Sustainability at the heart of Tumas Group: A conversation with Kevin Spiteri

As global industries grapple with rising environmental demands, increasing regulatory complexity, and the urgent need to decarbonise, achieving true sustainability has become one of the defining challenges of our time. For Tumas Group, however, sustainability has always been a core value which is embedded not just in policy, but in practice.

Kevin Spiteri, Group Engineer, has played a central role in the Group’s development strategy for nearly 17 years.

Kevin Spiteri’s involvement with Tumas Group began well before his official appointment. Between 1999 and 2004, he was seconded to Spinola Development Company Ltd by a consultancy company to oversee building services at the landmark Portomaso project. Even while later working on the MIDI project, between 2005 and 2008, he remained closely involved with Portomaso’s continued development.

In 2008, on the cusp of accepting a role with a British multinational in Dubai, he received a call from one of the Group’s directors with an offer to become Tumas Group’s first-ever Group Engineer. “I accepted, and that was the beginning of a whole new journey of growth,” he recalls.

Since then, Spiteri has led the design and execution of some of the Group’s most prominent and award-winning projects, including the Portomaso Laguna Apartments and the Tipico Tower. His role spans the full project lifecycle from concept and detailed design to tendering, implementation, and final handover.

An ever-evolving vision

Having overseen projects across decades of development, Spiteri has seen the Group’s sustainability efforts mature and deepen in alignment with both technological progress and societal expectations.

Today, every new development is approached with sustainability as a foundational consideration. Each building is designed to optimise energy performance – both through its physical structure and the systems installed within. This approach extends beyond new builds. The Group’s continuous programme of refurbishments introduces more efficient systems and operational practices to existing properties.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the hospitality sector. Tumas Group’s hotels implement ongoing efficiency improvements with the aim of consistently lowering energy intensity, regardless of occupancy fluctuations or seasonal demands.

Embedding innovation into practice

Rather than singling out one project as a benchmark for sustainability, Spiteri notes that all recent developments have been designed to reflect the Group’s sustainability-first mindset.

Depending on the building type, measures go well beyond compliance with Malta’s Document F building regulations. “Our aim is to achieve results that place our buildings among the highest performing in their category within the local context,” he explains.

Over the years, the Group has adopted a number of impactful technologies and strategies. These include water-cooled heat pumps capable of producing sanitary and space heating water at high temperatures with impressive energy efficiency, by operating in tandem with water-cooled chillers.

The Group also integrates large chiller systems with varied capacities and compressor types, ensuring optimal performance even at part-load conditions. Complementing this, building management systems are operated by skilled professionals who prioritise energy efficiency and continuously optimise operations based on real-time performance data.

Of course, such approaches come with a cost. “The challenge is always balancing the capital investment against the expected long-term benefits,” Spiteri says. But in the Group’s view, the long-term gains – in efficiency, reliability, and environmental responsibility – consistently outweigh the short-term considerations.

The Maltese context: Progress and complexity

As Malta works toward its 2050 climate objectives, in line with EU commitments, Spiteri sees a growing national awareness of the importance of sustainability. “There’s certainly been an uptick in sustainable developments, aided by various grant schemes and incentives, both residential and commercial,” he notes.

But it comes with its share of challenges too. “Enforcement remains a critical gap. The updated Document F is a strong step forward, with clearer benchmarks for new and existing buildings. Yet, without a formal verification or enforcement mechanism, the system effectively relies on self-regulation. This creates an uneven playing field, where developers who voluntarily invest in better standards may find themselves at a disadvantage compared to those who bypass the rules.”

Spiteri also points to shortcomings in how current incentives are structured. “For example, private homeowners can apply for substantial grants for individual heat pumps. But developers who install high-efficiency systems across entire residential blocks may find themselves ineligible for similar support. This limits the potential for large-scale energy impact and discourages broader uptake of sustainable building solutions.”

Looking ahead with purpose

Despite the systemic challenges, Spiteri is confident in the Group’s direction. “Tumas Group intends to remain at the forefront of sustainability in Malta. But we must acknowledge the scale of the task,” he explains. “Take our recent installation of PV panels across the Hilton Malta rooftop. It’s a major step – but it accounts for only about 3 per cent of the hotel’s total energy consumption. That illustrates the magnitude of the transition we’re facing.”

Nonetheless, he sees a strong opportunity for leadership. “We hope that some of our upcoming developments can serve as reference points – models that demonstrate what’s possible when sustainability is built into a project from the very beginning.”

A clear path forward

As global momentum toward decarbonisation accelerates, Tumas Group is intent on continuing to lead by example. Its approach to sustainability is neither reactive nor cosmetic: it is grounded in decades of technical expertise, informed by long-term planning, and driven by a commitment to responsible growth.

In Spiteri’s words, “Sustainability is not an endpoint. It’s a continuous process of refining, rethinking, and evolving. What matters most is that we remain focused – not just on what’s required today, but on what’s possible tomorrow.”