Raadiku received the prestigious international green label as the region's first municipal housing estate
BREEAM, the world's leading sustainability certification, assesses the sustainability, energy efficiency and overall well-being of buildings. The Raadiku houses have received the BREEAM 'very good' rating.
In February, the Raadiku municipal buildings in the Lasnamäe district of Tallinn, Estonia, were awarded the BREEAM sustainability certificate, based on the world's most widely recognised and comprehensive assessment principles.
To get the green label, a building is assessed in up to eight categories: user well-being, energy efficiency, accessibility and modern transport links, building durability, green solutions around the building, etc. The Raadik Municipal Houses were awarded the BREEAM green label at the high level of "very good", mainly due to the energy efficiency of the housing, the controllability of the indoor climate, the use of high-quality building materials, the spacious green areas and the outdoor access for residents.
According to licensed BREEAM assessor, Tepsli expert Margus Tali, the field of green certification has so far been primarily focused on commercial real estate, with residential buildings only receiving attention from 2020. "In the whole of the Baltics, the certification of residential buildings has been rather rare, and so far, the only Estonian residential buildings to have received the BREEAM label are the Lumi Kodud rental apartments in the Manufaktuur and Aiandi quarters in Tallinn, which are part of the Lumi Capital portfolio. Now, the Raadiku Municipal Apartments have also received important recognition," said Tali. The Raadik houses are also the first BREEAM-labelled municipal buildings in Eastern Europe. "We are seeing a growing awareness in the market - more and more people are seeking certification to ensure that an existing or new building meets all the modern and green building requirements," Tali added.
"Applying for the label allowed us to thoroughly assess the energy efficiency, sustainability, green solutions, etc. of Raadiku's residential buildings. In short, everything that affects the well-being of the residents as well as the long-term value of the real estate," said Raadiku Development board member and Lumi Capital partner Martin Rekor. "We also made additional investments in Raadiku to achieve the high rating, and as the certificate has to be renewed regularly, we can also plan future developments based on the results. We aim to be thorough in our work and rely on proven knowledge. Ultimately, the bottom line is this: it's simply better to live in a well-built and sustainable building."
"It is good to see that Raadiku municipal buildings have been recognised with a high level of green certification. This will certainly reassure residents and the City of Tallinn that this is a valuable and sustainable living environment. Environmentally friendly solutions contribute to both a cleaner and a healthier urban environment. The Raadiku housing is an excellent example of cooperation with the private sector, for whom sustainable practices are important," said Julianna Jurtšenko, district head of Lasnamäe.
Completed in 2010, the Raadiku municipal housing estate consists of nine buildings with 1,215 apartments, providing homes for around 3,500 Tallinn residents. It is owned by Raadiku Arendus OÜ, and managed by Lumi Capital.
