Understanding EDGE Green Building Assessment

Green Building Assessment

EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) is a tool developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to promote sustainable and cost-effective green buildings worldwide. It provides a streamlined way to improve energy efficiency in both residential and commercial buildings.  Unlike most green building assessment tools, it is available online for FREE and does not require the assessor to be certified to use the software.  Anyone with knowledge of building design or construction can use it!

How EDGE Compares to LEED Certification

While LEED is a widely recognized global certification often applied to large public buildings and corporate headquarters, EDGE is tailored for affordable green building solutions, especially in emerging markets.  EDGE is most commonly used for homes and commercial buildings, but is available for a full range of typologies, size and scale.

Wavefront’s Innovative Approach

EDGE and other green building certification programs like Green Globes and LEED are typically used to improve the sustainability of a single building or site.  However, Wavefront used it as a planning tool to generate data to inform green building regulations for the update to the Fiji National Building Code, creating a data-driven solution for energy efficiency.

Key Findings

The research revealed a range of valuable insights into the energy-saving potential of various building strategies:

• Energy savings were calculated for 30 green building techniques relevant to cooling, ventilation, lighting, energy use, and renewable energy integration were modelled and ranked according to low, medium and high

• A solar hot water system alone resulted in a 26.7% energy savings for single-storey homes

• Energy savings were largely consistent amongst building typologies, but varied according to building materials

• Use of solar panels or a green roof have similar energy savings due to their ability to cool interior room temperatures

These and many more findings directly influenced creating regulations for energy efficiency in Section G of the Fiji National Building Code update, ensuring that the updated regulation complies with the country’s sustainability regulations in the Climate Change Act.

The Future of Green Building in Fiji

The adoption of EDGE modelling marks a significant step toward sustainable construction in Fiji. Prominent Fijian architects have begun incorporating EDGE software into their design processes, signaling industry-wide acceptance of the tool.  It is available to all Fijians, as it can be conveniently accessed on any mobile phone.  With continued research and collaboration, EDGE modelling will remain a cornerstone of Fiji’s commitment to sustainable development, providing a replicable framework for other emerging markets worldwide.