Newly Completed VEKTOR Building Complex Received Estonia's First Residential LEED Gold Green Certificate
The new residential and commercial building VEKTOR at Pärnu maantee 137 has become the first residential building in Estonia to receive the prestigious LEED Gold certificate. In the Baltic region, VEKTOR is also among the first residential buildings to receive such recognition. The awarding of the LEED certificate confirms the new building's sustainability, energy efficiency and environmental friendliness, making it a significant achievement in Estonian real estate development.
LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized building certification system that evaluates the environmental friendliness and sustainability of building design, construction and operation. Achieving Gold level requires adherence to high standards throughout the development process starting from the design phase.
"Complying with LEED guidelines and obtaining the certificate means lower operating costs for apartment owners, commercial space owners and tenants, as well as more efficient resource use during building operation," noted Martin Lember, project manager at Triple Net Capital OÜ. According to Lember, "sustainability and environmental responsibility in real estate are no longer just trends, but are rapidly becoming competitive advantages – as the VEKTOR example demonstrates in both residential real estate and the highly competitive commercial property market. A green building certificate adds value to the building's current owners and maintains the value of apartments and commercial spaces for future generations," Lember concluded on the importance of the LEED certificate.
Project developer Triple Net Capital OÜ invested in the VEKTOR building project according to LEED requirements from the initial design phase, taking into account the significant scope of the project. An important role in meeting the requirements was played by Nordeco, the main contractor for the building's construction, in cooperation with Sweco Projekt and Inseneribüroo Telora.
In the Baltic region, LEED certificate achievement is consulted by real estate sustainability consulting company Greenmetrix OÜ. The company's representative Kairi Nõulik highlighted using the VEKTOR example that sustainable development principles are not only the domain of commercial spaces, but can also be successfully applied in residential buildings.
"The LEED Gold certificate for the VEKTOR residential and commercial building is an excellent example of how sustainable solutions can ensure high standards of energy efficiency, environmental friendliness and user comfort in residential buildings as well. For example, indoor climate control devices have been installed in VEKTOR's residential spaces, which each homeowner can conveniently control and monitor their consumption in real time. This gives residents the opportunity to make their consumption behavior more sustainable. Also noteworthy is the lush green garden on the roof of the parking building, which is a pleasant leisure area for the building's residents in an urban environment. The landscaped rooftop garden, along with light-reflecting roof covering installed on the residential building's roofs, also reduces the so-called "heat island effect" or the increase in building cooling needs due to dark surfaces. VEKTOR's contribution to environmental sustainability, while maintaining top-level user comfort, is certainly exemplary," said Kairi Nõulik.
Main objectives of the LEED certificate:
reduce building energy use and carbon emissions;
improve water use efficiency;
promote the use of sustainable materials
reduce construction and operational phase waste;
improve indoor air quality and user well-being;
promote sustainable transportation connections and accessibility.
