Archetype Group Partner With Ifc’s Edge

• 4 October 2016
• Local News
• 1397 Views

Archetype Group has signed an agreement to partner with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on EDGE; a software, standard and green building certification system for emerging markets, according to a statement from the company. The move has come says Archetype in response to a greater emphasis increasingly being placed on sustainability throughout Asia.

IFC, which is a member of the World Bank Group that focuses on the private sector, has gained Archetype’s support in encouraging clients in the Asia Pacific region to assess their projects with the free EDGE software and achieve certification.

The EDGE software, which is the first of its kind in the world, is an innovation that can be used to determine the financial viability of a green building project at the early design stage. It incorporates numerical checks and balances to ensure that a third party service provider can credibly certify compliance of a project to the EDGE standard, which is at least 20 percent less energy, water, and embodied energy in materials compared to a base case. EDGE is a fast, easy and affordable way to ensure that resource-efficient residential and commercial buildings are available to all.

The collaboration between IFC and Archetype Group aims to accelerate the adoption of green building options and sustainable practices in fast-changing markets throughout Asia Pacific. Furthermore, Archetype has committed to using EDGE to assess at least 30 percent of its total new projects in the next year, with the ambition to reach 80 percent by 2020.

Jean-Francois Chevance, Archetype Group’s Architectural Design Director, says “The biggest benefit of this tool is that it is so easy and quick to use.Just through this ease alone, many more people will be exposed to the general values and principles of sustainability in markets where education is key. With EDGE, we have a perfect complement to existing green building certification services.”

“Archetype’s commitment to EDGE demonstrates the potential that can be achieved when the private sector works together towards implementing climate change solutions in emerging markets,” said Milagros Rivas Saiz, the Global Head of Cross-Industry Advisory for IFC. “All those who own, live and work in Archetype-designed buildings will benefit from the value of better building performance through EDGE.”

With more than 1,100 employees, Archetype Group is one of the largest private construction consultancies in Asia Pacific whose expertise covers key construction sectors such as buildings & real estate, industry & manufacturing and energy & infrastructure.

A member of the World Bank Group, IFC is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Standing between the public and private sectors, IFC brings market-based solutions to respond to the challenge of creating low-carbon economic growth.

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