"Turkish companies active in the construction sector are becoming increasingly interested in environmentally-friendly buildings and complying with international green buildings criteria," Duygu Erten told the Turkish Daily News yesterday.
"But a negative undercurrent of the trend is that some in the industry are starting to 'greenwash' – claiming their real estate projects are environmentally friendly although in closer inspection they would not fulfill the requirements of green buildings," Erten said.
Lobbying for certification
The Green Buildings Association of Turkey, founded in September 2007, has some 20 member companies including product manufacturers and construction firms. The board of the association also includes representatives of Istanbul Energy and the Great Istanbul Municipality.
The association promotes sustainable construction and lobbies for energy savings to encounter global warming.
"Because buildings contribute some 40 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions the construction industry is responsible to find ways to cut down on their emissions. But the process needs strong support from the government, including tax incentives and regulatory framework," Erten said.
The association is lobbying for the adoption of international certification systems on green buildings in Turkey.
"We are looking at how Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), used in the United Kingdom, could be adopted in Turkey. The standardized certification system will not only lead to more sustainable buildings in the future but it will also increase consumer awareness and prevent construction firms from marketing standard buildings as eco-friendly," Erten said.
Long-term investment
Green buildings should be encouraged also by tax incentives on energy saving solutions like solar panels, Erten said. "At the moment there are no tax incentives or rebates for solar panels although Turkey has ideal conditions to utilize sun energy."
There is also a need to increase awareness of the long-term benefits of green buildings. "Initially, green buildings may look more expensive than standard ones. But even though the initial construction costs will be some 5 percent higher than of standard buildings, in the medium term green buildings have notably lower maintenance costs."
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