EDGE-Expert Exam Preparation Material | Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE Expert) Exam

Explanation:
The design certification stage (Preliminary Certification) in EDGE requires specific actions from the Client to ensure the project can be audited and certified. The EDGE Certification Protocol outlines the process: "To complete the design certification stage, the EDGE Client must provide the EDGE Auditor with access to the completed self-assessment in the EDGE software, along with all supporting documentation, such as drawings, specifications, and calculations, to verify the selected measures" (EDGE Certification Protocol, Section 3.1: Certification Process).
Option C, provide the EDGE Auditor access to the self-assessment and all supporting documentation, matches this requirement.
Option A (internally review the EDGE measures) is a preparatory step, not a certification requirement: "Internal reviews are recommended but not mandated for certification" (EDGE User Guide, Section 6.1: Project Preparation).
Option B (access the EDGE software and complete a self-assessment) is a prerequisite to the audit, not the final step for design certification: "The self-assessment must be completed before the audit, but certification requires submission to the Auditor" (EDGE Certification Protocol, Section 3.1: Certification Process).
Option D (sign an agreement with a certification partner) is incorrect, as this is typically handled during project registration, not design certification: "Agreements with Certification Providers are signed prior to registration, not at the design stage" (EDGE Certification Protocol, Section 2.1: Registration). Thus, providing the Auditor access (Option C) is the required action.
Reference: EDGE Certification Protocol, Section 3.1: Certification Process, Section 2.1: Registration; EDGE User Guide Version 2.1, Section 6.1: Project Preparation.

Explanation:
The EDGE measure EEM22 - Efficient Lighting for Internal Areas focuses on reducing energy consumption through the use of efficient lighting. The EDGE User Guide specifies the requirements for this measure: "To claim EEM22 - Efficient Lighting for Internal Areas, at least 90% of the lamps in internal areas must be energy-efficient, such as LED or CFL, with a luminous efficacy of at least 80 lumens per watt. This threshold ensures significant energy savings while allowing for minimal exceptions in specific areas" (EDGE User Guide, Section 4.4: Lighting Efficiency Measures).
Option C, 90%, directly matches this requirement.
Option A (70%) and Option B (80%) are below the threshold, thus not qualifying for the measure.
Option D (100%) exceeds the minimum requirement, but EDGE allows for flexibility with a 90% threshold to accommodate practical constraints: "A 90% requirement balances practicality with energy savings, recognizing that some areas may require specialized lighting" (EDGE Methodology Report Version 2.0, Section 5.4: Lighting Calculations) .
Therefore, the minimum percentage to claim EEM22 is 90% (Option C).
Reference: EDGE User Guide Version 2.1, Section 4.4: Lighting Efficiency Measures; EDGE Methodology Report Version 2.0, Section 5.4: Lighting Calculations.

Explanation:
Within the CBCI EDGE curriculum, wall material selection affects not only embodied carbon under the materials category but also operational energy performance. The thermal properties of wall assemblies, including U-value, thermal mass, conductivity, and insulation levels, directly influence the building’s heat transfer characteristics. These factors determine how much heat enters or escapes through the building envelope, thereby affecting cooling and heating loads.
When wall materials provide improved insulation or higher thermal mass, they reduce unwanted heat gains in hot climates and heat losses in cooler climates. This results in lower energy demand for HVAC systems. In the EDGE software, envelope performance improvements are reflected in the energy calculations under the improved case scenario, contributing to overall percentage energy savings.
Window to Wall Ratio is a geometric design parameter and is not determined by wall material choice. Internal heat gains are primarily influenced by occupants, lighting, and equipment rather than wall composition. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient refers specifically to glazing performance, not opaque wall materials. Therefore, aside from embodied carbon impacts, wall material selection most directly affects the building’s energy consumption.

Explanation:
Increasing the glazing area in an office building affects various aspects of energy consumption due to changes in heat gain, heat loss, and natural light availability, but it does not influence all building systems. The EDGE User Guide explains the impacts of glazing: "Increasing the glazing area (window-to-wall ratio, WWR) in an office building typically increases cooling demand due to higher solar heat gain, increases heating demand in colder climates due to greater heat loss through windows, and reduces lighting energy by allowing more natural daylight, assuming proper daylighting design" (EDGE User Guide, Section 3.5: Passive Design
Strategies).
Option A (cooling demand) is affected, as more glazing increases solar heat gain: "Higher WWR leads to greater cooling loads in hot climates due to increased solar radiation entering the building" (EDGE Methodology Report Version 2.0, Section 5.2: Energy Calculation Methods).
Option B (heating demand) is also impacted, particularly in cooler climates: "Larger glazing areas increase heat loss in cold climates, raising heating demand due to the lower thermal resistance of windows compared to walls" (EDGE User Guide, Section 4.1: Insulation Measures).
Option C (lighting energy) is affected, as more glazing can reduce the need for artificial lighting: "Increased glazing can lower lighting energy by enhancing daylight penetration, provided glare is controlled" (EDGE User Guide, Section 4.4: Lighting Efficiency Measures). However, Option D (hot water demand) is not impacted by glazing area, as hot water use is tied to occupant activities (e. g., showers, cleaning) rather than building envelope design: "Hot water demand in EDGE is determined by occupant use patterns, such as the number of showers or laundry cycles, and is not influenced by glazing area or WWR" (EDGE Methodology Report Version 2.0, Section 4.2: Water Savings Calculations). The EDGE User Guide further confirms: "Glazing area impacts energy-related metrics like cooling, heating, and lighting, but has no direct effect on hot water demand, which is calculated separately based on usage assumptions" (EDGE User Guide, Section 5.2: Water Efficiency Measures). Therefore, increasing glazing area does not impact hot water demand (Option D).
Reference: EDGE User Guide Version 2.1, Section 3.5: Passive Design Strategies, Section 4.1: Insulation Measures, Section 4.4: Lighting Efficiency Measures, Section 5.2: Water Efficiency Measures; EDGE Methodology Report Version 2.0, Section 5.2: Energy Calculation Methods, Section 4.2: Water Savings Calculations.

Explanation:
The EDGE software uses a Base Case to establish a benchmark for resource consumption, tailored to local conditions. The EDGE Methodology Report explains how the Base Case is constructed: "The Base Case for external wall materials in hotels is determined using data from market surveys of typical building practices in the project’s country, supplemented by national building performance codes where available. This ensures the baseline reflects local construction norms and regulatory standards" (EDGE Methodology Report Version 2.0, Section 3.1: Base Case Determination).
Option A matches this description by referencing typical building practices and national codes.
Option B incorrectly refers to global practices and international codes, which EDGE does not use, as the software prioritizes local context.
Option C, focusing on corporate specifications, is not part of the Base Case methodology, as the Base Case is standardized, not project-specific.
Option D, involving local suppliers or accreditation, is irrelevant to how EDGE determines the Base Case, which relies on broader market data rather than supplier-specific information.
Reference: EDGE Methodology Report Version 2.0, Section 3.1: Base Case Determination; EDGE User Guide Version 2.1, Section 2.3: Using the EDGE App.