What is EDGE Certification? Benefits & Green Certification Process for Buildings
EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) is a green building certification system developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), focusing on reducing resource consumption and carbon emissions in construction, particularly suited for developing countries.
What is EDGE Certification?
As a product of the IFC, EDGE serves as a connection between investors, building owners, banks, governments, and homebuyers. The goal is to raise awareness of the financial benefits achieved by all parties when constructing green buildings. Through market-driven solutions that comply with mandatory regulations while encouraging the adoption of voluntary certifications, EDGE contributes significantly to the implementation of green building models to respond to global climate change.
In the context of Vietnam aiming for the Net Zero 2050 goal, EDGE is a practical choice for the green construction industry. Applied in over 100 countries, EDGE helps optimize designs to minimize electricity, water, and embodied energy in materials consumption.
Key Features of EDGE
Unlike other popular green building certification systems such as LEED and BREEAM, EDGE focuses solely on resource efficiency and emission reduction. This makes the certification process simpler and more cost-effective. Therefore, EDGE is particularly suitable for projects in developing countries that are beginning to green their construction industries.
What Advantages Does EDGE Bring to Businesses?
Buildings with EDGE certification meet the minimum requirement of a 20% reduction in energy, water, and embodied carbon consumption, bringing dual benefits: environmental protection and significant operational cost savings. Additionally, EDGE certification offers specific advantages:
1. Increasing Real Estate Value & Brand Image
EDGE allows developers, building owners, and investors to demonstrate the environmental and economic impact of their projects, creating a competitive advantage in attracting tenants and buyers. Simultaneously, owning a green building certification helps project owners access green financing sources to invest in their projects.
2. Affordable Cost and Easy Accessibility
Designed by the IFC for developing markets, EDGE has very affordable costs, facilitating certification for even low-segment projects. Furthermore, the initial steps of obtaining certification can be self-performed by project owners via the EDGE application, making the process transparent and convenient.
EDGE Certification Levels
EDGE offers three different levels of certification, matching the environmental commitment level of each project:
1. EDGE Certified
Requirement: Minimum 20% savings in energy, water, and embodied carbon compared to local conventional standards.
2. EDGE Advanced
Requirement: Minimum 40% energy savings compared to the local baseline.
3. EDGE Zero Carbon
Requirement: Zero-emission building, or carbon offsetting to reach 100%. Commitment to using renewable energy.
Process to Achieve EDGE Certification
The EDGE certification process includes a Preliminary Certificate issued at the Design Stage after a Design Audit and a Final EDGE Certificate issued at the end of the Post-Construction Stage after a Site Audit.
Phase 1: Registration and Preliminary Modeling
• Register the project on the EDGE App system.
• Use the EDGE tool to model and optimize the design.
• Identify energy, water, and material saving solutions from the list provided by the application.
Phase 2: Design and Design Audit
• Finalize the design integrating EDGE solutions.
• Strategies integrated into the project design are verified by an EDGE Auditor.
• Receive the Preliminary Certificate.
Phase 3: Construction According to Standards
• Build according to the certified design.
• Monitor and ensure construction quality.
• Collect documents and evidence during the construction process.
Phase 4: Post-Construction Audit
• An EDGE Auditor conducts an audit of the completed building.
• Verify that solutions have been implemented as designed.
• Evaluate the actual performance of the building.
Phase 5: Issuance of Final Certification
• GBCI issues the Final EDGE Certificate after the dossier is approved.
• At least one year after receiving the final EDGE certification and once the project reaches a 75% occupancy rate, actual building operational data must be submitted to maintain the certification.
Professional Personnel for EDGE Implementation
During the EDGE certification process, the project owner is required to select an EDGE Auditor to act as the project assessor. The project owner may also hire an EDGE Expert to accompany the project design team to ensure the building meets EDGE standards. The EDGE Auditor and EDGE Expert must be two separate individuals and cannot hold both roles for the same project.
Deciding Factors for EDGE Certification Success
Similar to other green certification processes, the EDGE certification process is smoothest when standards are integrated early, the project implementation and related documentation are strictly and fully managed, with coordination between the project owner, design and construction teams, and EDGE Experts. Additionally, utilizing the EDGE application will help make the process more optimized and convenient.
Why Choose EDGE Today?
EDGE green building certification helps project owners demonstrate their environmental commitment and attract green investment with affordable costs specifically designed for developing regions.
Contact us for detailed support regarding the certification process and fees:
CIC Technology and Consultancy Joint Stock Company
- Headquarters: 4th Floor, VG Building, 235 Nguyen Trai Street, Khuong Dinh Ward, Hanoi
- Branch Office: 36 Nguyen Huy Luong, Binh Thanh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City
- Tel: 0866 059 659 – 0332 268 626
- Email: info@cic.com.vn
- Website: www.netzero2050.vn
