It is with great pleasure that we announce that EDGE version 3.0 is live and open for registration.

For those of you working in the EDGE App frequently, you will have seen the version 3 beta version working in the background as the final adjustments were made. The functionality of EDGE Version 3.0 will continue to be adjusted over the coming months so please feel free to share your feedback, but for those interested in certifying against the new standard the option is officially available.

When standards change, it can be quite disconcerting because you don’t know what will be different and how it will affect your project. But fear not, we are here to work with you on this journey and help you both with your current projects and your future ones.

Over the coming months, we will be putting out detailed technical analyses, as well as bespoke trainings and FAQs, to cover the changes and explain how they will affect you, whether you are the project owner or a consultant working on projects.

But today, let’s start with the basics.

Why is EDGE version 3.0 even happening?

Every voluntary green building standard evolves over time. It’s important for voluntary standards to raise the bar as building regulations become more rigorous. This relationship has existed since green building standards were first established in the early 90’s, largely because voluntary standards test the market and illustrate to governments what can be achieved. By showing what is possible, they can be used to help influence local regulations and set building codes.  

What are the key changes in version 3 and how do they affect you?

One of the biggest updates in EDGE version 3.0 is the change in all the baseline data. The baseline data has been updated for all countries to reflect the latest regulatory changes globally and switched from ASHRAE 90.1 2007 to ASHRAE 90.1 2016. Some countries will see bigger changes than others, largely because the local building codes will have changed substantially, but everyone should see a difference on the EDGE App compared to the current version.

What does that mean for you?

As building regulations have become more rigorous, this will create a new challenge for buildings to achieve the EDGE standard because the baseline has shifted. With the end goal of implementing as many green buildings as possible, this change is positive as it pushes new developments and refurbishment projects to achieve higher greenhouse gas emissions reductions. For new developments, the new baseline also helps to decouple economic development from increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

EDGE originally had a limited number of countries available in the EDGE App as it was initially developed to facilitate, recognise and encourage green buildings, at scale, in emerging markets. Following the understanding that to implement green buildings at scale a global effort was required, coupled with the appetite from international organisations to use a single standard for all buildings everywhere, IFC have slowly been adding background data for more and more countries and cities. With this latest update, every single country is included with relevant baseline data.

What does that mean for you?

You can now register a project in any country around the world. This becomes especially appealing for multinational organisations with presence across the world. Now every building can be assessed, and companies can use EDGE to set global benchmarks.

The way you can assess projects in the EDGE App has been updated, which will improve the user functionality. New features include changing how residential projects with multiple unit types and mixed-use projects are assessed in the app, new calculators, and the ability to switch between typologies without losing work. We will take a deep dive into the technical changes in a future blog, but many changes implemented in version 3.0 will streamline the user experience.

What does that mean for you?

Going through the EDGE certification process will be more efficient. You will spend less time clicking and more time figuring out how to make your building as green as possible.

As industry practices changes, so do the measures inside the EDGE App. For example, LED lighting is now included in the baseline and new measures such as green roofs and different kinds of renewable energy have been added as options (not just PV). These changes reflect the acceptance of new technologies and the mainstreaming of previously niche technologies.

What does that mean for you?

You can more accurately assess your buildings and integrate the technologies you are using, without having to go to IFC or your certifier for clarification on how to assess certain measures that were not previously in the EDGE App.