SmartCity Malta is the first township development in Malta to register for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification.
LEED, developed by the US Green Building Council USGBC, is a certification programme for assessing sustainable building design, construction and operation. LEED certified buildings utilise and maximise the use of key resources more efficiently than conventional buildings. This, in turn, creates healthier work and living environments which contribute to higher productivity and improved employee health and comfort.
From its inception, SmartCity had announced plans to adopt globally-benchmarked environmentally-friendly practices to make its global network of self-sustained business townships highly energy and resource efficient. This approach was confirmed by SmartCity as it announced that it would incorporate LEED guidelines in all their designs, constructions and in ensuring that all their consultants comply with the LEED guidelines.
SmartCity Malta’s “green” buildings will be highly energy and resource efficient, contributing to an overall reduction in waste and pollution throughout the self-sustained business township. These buildings adapt well to local site conditions which makes them flexible and suitable for long-term functionality. This efficient performance has a positive effect on the carbon footprint of SmartCity Malta, by reducing carbon dioxide emissions generated by daily building operations.
SmartCity Malta has already been registered with the Green Building Certification Institute GBCI, which handles the accreditation process on behalf of USGBC. This first phase of the LEED process has been completed with the support of a sustainability team led by Bovis Lend Lease (BLL) Malta.
Fareed Abdulrahman, CEO of SmartCity spoke about SmartCity’s energy efficient policies. He stated, “Sustainable development is an important focus for us as we embark in creating knowledge-based industry townships globally. That is why the adoption of these world-leading sustainable development policies are essential to SmartCity, as well as to the other townships developed by TECOM Investments – such as Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and Dubai Knowledge Village. Knowledge workers in each SmartCity will be able to live and work in a comfortable, productive and healthy environment.”