April 2012: The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has launched a Green Buildings Certification System (EDGE) to encourage companies to invest in sustainably-designed buildings.

The three main goals of this green building initiative are to: save operating costs by boosting efficiency; reduce companies’ carbon footprints; and create more jobs through green design innovation. The IFC aims to make environmentally sound design more accessible to all companies rather than just those in the high-income bracket. EDGE works as an assessment tool at an early stage in the building design process, providing companies with information on reducing water, energy, and general operational costs. [EDGE Brochure]