IFC, GBCI partner with Credai to launch EDGE

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group and GBCI, the agency recognising excellence in the green building industry, have partnered with Credai, the apex body of private real estate developers, to launch EDGE green building certification system in the country. The move will boost eco-friendly construction and make buildings more resource-efficient.

According to a press release, EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) is a free, easy-to-use software that suggests practical solutions for energy and water savings, improving operational performance at little or no extra cost. To qualify for certification, a building must achieve a 20 percent reduction in energy, water, and construction resources compared to a standard building.

IFC’s green buildings programme in India is supported by the European Union.

“EDGE will help push the eco-friendly construction market in India,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President, Green Business Certification Inc.

Credai will encourage its members, including local chapters, to incorporate resource efficiency in their design using EDGE. IFC and GBCI will train members and share global best practices and knowledge with Credai on green building technologies.

“This partnership has the potential to transform the housing market and help the real estate industry incorporate sustainable practices,” said Dharmesh Jain, President, MCHI-Credai.

Green buildings are a compelling need in rapidly urbanizing India that has the world’s third-largest carbon footprint. An estimated 600 million people will live in Indian cities by 2031. The exponential demand in infrastructure, energy and water, will mean that buildings have to necessarily be less resource-intensive.

“We have a window of opportunity to shape resilient cities through smart design and growth, given that two-thirds of India’s building infrastructure is still to come up,” said Prashant Kapoor, IFC’s Principal Green Buildings Specialist and the founder of EDGE. “The certification program aims to democratize the green ratings market through easy-to-enforce design solutions build by consensus among home-owners, developers, designers, and architects that green buildings.”

Through the EDGE program, IFC collaborates with premier partners to scale up green building growth in emerging economies such as Costa Rica, Indonesia, and Vietnam. In India, the program is being launched in Bengaluru and Delhi, in addition to Mumbai.

The EDGE software is available free of charge at www.edgebuildings.com