Sustainable Construction: Green Building Certifications
Climate change is one of the construction industry's largest responsibilities. Globally, buildings account for roughly 37% of carbon emissions. Green building certifications are international standards that measure and reward a building's environmental performance. This article compares LEED, BREEAM and Türkiye's local B.E.S.T.
What Is a Green Building?
Across its lifecycle, a green building:
- Uses less energy
- Uses less water
- Generates less waste
- Provides healthy indoor conditions
- Is built from sustainable materials
Why Certify?
- Operational savings: 20–40% on energy and water
- Marketing edge: rent/sale premium of +5–15%
- Tax incentives: discounted financing in some markets
- Tenant quality: corporate tenants demand green
- Environmental responsibility — measurable and concrete
LEED (USA)
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by USGBC is a global certification.
- 4 levels: Certified → Silver → Gold → Platinum
- 9 building types (new, existing, interiors, etc.)
- Scoring: energy, water, materials, IEQ, site
- Most recognized in Türkiye
- Cost impact: 2–7% of construction cost
BREEAM (UK)
BREEAM is the world's first green building certification (1990).
- 5 levels: Pass → Good → Very Good → Excellent → Outstanding
- Common in Europe
- More flexible local adaptation than LEED
- Strong lifecycle assessment (LCA) tools
B.
E.S.T (Türkiye)
B.E.S.T (Sustainable Energy Design in Buildings) is developed by ÇEDBİK.
- 5 levels
- Tailored to Turkish climate and codes
- Extra points for locally sourced materials
- Lower-cost certification process
Common Scoring Categories
Energy
- Insulation quality
- Window performance (U-value)
- HVAC efficiency
- Renewable integration (solar, geothermal)
- Lighting efficiency (LED, dimmer, sensor)
Water
- Low-flow fixtures
- Greywater recycling
- Rainwater harvesting
- Optimized landscape irrigation
Materials
- Locally sourced (transport carbon)
- Recycled content
- Low-VOC paint, adhesives
- FSC-certified wood
Indoor Environmental Quality
- Daylight access
- CO₂ and humidity sensors
- Thermal comfort
- Acoustics
Location and Transport
- Proximity to transit
- Bicycle parking
- EV charging
- Pedestrian access
Certification Process
- Set target level (Silver / Gold etc.)
- Engage an accredited consultant
- Design phase simulations (energy model, daylight, acoustics)
- Construction phase documentation
- Commissioning of all systems
- Submission and audit
Timeline: 12–24 months (parallel to project).
ROI: Does Green Pay?
For a typical LEED Gold office building:
- Construction cost: +4% over standard
- Energy savings: 30%/year
- Water savings: 35%/year
- Payback: 4–7 years
- Lifecycle: positive NPV
FAQ
Can homes be certified?
Yes. LEED for Homes and B.E.S.T. Home versions exist.
Isn't a building built to the same spec but uncertified just as good?
Technically possibly. But the certificate provides marketing value, investor confidence and lasting documentation.
Barriers in Türkiye?
Upfront cost, scarcity of qualified consultants, some imported materials. All have improved sharply in the last 5 years.
Turallar Yapı has been delivering green-building-grade projects for years. Reach out for sustainable construction consultancy.
