The Analysis of the EDGE Certification System on Residential Complexes to Improve Sustainability and Affordability
Author(s): |
Delphine Isimbi
Jihyun Park |
---|---|
Medium: | journal article |
Language(s): | English |
Published in: | Buildings, 20 September 2022, n. 10, v. 12 |
Page(s): | 1729 |
DOI: | 10.3390/buildings12101729 |
Abstract: |
In this paper, the characteristics of the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) green building certification system in terms of the scope of certification, and environmental and social strategies focused on 6024 units in the 17 EDGE-certified residential buildings in South Africa was investigated. This research analyzed the efficiency of energy, water, embodied energy in materials, and annual CO₂ emissions and their contribution to solving housing issues in the given context. This research revealed that the design of EDGE-certified buildings focuses on the “efficiency first” approach and reduced energy and water demand more than on-site energy production. In energy-saving strategies, energy-saving solutions are three times (69.2%) higher than energy-generating solutions (23.1%). The results on resource savings showed that, on average, embodied energy in materials (54%) is the most reduced resource, followed by water (31%) and energy (29.7%). The statistical analysis indicated that there is no statistically significant correlation between energy, water, embodied energy in materials, and CO₂ savings with floor areas of the buildings. In addition, this research highlighted how EDGE certification has positively contributed to solving South Africa’s resource shortage and affordable housing scarcity problems. |
Copyright: | © 2022 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. |
License: | This creative work has been published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0) license which allows copying, and redistribution as well as adaptation of the original work provided appropriate credit is given to the original author and the conditions of the license are met. |
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data sheet - Reference-ID
10700114 - Published on:
11/12/2022 - Last updated on:
10/05/2023