SEZAD Headquarters Secures LEED Gold Certification for Sustainable Operations
The headquarters of Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) in Oman has achieved a LEED Gold rating in the Operations and Maintenance category, making it the first building in the zone to be awarded an internationally recognised green building credential.
This certification acknowledges the building's energy efficient, responsible resource use and sustainable initiatives. It also reflects SEZAD's efforts to improve the operational performance of its facilities in line with Oman Vision 2040.
The achievement follows the completion of the required assessment and documentation process, supported by coordinated efforts from the project's technical and administrative teams and other stakeholders.
Focus on sustainable building operations
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building rating system developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). Its assessment framework covers several aspects of building performance, including energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, resource conservation and reducing environmental impact.
The Operations and Maintenance section assesses the performance of current buildings in terms of their management and maintenance. This section focuses more on the operations of buildings, resource usage, and the quality of the indoor environment.
According to Eng. Ahmed bin Ali Akaak, Chief Executive Officer of SEZAD, the certification expresses SEZAD's determination to grow in the field of sustainability related to managing facilities. He pointed out that improving performance while managing resources and ensuring safe working conditions is extremely important.
Akaak added that the success in gaining the certification is attributable to tight planning of the project combined with constant monitoring and cooperation within the team. The newly-gained experience shall help SEZAD improve sustainability practices in future projects.
Eng. Asim bin Juma Al Amri, Project Manager, said that accomplishing this certification enables SEZAD to make use of advantages stemming from implementing the LEED standard. He noted that using these approaches will not only improve the indicators of buildings but will also reduce the operational costs and support health and comfort of people.
The certification demonstrates SEZAD's commitment to successful improvement of its facilities while enhancing investment environment that promotes economic advancement and sustainable development.
