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EDGE building eligibility

  • Updated

What building types is EDGE available for?

  • Homes
  • Apartments
  • Hotels
  • Resorts
  • Serviced Apartments
  • Retail
  • Industrial
  • Warehouses
  • Offices
  • Healthcare
  • Education
  • Sports Facilities
  • Mixed-Use

EDGE is flexible and can be used for almost any building type. If you do not see your building type listed, please contact IFC at edge@ifc.org for guidance.

How does EDGE define a building?

In EDGE, a single building is a physically separate structure. If two buildings are connected by a conditioned space, then they can be considered as a single building.

Is there a building size requirement for pursuing EDGE certification?

Buildings must have a minimum of 200 square meters in gross floor area, excluding parking, to pursue EDGE certification. Note that this requirement does not apply to single family homes.

If your building has less than 200 square meters of gross floor area and you would like to pursue EDGE certification, please email IFC at edge@ifc.org and ask for special permission.

Can existing buildings pursue EDGE certification?

Yes, existing buildings and major renovations can pursue EDGE certification.

As is the case with the certification of new buildings with EDGE, the assessment of existing buildings and major renovations attests to the building’s features, not its performance. EDGE serves as an asset rating instrument that defines whether the building has met the EDGE Standard (at least 20% predicted savings in energy use, water use, and embodied energy in materials compared to a base case building).

Additionally, note that the EDGE Standard remains the same for all buildings, regardless of the stage of their life cycle, and the same base case conditions apply. The only difference is that materials in buildings that are more than five years old will be considered as embodied-energy neutral, to be indicated as “re-use of existing materials” within the EDGE App.

Can buildings under construction or that have been recently completed pursue EDGE certification?

Yes, recently completed projects or projects under construction may pursue EDGE certification as long as they are able to meet the requirements and provide the necessary supporting documentation.

Can EDGE be used for core and shell projects?

Yes, core and shell projects may pursue EDGE certification. According to the guidance in the User Guides, for projects with core and shell condition, the energy, water, and materials measures that will impact tenants can be claimed only if there is a “tenant fit out guide” included in the lease agreement and signed by the tenants and owner. The tenant fit out guide must clearly define the requirements to be fulfilled by tenants for each measure and must be included in the EDGE submission.

Can partial building projects be certified using EDGE?

Yes, partial building projects can pursue EDGE certification. For example, a store in a mall or an office in an office building can apply for EDGE.

If the project space is served by a central HVAC system, the project must use the specifications for the whole building's HVAC systems. If the space is served by a stand-alone system, only that system needs to be documented.

The envelope, wall lengths, materials, and WWR ratio should represent the actual space applying for certification. Only those exterior facades that are directly in contact with or enclosing the part of the building applying for EDGE certification are included in the project. 

Can a commercial interiors renovation project within a building apply for EDGE?

Yes, commercial interiors projects may pursue EDGE. EDGE is not a whole building rating system and individual spaces within a larger building may pursue EDGE. You may need to collect information from the building owner for building elements and/or systems already installed.

Can EDGE be used for Mixed-Use buildings?

Yes, Mixed-Use buildings may pursue EDGE certification.

Can a Mixed-Use building be certified in one EDGE subproject?

For EDGE Version 2 projects, if a building has more than one use and the secondary use occupies less than 10% of the gross floor area up to a maximum of 1,000 square meters, the entire building can be certified under the primary use of the building in one EDGE subproject. Alternatively, if the area of the secondary use is more than 10% of the gross floor area or more than 1,000 square meters, then that portion must be certified separately in a second EDGE subproject.

For example, if a 10,000 square meter residential building has a retail portion of 1,200 square meters located on the ground floor, the building areas must be certified separately under the Homes and Retail typologies. This building is still considered one building for certification pricing purposes.

 

EDGE Version 3 projects can be certified in a single subproject under the Mixed-Use building type. Modeling a single Mixed-Use subproject will save time for the project team and Auditor. The building will receive a single EDGE certificate. Note that the baseline parameters in the Mixed-Use building type are more stringent than baseline parameters for other building types. This may require projects using the Mixed-Use building type to utilize additional efficiency measures to meet the EDGE Standard. Please reach out to IFC (edge@ifc.org) for related questions.

Alternatively, a Mixed-Use building can choose to model separate subprojects if the area of the secondary use is at least 200 square meters. In this case, each subproject will receive an EDGE certificate and the overall building will NOT receive an EDGE certificate. Please note that in the future, GBCI may levy an add-on fee for projects that choose this more complex modeling scenario.

Can a data center project be certified under EDGE?

Yes, data center projects may pursue EDGE. Data center projects registered under EDGE App version 3 should be modeled using the Mixed Use building type. The Power Usage Effectiveness (also called PUE) of the data center must be at least 20% better than the baseline PUE. The data center must also achieve a minimum of 20% savings in Water and Embodied Energy in Materials as per the EDGE standard.

Note that projects must share a copy of the data center energy modeling report with IFC (edge@ifc.org) for review and approval prior to the project submission.

For more information, refer to the technical update on data center certification at https://edgebuildings.com/resources/user-documents/.

How many subprojects should be created for multifamily residential projects?

Under EDGE Version 2, a separate EDGE subproject may be created in the EDGE App for each unique type of dwelling unit. For example, a different subproject must be created for a one-bedroom, a two-bedroom, and a three-bedroom unit. The 10% rule governs which residential units can be grouped together and modeled as a single unit type in EDGE.

Alternatively, under EDGE Version 3, all units can also be modeled under a single subproject. In this case, the certificate shows a range of savings across all of the unit types. GBCI highly encourages this approach in order to save time and effort for the project team and Auditor.

Can the EDGE App be used for naturally ventilated projects?

Yes, the EDGE App can be used for naturally ventilated projects. In such cases, the EDGE App assumes that air conditioning or heating will eventually be installed for human comfort. EDGE demonstrates this future required energy for comfort as “virtual” energy, articulating it separately for ease of understanding. While the base case utility costs in the results do not reflect the virtual energy, EDGE determines whether a building is projected to achieve 20% energy efficiency by subtracting the improved case with virtual energy from the base case with virtual energy.

Can my EDGE residential project claim efficiency measures that will be installed by a new project owner post development?

Only measures EEM22 Efficient Lighting for Internal Areas, EEM23 Efficient Lighting for External Areas, EEM24 Lighting Controls and MEM03 Floor Finish may be claimed if it’s planned that a new owner will install them post development. However, the developer must have a means of enforcing that the future owner will meet the EDGE measure requirements. For example, a developer could document that a home warranty requires the implementation of specific measures, such as the installation of energy-saving lights.

If a project wishes to claim savings for any other efficiency measures (such as water heating, water fixtures, etc.) the required equipment must be installed by the developer.

If purchase receipts are not available for my existing building project, can I provide alternative documentation?

Yes, existing building projects may provide alternate supporting documentation. In the absence of purchase receipts, proof of installation can be provided using photographs or other evidence.

Note that if a measure cannot be verified, then the measure cannot be claimed. For example, a project cannot claim insulation that is inside a wall and not visible if there is no documentation demonstrating its installation.

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