Translating a glazing choice or mechanical system decision into an EDGE assessment requires current technical information and supporting documents. Preparing a project in the EDGE App brings this information into a shared record. Establishing who provides each decision makes it easier to trace calculated results to drawings and construction. This preparation helps design and submission teams work from the same information.
Preparing project information in the EDGE App
EDGE is an approach developed by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, that makes the resource efficiency of buildings measurable. IFC — About EDGE The assessment of the design, the registration of the project and the certification workflow all take place in IFC's online EDGE App environment. The project record brings together information from the team: design decisions are entered here, the effects of alternatives on resource efficiency are compared, and the documents required for certification are submitted through the same environment.
The EDGE assessment uses its own calculation method to compare and document decisions, while questions requiring detailed dynamic analysis are addressed in a separate technical study. Clarifying from the outset that the two do not substitute for each other helps define an appropriate scope. The software's general capabilities can be reviewed on the IFC — EDGE App page.
The energy, water and materials framework
The EDGE assessment compares the building with a typical reference building and measures savings across the headings of energy, water and embodied energy in materials. EDGE Certified requires at least 20% savings against the baseline in each of energy, water and embodied energy in materials. Calculation methods and evidence are considered alongside the guides applicable to the registered project. IFC — EDGE certification.
The energy heading is not limited to consumption; the building envelope, system selections and renewable energy approaches are part of the same assessment. Under the water heading, fixture and installation decisions are considered, while the materials heading addresses the embodied energy of construction products. The selected and installed products need to match. Technical documentation helps trace material properties and identify which product the information used in the calculation describes.
Project inputs needed for preparation
Submission preparation is a process of gathering information that can begin even before decisions are settled. Organising the inputs into categories makes it easier to divide work within the team and to spot gaps early:
- Architectural information: Massing and orientation, envelope components, space uses and operating patterns form the basis of preparation.
- Mechanical and electrical information: Heating, cooling and ventilation system selections, the domestic hot water approach and lighting decisions are the inputs of the energy heading.
- Water information: Fixture selections and decisions about domestic water installations feed the water assessment.
- Cost data: If alternatives are to be compared in terms of incremental cost, cost information relating to system and envelope decisions should also be gathered.
Aligning the inputs with current project drawings reduces the rework caused by later changes. Where preparation begins before decisions are settled, recording the assumptions preserves the traceability of subsequent stages.
The submission and assessment stage
The project is registered through the EDGE App; at registration, the certification body that will assess the project is selected. For new buildings the process begins with preliminary certification obtained at design stage; once construction is complete, final certification is requested with documents demonstrating that the implementation matches the design decisions. Existing buildings can proceed directly to the final certification stage. The current conditions of both stages should be checked from the official source.
The assessment is carried out by an independent certification body. Consulting and auditing are separate roles: the support that strengthens preparation and the body that grants the decision are distinct. Keeping documents consistent with design decisions helps the team track and answer review questions. Current requirements should be checked on the official EDGE website.
AECO's contribution
AECO's EDGE consulting service covers support running from checking eligibility and certification requirements to evaluating design decisions and coordinating the submission. Where questions require detailed dynamic analysis, our building energy modelling service carries out the technical studies that complement the EDGE assessment. We address which project types suit EDGE in a separate article. Sharing your project drawings and objectives helps define an appropriate scope of work.