EDGE and LEED Synergies Summary

Author: 
Dror Karni

The article is part of an article series that highlight synergies between EDGE and LEED.

Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) is the only certification and credentialing body within the green business and sustainability industry to exclusively administer project certifications and professional credentials of LEED, GRESB, Parksmart, PEER, SITES, TRUE and WELL. In addition, GBCI administers EDGE certification in over 140 countries around the worldand is the exclusive certification provider for all EDGE buildings in India. GBCI offers all these programs in order to meet the various sustainability needs in the marketplace. 

GBCI and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) have been working with IFC, a member of the World Bank Group and innovator of EDGE, to ensure LEED and EDGE work synergistically to meet the market's needs around sustainability. We have identified four synergies between LEED and EDGE that strengthen these program offerings and help provide for a more seamless customer experience. GBCI and IFC will continue to work on establishing new connections that provide additional opportunities for LEED and EDGE stakeholders, and strengthen our collective goal to drive the adoption of green buildings globally.

Current Synergies between EDGE and LEED

  1. LEED APs are pre-qualified to become EDGE Experts.
    By becoming an EDGE Expert, LEED APs can expand their business and services in the green building marketplace, as well as offer an additional line of services to meet market needs in emerging countries around the globe. LEED APs can earn their EDGE Expert credential in two simple steps. Learn more.
  2. LEED APs and other GBCI program credential holders receive CE hours for EDGE project work.
    LEED Green Associates, LEED APs with specialty, SITES APs, and WELL APs can count their work on EDGE projects toward the Continuing Education (CE) hours required to maintain their credentials. Work on EDGE projects registered for certification count for 1 General CE hour per efficiency measure and project administrators can claim an additional 2 General CE hours per project. This synergy further enhances the opportunity for architects, engineers and other green building professionals to build a line of business around EDGE consulting/auditing as their EDGE project work helps maintain their GBCI credentials. Learn more.
  3. Green building policies and incentives for EDGE certification qualify for LEED for Cities and Communities v4.1 points.
    Recognizing that cities need a globally consistent way to measure their performance, the USGBC introduced the LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities programs in 2016 to help city leaders communicate performance across an array of objectives and to different types of stakeholders. The Green Building Policy and Incentives credit rewards cities and communities that encourage the design, construction, and retrofit of buildings using green building practices. Cities can earn points under this credit for requiring buildings owned and/or operated by the local government or development authority to certify with LEED, EDGE or an equivalent green building rating system. Additional points can be earned by providing incentives for LEED, EDGE or an equivalent green building rating system. This synergy will help with the growth and uptake of the EDGE program as it incentivizes the use of EDGE in cities and communities, especially in emerging markets. Learn more.
  4. EDGE certification contributes to LEED v4 for Neighborhood Development Certified Green Building Prerequisite and Credit.
    LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) was engineered to inspire and help create better, more sustainable, well-connected neighborhoods. Recognizing the valuable contribution that green buildings make to neighborhood sustainability, the Green Infrastructure and Buildings (GIB) Certified Green Building prerequisite within LEED ND v4 requires that at least one building achieve certification through a green building rating system, such as EDGE. Additionally, projects that contain more than one EDGE certified building may earn points toward LEED ND v4 through the Green Infrastructure and Buildings Certified Green Buildings credit. This synergy will also help with the growth of the EDGE program, as it promotes EDGE certification for buildings within neighborhood developments. Learn more.