The Trio shopping center has been awarded the first LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) environmental certificate in the Nordic countries. The shopping center, which is situated in downtown Lahti, was redeveloped in 2007-2008. The construction project was one of Citycon's three LEED pilot projects.
"This is a strategic choice for Citycon", comments CEO Petri Olkinuora of Citycon. "In the future, all of Citycon's construction projects will be carried out according to environmental principles."
LEED is an internationally-recognized and respected environmental certificate. The certification of a construction project is based on six criteria: sustainable site, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovations in the design process. The evaluation is conducted by Green Building Certification Institute, which is a neutral third party operating under the U.S. Green Building Council.
"LEED evaluates the building project from a wide angle, considering multiple environmental aspects from the consumers' and employees' as well as the environment's point of view", says Kirsi Borg, Citycon's Environmental Manager. "We are looking for concrete benefits such as lower energy costs, more efficient water consumption and reduction of greenhouse gases."
Citycon is also looking to achieve LEED certification for the redevelopment of the Rocca al Mare shopping center in Tallinn and the construction of the Liljeholmstorget shopping center in Stockholm.
Source: Citycon
