to reduce energy use, water use, and embodied energy in materials. The strategies that are integrated into the project design are verified by an EDGE Auditor and certified by GBCI.

EDGE is comprised of:

  • EDGE Software – The web-based EDGE App, available for free at edgebuildings.com, allows you to quickly determine the optimum combination of building design strategies for the best return on investment.
  • Global Standard – EDGE requires a minimum projected reduction of 20% in energy use, water use, and embodied energy in materials as benchmarked against a standard local building.
  • Certification System – Certification by GBCI validates your achievements at a modest cost for nearly all building types, both new and existing.

I’m new to EDGE. What is the best way to learn more?

Check out GBCI’s free 30-minute “Intro to EDGE” online course, available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.

In addition, the certification process and pricing information are available on GBCI’s EDGE website.

Where does GBCI certify EDGE projects?

GBCI administers EDGE certification in most countries around the world. View the full list of countries where GBCI offers EDGE certification.

Why EDGE?

EDGE delivers a variety of benefits to building owners and developers, including:

  • Investment planning: EDGE is a free and easy-to-use investment planning tool that quickly calculates ROI for your green building strategies.
  • Project savings: Use EDGE to quickly predict and report your energy, water, and carbon emission savings.
  • Powered by data: EDGE’s advanced database understands your local climatic conditions and building usage.
  • Simplicity: All efficiency simulations are built into the platform and certification can be achieved through existing documentation.
  • International recognition: EDGE certification is globally recognized and backed by the World Bank Group.
  • Service excellence: GBCI can quickly certify your project at a modest cost.

What is the role of GBCI and IFC? Who should I contact for which type of questions?

IFC is the creator of the EDGE App and certification system. IFC also manages the EDGE Expert credential.

Contact IFC at edge@ifc.org for questions on:

  • EDGE App – feedback, bugs, localization requests, etc.
  • User Guides, Methodology Reports, and any other resource feedback
  • EDGE Experts
  • EDGE Exam

 

GBCI is a Certifier, providing quality assurance and certification of projects. GBCI also trains EDGE Experts and EDGE Auditors.

Contact GBCI at edge@gbci.org for questions on:

  • Registration and certification
  • Project-specific technical questions
  • EDGE Auditor training
  • EDGE Expert training

What levels of certification are available under EDGE?

Projects meeting the EDGE Standard with at least 20% predicted savings in energy use, water use, and embodied energy in materials as benchmarked against a standard local building are recognized as EDGE Certified. Projects that are certified with 40% or more predicted on-site energy savings, in addition to at least 20% predicted savings in water use and embodied energy in materials, are automatically recognized as EDGE Advanced.

The predicted percent savings are reflected on the certificates. The EDGE certification process includes a Preliminary Certificate which is issued at the Design Phase following a Design Audit and a Final EDGE Certificate which is issued at the end of the Post-Construction Phase following a Site Audit.

A third level of certification, EDGE Zero Carbon, is available for projects that already achieved certification at the EDGE Advanced level.

What is EDGE Advanced certification?

Projects that are certified with 40% or more predicted on-site energy savings, in addition to at least 20% predicted savings in water use and embodied energy in materials as benchmarked against a standard local building, are automatically recognized as EDGE Advanced. EDGE Advanced recognition is reflected on project studies, certificates, award submissions, and more. There is no extra cost for a project to be recognized as EDGE Advanced.

Projects that are certified as EDGE Advanced and supply their actual operational energy needs with 100% renewables on-site or off-site, or purchase carbon offsets to top off at 100% may pursue EDGE Zero Carbon.

What is EDGE Zero Carbon certification?

EDGE Zero Carbon certifies carbon neutral projects based on their actual performance.

To qualify for EDGE Zero Carbon, a project must have already earned EDGE Advanced certification (i.e., EDGE certified with at least 40% predicted energy savings in addition to at least 20% predicted savings in water use and embodied energy in materials). In addition, the project must have at least 75% occupancy for at least one year.

The project must use 100% renewables on-site or off-site for energy or have purchased carbon offsets to reach 100%. All energy usage must be accounted for, including secondary fuels such as diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The following carbon offset providers have been authorized by EDGE: ClimateSEED, Community Climate Biodiversity Standard, Gold Standard, ISO 14064-2, UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism, and Verified Carbon Standard.

Renewal Periods:

  • For a project that meets the EDGE Zero Carbon criteria fully on-site, including generation of on-site renewable electricity, the certificate will expire after 4 years.
  • For a project that meets the EDGE Zero Carbon criteria by purchasing off-site renewable electricity or carbon offsets, the certificate will expire after 2 years.

Learn more about EDGE Zero Carbon and view pricing on the GBCI EDGE website (see step 7 of the Guide to EDGE Certification).

Can I receive an EDGE certificate for my entire project?

EDGE certificates are automatically created by the EDGE App at the subproject level. If your project consists of only one subproject, then you will receive a certificate at the project level. If your project consists of multiple subprojects, then you will receive a certificate for each subproject.

Residential projects will receive a certificate for each unit. The savings and measures shown on the certificate will be particular to that unit type if it was modeled in a separate subproject. EDGE Version 3 projects that model all unit types within a single subproject will receive certificates that show a range of savings across all of the unit types.

Is there a registered and/or certified project directory available?

GBCI and IFC publish case studies of certified projects that have opted to share their achievement. Visit the GBCI EDGE website to view case studies of featured projects certified by GBCI and the EDGE Buildings website to view IFC’s project case studies.

There is no complete directory of certified projects available.

Do EDGE certified buildings qualify for the GRESB Real Estate Assessment?

For any EDGE, EDGE Advanced, or EDGE Zero Carbon certified building, it is possible to gain credits within the GRESB Real Estate Assessment scheme. For more information, please reference the EDGE and GRESB PDF Guide.

Related articles