Airports are the infrastructure with the highest energy and water consumption per square meter in the construction sector. Expansion projects and new airport infrastructure seeking financing from the IDB, IFC, CAF or development banks must meet verifiable environmental standards — and EDGE is the certification that makes it possible at the design and construction stage. Additionally, IATA aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050, and ACI's Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program requires airports to certify and progressively reduce their emissions. The 24/7 operation of HVAC, lighting, security and ground operations systems makes energy efficiency an operational priority, not just an environmental one.
Initial assessment: We analyze the terminal or airport infrastructure design and identify the measures needed to achieve EDGE's required 20% savings in energy, water, and materials.
Registration and modeling: We create the project file in the EDGE platform and calculate the efficiency score calibrated for the airport use type, climate zone, and operational profile of the facility.
Technical audit: An IFC-accredited auditor validates compliance with EDGE criteria before construction and upon project completion, with protocols specific to airport infrastructure.
Certification issued: The project receives the official EDGE seal for airport infrastructure, enabling access to multilateral financing and positioning as a certified sustainable airport.
Registration with GBCI/IFC is a flat fee of USD 349 per project, plus a certification charge of approximately USD 0.22 per built m² (excluding parking areas), plus Leaf's consulting fee — the same structure applies in every country. The construction cost premium needed to reach the required 20% savings stays in the 0%–3% range of the budget. Given the complexity of airport infrastructure, the design certificate takes 6 to 12 weeks after registration; the as-built certificate, once construction is complete.
Airport infrastructure involves more complex electrical and mechanical systems, which explains the longer design timeline compared to other EDGE building types.
It applies to both new terminals and significant expansions of existing airport infrastructure. The EDGE evaluation process can be adapted to the specific scope of the project, whether a complete terminal or a boarding gate expansion.
EDGE and ACA are complementary. EDGE certifies the efficiency measures in the infrastructure's design and construction, providing the efficiency baseline that ACA needs to calculate and accredit the airport's operational emission reductions.
Between 6 and 12 weeks from registration to the issuance of the design certificate, depending on project complexity. The final certification is issued once construction is complete.
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