Sustainability in Engineering: Understanding EDGE Green Building Certification
In our ongoing series themed ‘sustainability in engineering’ the iHub talks to Eng. Nicholas Mwai, the Technical Director, Building Services (Mechanical Engineering) at Howard Humphreys (East Africa) Limited about his experience of becoming a certified green building expert.
- What is EDGE and what motivated you to become an IFC EDGE Green Building Expert
Over the last few decades, sustainability in design and innovation in construction methods have become increasingly important as awareness has increased on the impact that buildings have on the environment. The EDGE program has been developed by IFC / World Bank to address this challenge by making the tools for green building design available universally.
As a mechanical engineer, my motivation for the EDGE training was to get equipped with skills and tools that would enable me to transfer the benefits of EDGE compliant / certified buildings to our clients.
2. Could you tell us what was involved in the certification process
The certification process entailed an intensive 2-day training workshop on the EDGE program and software, as well as a practical exercise on EDGE modeling for a sample building. Afterward, there was a 2-hour on-line examination administered by IFC. IFC certified me as an Edge Expert after successfully passing the examination.
3. What does this EDGE certification mean to you as a professional engineer and for the organization?
Following the EDGE training and certification, I am now better able to advise our clients on the various EDGE measures that are available for incorporation and serve as a consultant in the EDGE certification process.
Howard Humphreys now has a multi-disciplinary pool of EDGE Green Building Experts. The availability of a multidisciplinary team with EDGE expertise will enable Howard Humphreys to provide sustainable designs cutting across all engineering disciplines.
4. How will the EDGE certification improve your ability to contribute to more sustainable projects?
From now on, I will be better able to incorporate EDGE measures into our MEP designs, leading to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, water & energy conservation, and low life cycle costs in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals.
5. How are you going to use the knowledge from edge training in your day-to-day work as a professional engineer
As a certified EDGE expert, I plan to advise clients on the various EDGE green building measures available for incorporation and the benefits that can be realized in case they decide to apply and gain EDGE certification on their property.
6. What other professionals can be certified in EDGE and what advice would you give them on their journey to becoming an Edge Expert?
All professionals in the built environment (civil / structural / electrical / mechanical engineers, architects, project managers, quantity surveyors, facility managers, etc.) are eligible for certification as EDGE experts, provided they undertake the training and then sit and pass the IFC Edge examination