LEED-ND certification : Moka’s Smart City aims for ecological development

The objective of the Smart City of Moka is not only topographic. In fact, by obtaining the LEED Neighborhood Development certification, the developer also seeks to implement a new sustainable development philosophy focused on, among other things, energy saving and wastewater recycling. In addition, this international label will ensure a greater visibility to the project and will guarantee its ecological aspect to investors.

The acronym LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is an American certification that accredits many urban development projects around the world. "We chose to obtain this certification to show that sustainable development is not just a theoretical principle for us. Once the certification is obtained, we will be the very first urban development project in the country, and one of the few in Africa, to benefit from such a label,” explained Samuel de Gersigny, Development Manager of Moka's Smart City.

To obtain LEED Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) certification, the development area must include at least one LEED-certified building. The new headquarters of PwC Mauritius, currently under construction at Telfair Square, Central Business District of Moka's Smart City, will be LEED certified. This means that the Smart City of Moka already meets an essential criterion in obtaining the LEED-ND label.

“The issuance of this certification implies that we comply with very specific criteria because our infrastructure must comply with the standards imposed by the United States Green Building Council, body in charge of developing the charter related to LEED certifications,” added Samuel de Gersigny.

LEED standards relate to energy consumption and water requirements. In the case of LEED-ND certification, infrastructures will also have to meet these criteria. The promoter of Moka's Smart City has already started the procedures and submitted the project plans to the Green Business Certification Incorporation, a private company that manages all LEED certifications. Evaluation and monitoring are provided in Mauritius by a local certified consultant.

LEED-ND certification takes place on several levels. It begins on paper with the design that must meet the criteria established by it. During the construction phase, the proponent must ensure that the site is always well maintained. It also involves the use of recycled materials and the efficient management of water on site (water recycling, among others). The waste is sorted and categorized and then sent to treatment or recycling centres.

The landlord also makes commitments for future buildings that will be developed by third parties within the area covered by the certification. “It reassures us to know that everything has been carefully thought out and that drives us to have higher requirements,” explained project manager Samuel De Gersigny.

The benefits of LEED-ND certification are multiple, the most notable being a fairly fast return on investment, given the savings on the energy bill. It also harmonises development within the same geographical area and allows the implementation of projects that fit perfectly into a sustainable approach.