PETALING JAYA: Gamuda Cove’s masterplan design received a five-diamond recognition at the Low Carbon City 2030 Challenge (LCC2030C) ceremony held in Hotel EQ, Equatorial Plaza Kuala Lumpur.
The Southern Klang Valley township is also the first private township to receive this recognition from the Environment and Water Ministry in collaboration with Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre (MGTC).
“This recognition underscores Gamuda Land’s approach to environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles under the Gamuda Green Plan 2025 and is also a testament that we are on the right track in our sustainability efforts,” said Chu Wai Lune, chief operating officer of Gamuda Land, the developer of Gamuda Cove.
The Gamuda Green Plan 2025 is a comprehensive framework charting tangible targets driven on ESG dimensions set forth over the next five years and beyond. The plan commits the entire Group with specific steps to reduce direct and indirect corporate greenhouse gases emission intensity by 30% in 2025 and by 45% in 2030.
“Guided by our core town-making principle, ‘when we get the places right, the town works’, we designed and planned Gamuda Cove with a target to achieve 45% overall reduction in carbon emission as compared to the business-as-usual design,” Chu added.
He shared that this is aligned to Pillar 1 (Sustainable Planning and Design for Construction) of the Gamuda Green Plan.
While the LCC2030 Challenge takes four elements of measure into consideration, namely energy, urban transport, water and waste; Gamuda Cove will be incorporating an additional two elements of measure in its carbon reduction strategies, namely urban planning and building.
The homes at Gamuda Cove will be surrounded by an increase in green plot ratio, encouraging thriving biodiversity.
The details on its elements of measure and the commitments of Gamuda Land are as stated below:
1. Urban planning
？ Increase tree planting density and planting tree species with higher carbon absorption rate
？ Increasing the green plot ratio for residential and commercial properties
？ Use of gravel pathways to reduce urban surface runoff
2. Urban transport
？ Work together with authorities to encourage a voluntary shift from private vehicles to public vehicles with a ratio of 72:28 as opposed to the usual 95:5
？ Encouraging adaptation to green mobility which includes hubs with end-of-trip facilities and shuttle bus routes surrounding the township
？ Provision of EV charging stations throughout the development
？ Work together with existing bus operators to links to external transportation hubs (MRT and ERL at Putrajaya Sentral, KLIA)
3. Energy
？ A minimum 30% of commercial buildings’ rooftop to be covered with solar photovoltaic
？ Reduction of energy consumption through energy efficient features
？ Using passive strategies on properties’ designs – roof insulation, building orientation, natural ventilation, fa？ade and daylighting
？ Using active strategies such as energy-saving air conditioning, mechanical ventilation and artificial lighting
？ Adoption of solar street lighting
4. Buildings
？ Increased utilisation of industrialised building system for high rise and landed projects
？ Increased usage of recycled content material in construction
？ Lower Concrete Usage Index for residential and commercial projects
5. Water
？ Reducing water consumption with water saving devices and sanitary wares with water efficiency label under Water Efficient Product Labelling Scheme.
？ Use of rainwater harvesting system for high-rise residential and commercial buildings to cater to minimum 50% of landscape irrigation needs
？ 100% Gamuda Cove’s Central Park irrigation is from recycled lake water
6. Waste
？ All properties will be fitted with recycling facilities to reduce 40% waste to landfills
？ Food waste composting programme
？ Landscape waste will be composted to be reused as fertiliser to the greenery
“We anticipate that the implementation of low carbon city strategies will see Gamuda Cove reducing up to 221,366 tCO2 against the baseline set if compared to the business-as-usual design of a township, this is equivalent to the 45% overall reduction,” Chu explained.
Gamuda Land will be working closely with Green Quarter Sdn Bhd to ensure all commitments are followed through.
Located next to the expansive Kuala Langat Forest Reserve and Paya Indah Discovery Wetlands, Gamuda Cove is a 1,530 acres sustainable city comprising residential and commercial properties. Located at Southern Klang Valley, Gamuda Cove’s mindful placemaking brings together natural attractions like the Paya Indah Discovery Wetlands, outdoor escapades such as the Goosebumps Rope Course and panoramic viewing experiences at the Cove Aerobar in Discovery Park.
These facilities and attractions are further complemented by the commercial vibrancy of Heart of Cove, the nucleus of Gamuda Cove, making the nature sanctuary and smart city a growing destination for prospective homeowners and adventure seekers.
Gamuda Cove is situated within a 30-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur with connectivity to the North–South Expressway Central Link (Elite), Maju Expressway (MEX) and South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE). Its connectivity profile is further enhanced by a direct interchange, shortening travel to Cyberjaya to 2km.