About EDGE

A smart green building certification system for emerging markets developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

A Global Standard

EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) was created by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, to decrease the environmental footprint of the built environment.

Valid in over 129 countries today, EDGE is leading the sustainable transformation of the construction sector.

3 Key Pillars

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Energy Efficiency

Minimizing energy consumption through efficiency in heating, cooling, and lighting systems.

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Water Savings

Reducing water footprint with low-flow fixtures and water recycling systems.

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Embodied Energy in Materials

Encouraging building materials that require less energy during production and transport.

How It Works?

The core requirement for certification is proving at least 20% savings in the 3 categories above compared to a local baseline building. This calculation is done via the EDGE App, a free software using scientific data.

Frequently Asked Questions

EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) is a green building certification system focused on resource efficiency. To qualify, a project must demonstrate at least 20% savings in energy, water, and embodied energy in materials compared to a local baseline. At AECO, we guide your projects to achieve one of the three prestigious levels:

EDGE Certified: Meets the standard 20% savings threshold.
EDGE Advanced: Achieves 40% or more on-site energy savings.
EDGE Zero Carbon: Requires 40% energy efficiency plus 100% carbon neutrality in operations. While Standard and Advanced certifications do not expire, Zero Carbon status requires periodic renewal.

Yes. AECO specializes in adapting existing structures and major retrofits to EDGE standards. The efficiency requirement remains at 20%, identical to new buildings. If original documentation (e.g., wall assemblies) is unavailable, our technical team conducts on-site assessments or utilizes default baseline values for accurate calculation. Additionally, we maximize your score by leveraging the "re-use" category for materials older than 5 years.

Partial Certification: For projects certifying only a specific portion (e.g., a single office floor), AECO ensures compliance by verifying physical separation (permanent barriers) and installing necessary sub-metering systems to isolate energy consumption.

In Core & Shell developments, the owner controls the envelope and common areas, while tenants control the interior fit-out. To claim energy savings from tenant areas, AECO drafts a binding "Green Lease" or "Tenant Fit-out Guide" for your lease agreements. This document mandates minimum performance standards for tenant-installed lighting and fixtures. Without this agreement, tenant areas are modeled as standard (inefficient) baselines, preventing you from claiming potential savings.

AECO manages the entire lifecycle of the certification:

Preliminary Certificate: Issued at the design stage; valid for 12 months post-construction or 36 months from issuance.
Final EDGE Certificate: Issued after construction and on-site audit. This certificate does not expire and requires no renewal.

Exception: For "EDGE Zero Carbon" certification, we manage the mandatory renewal process every 2 or 4 years, depending on your energy procurement strategy.

Yes. Industrial buildings differ significantly due to "process loads" (equipment energy). AECO accurately models distinct zones—such as office, manufacturing, and cold storage—to reflect true operational energy use. For industrial clients targeting "Zero Carbon," we provide advanced modeling that includes energy loads from manufacturing processes, ensuring full compliance with international standards.

Yes. Achieving Zero Carbon requires a strategic roadmap. First, AECO assists your project in reaching the EDGE Advanced level (40% energy savings). We then structure the remaining energy coverage through a hierarchy: prioritizing on-site renewables (e.g., solar PV), followed by off-site renewable procurement, and utilizing carbon offsets only as a last resort. Please note that for residential projects, the use of fossil fuels for heating or cooking is strictly prohibited (excluding emergency generators).