Başak Nur GÖKÇAM
Cities are going through a major change process with the effect of green transformation. One of the areas most affected by this wind of transformation is construction. Because now on our agenda is the option of ‘green city’, not the city, ‘green building’, not the building, and ‘green cement’, not cement. So where is Türkiye positioned in terms of green building presence? We talked about green construction in our country with Mehmet Sami Kılıç, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environmentally Friendly Green Buildings Association (ÇEDBİK).
Informing that the number of green certified buildings in Turkey is around 700 by the end of 2024, ÇEDBİK President Mehmet Sami Kılıç said, “In other words, the ratio of this figure to the total building stock is well below 1 percent, which poses a significant deficiency in achieving the country’s sustainability goals.” points out. Increasing the rate of green buildings is not only limited to the implementation of environmentally friendly practices in new construction projects, but also includes the transformation of existing buildings in accordance with sustainable standards.
However, this process causes serious difficulties in terms of both cost and logistics. Much of the existing building stock does not meet basic green building criteria such as energy efficiency, water conservation and use of environmentally friendly materials. “However, I must say that the awareness on this issue in the sector has not developed sufficiently,” he said.
Hundreds of billions of dollars of financing needs
Stating that the goal of becoming a completely green country is directly linked to Turkey’s goal of becoming a carbon neutral country by 2053, ÇEDBİK President Kılıç said, “Although the financing need for this transformation is not an exact figure, it is estimated to be between 500 billion dollars and 1 trillion dollars.
In any case, we have a financing need of hundreds of billions of dollars. This resource can be provided through innovative financing models such as loans from international financial institutions, incentives offered by the state, private sector investments and energy performance contracts. However, a comprehensive national planning strategy is needed to direct these investments correctly and use them effectively. “This strategy should include the renovation of existing buildings and the implementation of sustainability standards in new construction,” he said.
Infrastructure that will provide savings should be developed
Stating that steps such as integrating energy-efficient insulation systems into existing buildings, disseminating renewable energy systems and developing water-saving infrastructure are of critical importance in the transformation process, Kılıç said, “At the same time, increasing awareness of the concept of green building throughout the society and training experts in this field is also a process. is of vital importance.
This transformation, which will provide great environmental, economic and social benefits, will more than compensate for the investments made by ensuring both the protection of the environment and the reduction of energy costs in the long term. However, in order to achieve this, a national mobilization and a sustainable financing model must be established.”
Kılıç said that although the construction sector in Turkey has managed to raise a certain awareness about green transformation, there are still many important areas that need to be improved in terms of implementation, and added: “In the medium term, the sector; I believe that we will invest more in critical areas such as renewable energy integration, energy efficiency and sustainable material use, and in the long term, we will move towards a more integrated and circular built environment.
Green transformation is not a goal that can be achieved only through the efforts of one sector. “At this point, I think real transformation is possible with joint work and awareness-raising processes between the public, private sector, NGOs and individuals,” he said.
Urban transformation is an opportunity, but criteria are not taken into account
Stating that although there is awareness about earthquake resistance, a large part of the building stock is still at risk, Kılıç said, “Although urban transformation projects are an opportunity to solve this problem, it seems that sustainability criteria are not paid enough attention in these projects.
Building earthquake-resistant and energy-efficient structures can be possible by focusing on solution models that address these two critical problems together. “We are preparing a guide to add the concept of green transformation to urban transformation projects with the BUILD4GREENIST project, developed in cooperation with ÇEDBİK and IMM,” he said.
Emphasizing that large amounts of construction waste is generated with urban transformation projects, Kılıç said, “The majority of this waste consists of concrete, metal, glass and plastic materials. Although there are regulations for the recycling of waste, the effectiveness of these practices in the field is not yet at the desired level. “It is very important to popularize recycling technologies and increase inspections on construction waste management,” he added.
There is a lack of information in the sector
Stating that there is a lack of information about the economic benefits and long-term effects of green building applications in small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector, ÇEDBİK President Mehmet Sami Kılıç said, “It is very important to disseminate training programs.”
Mandatory legislation should be disseminated
Although the public has various studies on green transformation, ÇEDBİK President Mehmet Sami Kılıç commented that the effectiveness level of these studies should be increased and said, “Compulsory legislation regarding energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy, especially in buildings, needs to be made more widespread. The implementation of pioneering green building standards in public projects can be expanded. “On the other hand, financial support mechanisms need to be made more effective with funds allocated to green transformation projects,” he said.
The biggest problem is lack of financing
Stating that insufficient financial resources and lack of special incentive mechanisms for sustainable projects are among the biggest problems encountered, ÇEDBİK President Mehmet Sami Kılıç said, “The high costs of innovative materials and technologies required for green transformation make it difficult for the sector to adopt this transformation. However, we can list the inadequacy of expert human resources and difficulties in regulatory compliance processes as obstacles to transformation. “At this point, it is possible to say that the search for financing directs the private sector to less costly but unsustainable options,” he said.
Source: www.dunya.com
