Monvert is the first residential development in Brazil to receive the EDGE Advanced sustainability seal

Located in Horto Florestal, in Salvador, Monvert became the first residential development in Brazil to receive the EDGE Advanced Seal of sustainability. The development, delivered in January last year by OR, the real estate arm of the Novonor Group, had already achieved the first level of this certification in 2020, when it became the first residential building in the North-Northeast to receive this Sustainable Construction seal, for having reduced the use of water, electricity and energy used in the manufacture of materials by at least 20%. The recent achievement of Advanced Level represents even better results, in addition to 40% energy savings.

EDGE is a green building certification program created by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, which aims to certify structures that are more efficient in the use of natural resources such as energy, water and carbon offsetting. The awards ceremony took place at the Fera Palace Hotel, with the aim of recognizing and valuing the efforts of companies in the Northeast region that are contributing to the sustainability of the construction sector and motivating Salvador’s real estate segment to certify their projects.

“Obtaining this new level of seal reinforces our commitment to social and environmental responsibility and how much we seek improvements for our clients, from the construction process to completion and delivery,” says Daniel Sampaio, OR’s superintendent in Bahia.

More than just a title, this certification will bring benefits to residents by reducing condominium and real estate unit costs through more sustainable façades and installations, low-consumption equipment, as well as water reuse and photovoltaic energy generation systems. Greater savings will also be made in private units with systems that contribute to greater thermal efficiency in air-conditioning units, lighting and reduced water consumption with flow-reducing devices in metal fittings and toilets. These savings have a direct impact on reducing the fixed costs of the Monvert condominium and the amount paid by its residents. All of these attributes together have also made it possible to consolidate the Gold Level Green IPTU for residents, in which Salvador City Hall grants a 10% discount on the Urban Property Tax.

Another OR development that is following the same path is Legacy, which is under construction in Caminho das Árvores. An architectural landmark and a commitment to sustainability, the development is deeply linked to conscious strategies for the use and reuse of natural resources, setting an example for more sustainable buildings to follow in the market. With several integrated actions, Legacy has already been pre-certified with the EDGE seal and is a strong candidate to receive the Gold Level Green IPTU benefit.

According to Daniel Sampaio, in addition to saving money and caring for the environment, these achievements consolidate OR’s commitment as one of the companies with the largest number of green developments in Brazil, promoting the concept of ESG in the real estate market, changing the reality of Brazil and positively impacting people’s lives. There are currently more than 1.6 million m² certified with EDGE across the country, of which 410,560 m² in Salvador, Fortaleza and Recife, representing a total of 26 buildings and 10 companies certified with their projects or developments in the Northeast.

The ESG principles have different uses, being applied internally, in the management of the company, or externally, to analyze it, and refer to three fundamental criteria for evaluating a company’s performance in environmental, social and governance terms. ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance.

About IFC:

The International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. The institution aims to promote sustainable economic growth in countries through capital, efficiency in the use of natural resources and the dissemination of technical knowledge. One of its priority focuses is to promote the mitigation of the effects of climate change, eradicate extreme poverty and increase shared prosperity.

About EDGE Certification:

EDGE Certification was developed by IFC as part of its mission to be an instrument for improving the performance of environmentally friendly buildings. The EDGE Seal focuses on water, energy and carbon savings incorporated into materials and is obtained through an analysis and audit process carried out by experts and auditors accredited in the market and by an independent certification company. The certified projects are not related to any type of financing from the IFC / World Bank. An enterprise is awarded the Certified Level when it achieves 20% savings and the Advanced Level when it achieves 40% or more. Zero Carbon status is awarded to buildings in operation, certified in EDGE Advanced, and which use 100% renewable energy or purchase carbon offsets.