Building energy needs to be made more efficient for a sustainable future.

Basak Nur GÖKÇAM
Informing that 33 percent of the total energy consumption in Turkey takes place in buildings, VERİMDER President Çağdaş Korkmaz stated that the increasing need for energy use today causes the rapid depletion of resources and harms the environment. For this reason, Korkmaz stated that it is necessary to be more careful in terms of energy use, and said that about 80 percent of the energy consumed in residences is used inefficiently. Stressing that the energy efficiency provided by thermal insulation is of great importance for the future of the world and Turkey, Korkmaz continued his statement with the following words: “Ensuring energy efficiency in buildings has become more important both for our country’s economy and for the end user, especially in a process where energy costs are increasing. . With the effect of global warming, the energy consumed in cooling is also increasing exponentially. It is possible to have environmentally friendly cities by increasing the number of energy efficient buildings with thermal insulation applications that reduce fossil fuel consumption.”

Nearly 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions originate from buildings.
Stating that climate is one of the most important topics and reminding that Turkey signed the Paris Climate Agreement in 2021, Korkmaz said, “We now need to have a climate policy. Because by signing this agreement, we committed to reduce our carbon emissions in 2030, according to the current conditions. Nearly 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in our country originate from buildings. Stating that the obligations of the agreement will not reach the target without making the buildings in Turkey energy efficient, and there will be no chance to create a more livable country and world, Korkmaz said, “In this context, the level of awareness is important, but it is important not only to raise awareness but also to take action.” Korkmaz stated that with the ‘Energy Performance Regulation in Buildings’ announced by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, they will switch to the ‘Nearly Zero Energy Buildings’ concept and continued: The rate will increase up to 60 percent and this will directly reflect positively on the energy consumption of these buildings.” Korkmaz stated that they are confident that the ‘Housing Heat Insulation Loan Package’, which was put into effect in the second half of 2022 in order to renew the existing housing stock outside the scope of urban transformation with energy efficiency, will provide great gains in the coming period, and continued his words as follows: In addition, by improving the energy classes of all our existing buildings, we have the potential to save approximately 10 billion dollars every year as a contribution to the national economy.”
Both the public authority and the household should be made aware
Referring to the advantages of the Insulation Loan Package, Korkmaz pointed out that great gains will be made in this context in the coming period and emphasized that the energy classes of all existing buildings should be improved in addition to new buildings of a certain scale. Noting that this way, approximately 10 billion dollars of savings can be achieved every year, Korkmaz stated that they have the potential to contribute to the country’s economy. Korkmaz said, “We, as VERİMDER, support the implementation and active use of these incentives by visiting provinces to raise awareness and take action of both the public authority and the households for the energy efficient transformation of buildings,” Korkmaz said. He said that solar heat should be used and smart meters should be used.