EDGE Experts
Strengthen your practice while attracting new business.
Encourage green building design by serving as a trusted and experienced advisor.
Become an expert in the EDGE software and certification process.
Accredited by IFC, EDGE Experts bring their skills, insights and thorough understanding of the EDGE software to instill confidence that a project is certifiably green. Their persuasiveness paves the way for a client to imagine and realize an entirely green portfolio.
At the individual level, becoming an EDGE Expert results in greater knowledge, career growth and an opportunity to promote your work. At the firm level, credentialing your team helps to upskill your practice while attracting and retaining fresh talent.
A sole practitioner, in-house staff or a member of an engineering or architecture practice can all become EDGE Experts. They are an integral force that binds the design process together while providing outstanding value to clients.
Why become an EDGE Expert?
Increase your understanding of which energy and water-saving systems and solutions are best for a particular location and climate, and how to measure the collective impact of design decisions in the aggregate. Gain deeper knowledge of the EDGE software and certification process.
Here’s how to earn your EDGE Expert credential.
First, read through the FAQs below about EDGE Experts. Then follow the step-by-step EDGE Exam Prep to guide you through taking the training, reviewing the learning materials, testing your knowledge, and scheduling your EDGE Exam.
How can I become an EDGE Expert?
To become an EDGE Expert, you must successfully complete EDGE training and the EDGE Exam. EDGE training is offered by an official provider either online or in a classroom environment. Once you have completed training, IFC will email an EDGE Exam ID number to you. The EDGE Exam is available in English, Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese and Indonesian, costs $100 and can be taken at a Prometric test center or in the comfort of your home or workplace.
To schedule your EDGE Exam at a test center, visit www.prometric.com/edge, where you can find a complete list of test center locations by clicking on the “Locate a Test Center” link. You may also call +1 (800) 324-4715 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday. More information can be found in the Candidate Information Bulletin.
To schedule the EDGE Exam at a remote site, call +1 (800) 813-6779 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday, and be sure to have your credit card ready to pay the $100 fee. You may also email Pro-Proctor@Prometric.com. Note that the EDGE Exam, which is 2 1/2 hours in length, can be taken remotely only from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday. More information can be found in the Remotely Proctored Candidate Information Bulletin.
EDGE Experts are required to have a higher education qualification in a construction industry-related field, or three years’ experience in a construction industry-related field and a higher education qualification of any kind. EDGE Experts are accredited by IFC.
What skills will I acquire during EDGE training?
During the training, you will learn how to quantify the value of passive and active design elements, how to determine which energy and water-saving systems and solutions are best for a particular location and climate, and how to measure the collective impact of design decisions in the aggregate. In addition to gaining a deeper understanding of the EDGE software, you will also discover the EDGE standard and certification process.
What exactly does an EDGE Expert do?
An EDGE Expert influences a client’s decision to design and build green, working closely with or within the design team. By using the EDGE software, an EDGE Expert provides a cost-benefit analysis of green concepts, systems and solutions that best match the client’s aspirations. For clients wishing to certify their projects, an EDGE Expert instills confidence that a project meets the EDGE standard.
If I have previously attended an EDGE workshop, can I become an EDGE Expert?
The EDGE workshop prepares you to take the exam, however there may be questions that were not covered in the training and can only be answered based on your background and/or experience. EDGE Experts are required to have a higher education qualification in a construction industry-related field, or three years’ experience and a higher education qualification of any kind. To take the exam without further training, please contact IFC at edgeexam@ifc.org.
What is the difference between an EDGE Expert and an EDGE Auditor?
An EDGE Expert precedes an EDGE Auditor, working within or in tandem with the client’s design team on decision-making, confirming that the project meets the EDGE standard by using the EDGE software, and preparing the project for certification. The EDGE Auditor does not influence project design or make recommendations and only becomes involved once the project submission is received. The EDGE Auditor reviews project documentation, verifies compliance with EDGE requirements, provides a rigorous check of the project submission, and recommends the project for assessment to a certification provider.
I’m an EDGE Auditor. Can I also be an EDGE Expert?
EDGE Auditors are automatically considered to be EDGE Experts since they have met all the requirements to become one, including completing training and passing the EDGE Exam. Keep in mind that you cannot provide design advice on a project that you are auditing, as this constitutes a conflict of interest. In other words, you may not serve as both an EDGE Expert and an EDGE Auditor for the same project.
I want to become both an EDGE Expert and an EDGE Auditor. How can I become an auditor?
An EDGE Expert who wishes to also become an EDGE Auditor is required to take additional training with a certification provider and sign an agreement. Depending on the certifier, additional background and experience may be required. To see which certifier(s) operate in the country where you live, visit the Certify section of the EDGE website, and reach out to them directly.
When I become an accredited EDGE Expert, can I include my new status as part of my title to promote my services?
Yes. As an EDGE Expert, you can include your new credential as part of your title on your business card, email signature, throughout your LinkedIn profile and in any other appropriate location. You may also include content on your website to promote your new services. For recommendations, please refer to the Branding Guidelines for EDGE Experts.
Is it mandatory for a client to hire an EDGE Expert for a project to be certified?
No. Hiring an EDGE Expert depends on the client’s needs and the complexity of the project. EDGE is intended to be quick and intuitive, but if the client’s internal team doesn’t have familiarity with EDGE, then having a member of the design team take the EDGE training may be the right choice. A client with a small design team may also wish to hire an outside EDGE Expert, particularly if it is the client’s first project being brought forward for certification.
Make it your business to become an EDGE Expert.
Bring your skills, insights, and thorough understanding of EDGE to instill confidence that a project is certifiably green.
Governments
What popular incentives can governments put into place that encourage green development?
Governments can adopt from a wide variety of incentives – some of which are cost-free – to stimulate green building growth. Depending on the level of ambition, the development of an entire green building value chain can be triggered with benefits that trickle down to residents, as exemplified by Singapore. Property tax incentives, height bonuses and expedited permitting are among the most effective ways to make green design economically viable for developers. But there are other options as well.
In addition to incentivizing the market, governments can endorse a green building certification system such as EDGE, embedding it in the building permitting process. The EDGE software can be used to achieve a minimum standard of 20 percent less energy, water and embodied energy in materials, with certification guaranteeing an independently validated approach.
10 Ways to Encourage Green Building Growth
- Property Tax Incentive – Offer a lower property tax rate to developers for one or more years to offset the extra costs of building green.
- Height Bonus – Allow developers to increase the height of their buildings, either as extra floors or a percentage of total floor area.
- Expedited Permitting – Limit the permitting process to a minimum number of days for green construction.
- Reduced Permitting – Waive or partially reimburse permit fees for developers who certify their projects green.
- Grants – Incentivize solutions such as solar power by providing block grants to cities and states. Or grants can go directly to developers to subsidize the cost of certification.
- Loan Programs – Set up a loan fund at the central bank level so developers who build green can receive reduced interest rates.
- Technical Assistance – Train planners, building inspectors and other government staff how to qualify green building design with a software solution such as EDGE. The EDGE technical team can help.
- Net Metering – Work with utility companies to enable building owners to generate renewable energy to the grid, resulting in carbon positive buildings which can be certified with EDGE.
- Public Campaigns – Generate public support through advocacy efforts. Work with utility companies to build evidence of results and communicate successes to the public.
- Green Building Legislation – Bundle a certification standard such as EDGE directly into a new set of green building codes.
Case Study: A municipality in Lima incentivizes resource-efficient residences with green roofs and visibly prominent gardens.
San Borja, a residential district in the capital of Peru, has passed an ordinance (610-MSB) that allows property developers to build three or four stories higher depending on the zone. The taller apartment buildings must be set back from the curb, planted with green roofs and gardens that are at least 50 percent visible by pedestrians, and certified green. The ordinance was socialized extensively with property developers prior to passing to ensure a collaborative approach.
The result is an entirely new style of architecture without incessant glass, where dozens of EDGE-certified buildings are coming onto the market advertised as green to showcase their value. The initiative, which has been widely supported by the Peruvian Green Building Council and EDGE Experts, won the Creatividad Empresarial award from Mayor Marco Álvarez in recognition for the district’s entrepreneurial approach to encouraging green buildings. The strategy demonstrates the powerful interaction when the public and private sectors work together to incentivize green buildings for the benefit of citizens and the environment.
Governments are starting to pass progressive legislation to spur green building growth in emerging markets.
Select an area that interests you to discover what incentives the government is offering to make a difference in shaping their future built environment. You can also download the Government Incentives for EDGE chart.
Argentina – Exclusion of VAT
City:
All
Building Typology:
Residential
Government Entity:
Secretary of Housing
Incentive:
Exclusion of VAT (10%) for projects that include all of the following: insulation Class B, solar hot water collectors, and LED lighting up to 140.000 UVA. The tax exemption is for the first 60,000 units that apply. The units must be built by August 2022.
Available Certification Systems:
EDGE, LEED
Link:
Budget Law No. 27467
Contact:
Marcelo Busellini at mbusellini@mininterior.gob.ar or mbusellini@gmail.com
Bangladesh – Discounted Financing Rate
City:
All
Building Typology:
Light Industry
Government Entity:
Bank of Bangladesh
Incentive:
Discounted financing rate for the extra cost of green measures at 9%. All commercial banks in Bangladesh must offer the 9% rate for green measures (comprising at least 5% of portfolios).
Available Certification Systems:
BREEAM, CASBEE, EDGE, GRIHA, LEED, SREDA
Link:
Refinance Scheme for Green Products/Initiatives
Contact:
manoj.biswas@bb.org.bd
Brazil – Discounted Property Tax
City:
Salvador
Building Typology:
Residential
Government Entity:
City of Salvador
Incentive:
Point-based system for a 5%, 7% or 10% discount on property taxes with re-application each year; certification guarantees a 7% discount.
Available Certification Systems:
ACQUA, CASA AZUL, EDGE, GBC BRASIL, LEED
Link:
IPTU VERDE
Contact:
andrefraga_ssa@hotmail.com
Colombia – Exclusion of VAT and Income Tax Deduction
City:
All
Building Typology:
Residential & Commercial
Government Entity:
National Mining and Energy Planning Unit
Incentive:
Exclusion of VAT (19%) and income tax deduction (25%) for project design services and technical solutions such as insulation and energy-efficient air conditioning systems
Available Certification Systems:
CASA, EDGE, LEED
Link:
Resolution No. 463
Contact:
info@upme.gov.co
India – Extra Floor Area Ratio
City:
Pune
Building Typology:
Residential & Commercial
Government Entity:
Pune Municipal Corporation
Incentive:
3% extra floor area ratio (FAR) for a 30% improvement in energy, water and materials; 5% for a 40% improvement; and 7% for a 50% improvement.
Available Certification Systems:
EDGE, GRIHA, IGBC, LEED
Link:
Incentive for EDGE-Certified Green Buildings by Pune Municipal Corporation
Contact:
info@punecorporation.org
Indonesia – Lower Loan-to-Value Ratio
City:
All
Building Typology:
Residential
Government Entity:
Bank Indonesia
Incentive:
5% lower loan-to-value ratio and 5% lower financing-to-value ratio for first-time home purchases; additional 5% lower for second home purchases. Some restrictions apply depending on home size.
Available Certification Systems:
EDGE, Green Mark, Greenship, GreenStar, LEED
Link:
Regulation No. 21/13/PBI/2019
Contact:
bicara@bi.go.id
Ghana – Discounted Building Permit Fees
City:
Sekondi -Takoradi
Building Typology:
Residential & Commercial
Government Entity:
Sekondi -Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly
Incentive:
30% reduction in building permit fees for buildings that are certified green.
Available Certification Systems:
EDGE
Link:
Incentive Package for Building Green in the Twin City
Contact:
Mr. Kofi Yeboah
kofi.yeboah@yahoo.com
Kenya – Tax Exemption
City:
All
Building Typology:
Residential & Commercial
Government Entity:
Kenya National Treasury
Incentive:
100% tax exemption on interest income for bonds and securities used to raise funds for green building projects as defined under the Green Bond Standards. The bond may be issued by a corporate entity or a financial institution.
Available Certification Systems:
BREEAM, CEEQUAL, DGNB, EDGE, IECC, LEED
Link:
Kenya Gazette
Contact:
info@treasury.go.ke
Peru (Arequipa) – Height Bonus Incentive
City:
Arequipa
Building Typology:
Residential, Commercial & Education
Government Entity:
Municipality of Arequipa/Municipal Institute of Planning (IMPLA)
Incentive:
Zone-based height bonus for one extra floor and reduction of parking space requirements if project is certified, with additional requirements of 40% green roofs, 50% transparent fences, waste segregation, and bicycle racks.
Available Certification Systems:
EDGE, BREEAM, DGNB, LEED
Link:
Ordinance No.1136
Contact:
gdelgado@impla.gob.pe
Peru (Cusco) – Height Bonus Incentive
City:
Cusco
Building Typology:
Residential
Government Entity:
Municipality of Cusco
Incentive:
Zone-based height bonus for one or two extra floors if project is certified, with additional requirements of 50% green roofs and waste segregation.
Available Certification Systems:
BREEAM, EDGE, LEED
Link:
Ordinance No. 25-2019-MPC
Contact:
María Cristina Cornejo at criscordur@gmail.com
Peru (Miraflores, Lima) – Extra Floor Area Ratio
City:
Lima (Miraflores)
Building Typology:
Residential & Commercial
Government Entity:
District Municipality of Miraflores
Incentive:
15% extra floor area ratio (FAR) if EDGE certified with green roofs, 50% transparent fences, indigenous gardens, waste segregation, bicycle racks, and the National Technical Code for Sustainable Construction; higher floor area ratio for BREEAM and LEED
Available Certification Systems:
BREEAM, EDGE, LEED
Link:
Ordinance 510/MM
Contact:
Marianna Miranda Fidel at marianna.miranda@miraflores.gob.pe or +51 954 716 195
Peru (San Borja, Lima) – Height Bonus Incentive
City:
Lima (San Borja)
Building Typology:
Residential
Government Entity:
District Municipality of San Borja
Incentive:
Zone-based height bonus for one or two extra floors if project is certified, with additional requirements of one-meter setbacks with indigenous gardens, 30% transparent fences, and waste segregation.
Available Certification Systems:
EDGE, LEED
Link:
Ordinance 623-MSB
Contact:
alcaldia@msb.gob.pe
Peru (Surco, Lima) – FAR Incentive
City:
Lima (Surco)
Building Typology:
Residential & Commercial
Government Entity:
District Municipality of Surco
Incentive:
25% extra floor area ratio (FAR), 20% reduction of parking space requirements, and 20% less square meters per unit than the minimum required (residential only) if project is certified, with additional requirements of 50% green roofs, waste segregation, and bicycle racks.
Available Certification Systems:
BREEAM, EDGE, LEED
Link:
Ordinance 525-MSS
Contact:
Lily Medina, Secretaría General at sg@munisurco.gob.pe
Lay a foundation for a greener built environment through green building codes.
Green building incentives encourage voluntary certification. Incentives work best when layered over mandatory codes which are frequently updated and enforced. Together, they create the “push and pull” that is required to achieve true market transformation. For more information about ideas on how to implement green building codes, see IFC’s Green Buildings Policy Pathways for Emerging Markets.
Banks
Create a sustainable finance strategy with EDGE.
Start your bank’s transition to a smarter way of investing in the property sector. Adopt EDGE and book a portfolio with higher asset value and less risk.
Why integrate EDGE into your investment practices?
By using EDGE as a verification instrument, you can help shape and accelerate the real estate market towards green construction, while earning better profits. Here are the top reasons for banks to stimulate green building growth:
Access New Sources of Finance
Gain access to liquidity from a new and more diversified investor base through green bonds, green securitizations and green credit facilities.
Brand Recognition
Realize the investment potential for green buildings while establishing an identity as the “green bank” of choice.
Enhanced ESG Standing
The EDGE software indicates the projected reductions in carbon emissions for certified properties, which can be used in institutional reporting for shareholders and the public.
Increased Market Share
Win a greater share of the market through innovative financing that responds to the direction the market is heading.
Lower Investment Risk
Invest in higher-value, lower-risk assets to maximize returns and increase profitability.
New Product Offerings
Introduce innovative products to include green construction finance and green mortgages, which can attract new clients and customers.
Portfolio Opportunity
Switch to greening your entire portfolio as a requirement of investment, with EDGE certification making it easier than ever before.
Simplified Compliance
An EDGE certificate is proof that a client has uploaded their compliance materials into the EDGE software and met eligibility criteria, with independent certification by an approved provider.
Hear the voices of others adopting EDGE.
Across the world banks are coming forward to illuminate how EDGE is helping to define their sustainability strategies, as they transfer value to their customers while boosting their brands.
Consider the mix of financial products that can be offered with EDGE.
Banks play a critical role in diverting the construction sector onto a more low-carbon path, with little to no changes required for their internal practices and procedures.
Green Construction
Green construction finance typically includes preferential rates, better terms, and/or a promotional offer to cover certification costs for property developers who commit to EDGE.
Green Mortgages
Green mortgages enable buyers to purchase certified homes where green design costs are tucked into larger loans. Reduced utility bills result in lower monthly overhead for homeowners, which lowers the risk for the bank.
Green Bonds
Green bonds are a fixed-income instrument that are earmarked to raise money for climate-smart investments, including real estate.
Discover which financial institutions are already mobilizing incentives.
Banks and insurance companies are motivating property developers to certify green. Check out their exact offerings, or download the Banking Incentives for EDGE chart.
Gain insights from your peers.
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Get started.
To begin your bank’s journey towards offering sustainable finance, consider joining IFC’s Green Banking Academy. Send an email to express your interest.
You may also reach out to the EDGE Team directly to request specific information about how to incorporate EDGE in your green building investment strategy.
Developers
Reap the rewards of building green.
Position your company at the forefront of change while improving the operational performance of your buildings.
Why choose EDGE?
Because the overall value of EDGE outweighs the extra costs of design and certification, making a clear case for profitability. Here are more than a dozen reasons with examples:
Award Recognition
Developers are winning awards for their projects that are certified with EDGE.
Brand Visibility
With plans for a city within a city in Lagos, Eko Atlantic has defined the direction of its brand as certifiably green, attracting global attention for its efforts.
Customer Satisfaction
Prior to purchase, homeowners fully understood the benefits of an EDGE-certified home at Greenox, an iconic residential tower in Istanbul built by Aycan-Feres.
Higher Tenant Capacity
In Accra, monthly utility bills can surpass the price of rent. By positioning itself as EDGE certified, Atlantic Tower attracts multi-national clients while maintaining capacity rates of nearly 100%.
Higher Commercial Rates
ArthaLand’s Century Pacific Tower, which has been triple-certified green including with EDGE Zero Carbon, charges among the highest rates for office space in all of the Philippines because of the building’s sustainability credentials.
Incentives from Banks & Governments
In Colombia, 3G Constructores saved more than $82,000 on a green construction loan from Bancolombia for its EDGE-certified Ambar Infinity project.
Increased Market Share
With its portfolio commitment to EDGE, Balwin Properties is selling a record number of homes in South Africa. The developer recently partnered with a local bank, Absa, on an eco-home loan.
Leaner Investment in Marketing
EDGE certification gave Mexican property developer DCM the opportunity to create commercial alliances to advertise its ELEMENTS project for free, and obtain discounts in media with a focus on sustainability.
Portfolio Opportunity
In the Philippines, Imperial Homes is certifying all of its solar-powered social housing projects with EDGE going forward, bringing more than 700 homes to the real estate market annually.
Product Differentiation
EDGE factors large in the vision of Peru’s LatAm Logistic Properties, enabling the developer to quantify their value proposition to customers. Their warehouses are the first of their kind in frontier markets.
Quicker Sales Cycles
Capital House sold their EDGE-certified homes in Ho Chi Minh City 20 percent faster than average, which reduced overall costs for the developer by an estimated 3 percent. On the other side of the world, Constructora Bolivar sold out its 127 Living project in a record 45 days. And in Mexico, Casas Krea went from selling 25-30 homes per month on average for its Villas del Fresno project to 49, despite the pandemic.
Re-channeled Operational Savings
Operational savings will pay for the entire cost of construction of the Mother and Baby Unit in Kumasi, Ghana within 20 years. Built by Africa Building Partners, the hospital is certified with EDGE.
Response to Market Demand
Out of 168 units at Revolución 757 in Mexico City, four units were sold because customers insisted on buying a green home. FICADE, the developer, expects this demand to grow exponentially in the future.
Value Transfer
With smart meters installed in each of the homes they finance and manage, International Housing Solutions can prove to South African families that they will save one month of rent each year.
Hear the voices of others adopting EDGE.
Across the world developers are coming forward to illuminate how EDGE is helping to define their sustainability strategies, as they transfer value to their customers while boosting their brands.
Discover a “who’s who” of developers.
See which developers are registering and certifying their projects with EDGE, and whether they are interested in new sources of investment. It’s a great tool for banks looking for certified green assets to finance. Note that this list is updated on a monthly basis.
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Show that you care about your customers.
Positively impact their lives, resulting in greater profitability and a healthier environment for all.
Marketing
Resources
EDGE Experts
EDGE is currently funded by the UK Government with original funding by Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Additional support has been provided by Austria, Canada, Denmark, ESMAP, EU, Finland, GEF, Hungary and Japan.