Sustainable Construction Practices in Turkey: Carbon and Energy Performance of LEED-Certified Buildings in Istanbul
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Keywords:
LEED Certificate, Sustainable Housing, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality, Materials and Resources, Innovative Applications, Regional Priority Credits, Multi-Family Residential Projects, Environmental PerformanceAbstract
This study presents a comparative analysis of the sustainability performance of LEED certified
multi family residential projects implemented in Turkey. Two distinct groups of projects, holding Gold
and Silver certification levels respectively, were examined. The projects were evaluated based on seven
primary criteria established by the LEED certification system: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency,
Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation, and
Regional Priority Credits. A total of over 35 projects were included in the analysis, with their criterion
specific scores and overall certification points reviewed. The data were sourced from official LEED
certification reports and analyzed using quantitative methods. Mean scores and standard deviations were
calculated to identify performance differences between projects. Additionally, qualitative data such as
project type and ownership were incorporated into the evaluation. The results indicate that Gold certified
projects generally demonstrate higher performance compared to Silver certified ones. Gold projects
exhibited significant advantages in critical criteria such as energy efficiency and sustainable site
utilization. Nevertheless, areas with potential for improvement were identified across both groups.
Notably, differences were observed among projects in terms of material usage and innovative
applications. This study provides an important reference for assessing the quality and efficiency of
sustainable building practices. The findings offer guidance for reducing environmental impacts and
advancing sustainability objectives within the residential sector.
There are no commercial or institutional affiliations between the institutions and projects included in this
study.
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