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GBCSA / Certify / Edge

EDGE

A simple user-friendly Green Building Rating online software platform.

The EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) software is free and offers a measurable way to cut back on the resource intensity of your building.

The online platform quickly allows you to determine the financial viability of including green aspects on your projects. Its fast, affordable and makes sure green building is available for all. 

The EDGE standard is set at a minimum of 20% reduction across the following categories:

  1. Energy Consumption
  2. Water
  3. Embodied Energy

In order for EDGE to accurately calculate your buildings inputs and outputs it uses locally adjusted data across the following sets:

  1. Utility Costs
  2. Climate Data
  3. Building Regulations


How does EDGE work?

The GBCSA has partnered with the IFC and currently facilitates the certification using the EDGE-Homes tool. Simply register to use the EDGE online software for free here. 

Enter basic project information and the application will reveal how committing to a few practical energy and water saving options improves building performance at little or no cost.

EDGE will help you determine, at a concept level, the financial viability of a project’s green building initiatives early in the design stage.

Qualifying as an EDGE practitioner

Part of the registration process requires you to appoint and contract with an independent EDGE Auditor to compile all the necessary documentation for submission to the GBCSA. 

EDGE certificates are then issued to projects which successfully demonstrate they have met or exceeded the EDGE Standard at oth the Design and As Built stages of the project.

  • 1EDGE Project Admin
  • 2EDGE Expert
  • 3EDGE Auditor-in-training
  • 4EDGE Auditor
  • 5EDGE Reviewer-in-training
  • 6EDGE Reviewer

An individual selected by the client to own & manage the certification process. The Project Admin role is designed to be integral to the client and project team and works best in this format, but can be an external party if no suitable internal candidate exists.

The GBCSA strongly advise that the Project Admin should be a qualified EDGE Expert (but this is not mandatory)

Training requirements: 

  • 2 to 4 hour workshop* (free with registration)

An individual that has attended the EDGE training course presented by the GBCSA, and passed the EDGE Online Exam.

Training requirements:

  • 1 day training of the GBCSA EDGE Expert course + pass closed book exam
  • Signed EDGE Expert Agreement with IFC

EDGE Auditor-in-Training undertakes an audit of the evidence provided by the Project Admin, and clarifies if the project has met the EDGE standard. This individual is selected & paid by the client.

An EDGE “Auditor-in-training” is also an EDGE Expert, and has all the above qualifications in place, and has additionally attended the “EDGE Auditor” training course. The Auditor agreement/license* needs to be signed with the GBCSA.

This qualification cannot consult on a project with the client if appointed as the Auditor for that project. Consulting on a project
is the responsibility of the EDGE Expert.

EDGE Auditor will be an “auditor-in-training” for 12 to 36 months before they can qualify as “EDGE Auditor”

Training requirements: 

  • Must have EDGE Expert status before attending the EDGE Auditor training.
  • All of the above in addition to:
  • 1 day Auditor training
  • Signed EDGE Auditor Agreement with IFC

EDGE Auditor has the relevant experience to undertake an audit of the evidence provided by the Project Admin, and clarifies if the project has met the EDGE standard. This individual is selected & paid by the client.

An EDGE Auditor is also an EDGE Expert, and has all the above qualifications in place, and has additionally attended the “EDGE Auditor” training course. The Auditor agreement/license* needs to be signed with the GBCSA.

This qualification cannot consult on a project with the client if appointed as the Auditor for that project. Consulting on a project is the responsibility of the EDGE Expert.

Training requirements: 

  • Must have EDGE Expert status before attending the EDGE Auditor training.
  • All of the above in addition to:
  • 12-36 months experience as an Auditor in training

An individual selected by the Certifier to review the audit. This person can be a member of GBCSA staff or an externally contracted service provider

EDGE Reviewers-in-training are EDGE Auditors selected by the GBCSA who then attend an additional Reviewer’s workshop to align them to the Reviewer Principles as set out by the GBCSA.

In training for 12 months or 3 projects or at the GBCSA’s discretion

Training requirements: 

  • Must have EDGE Auditor status before attending the reviewer training.
  • half day workshop
  • Signed Reviewer Agreement with GBCSA.

EDGE Reviewers are EDGE Auditors with 12 months experience of actively reviewing  three projects

Training requirements: 

  • All of the above in addition to 12 months experience.

EDGE Roles and Responsibilities

Become an EDGE Expert

Join the next EDGE Expert Workshop

Get to know how EDGE works.

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