Turkey- Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Overview

Buildings sector is among the most energy intensive sectors and it shall be considered as a priority area for all policies and programs dealing with increasing energy efficiency and combating climate change. Therefore, Ministry of Environment and Urbanization- General Directorate of Renewable Energy, Building Energy Performance Department, Energy Efficiency Coordination Board and Associations continue their studies. Buildings are handled in line with this perspective in the EU members and in all developed countries in order to take action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the building count carried out by the TURKSTAT, the total number of buildings in Turkey in 1984 was 4.3 million and it increased by 78% and reached 7.8 million in 2000. Also, according to the same timeframe, the total number of dwellings has reached 16.2 million after a 129% increase. Construction permits issued between 2000 and 2008 indicate an increase of 56% in the total area of land covered by residential, commercial and public buildings, reaching to 1,524 million m2. Also, the total number of such buildings has increased by 7%. With these indicators following an upward trend of demands, there is a need to employ energy efficiency measures in buildings. Building sector in Turkey generated 53.4 Mt of CO2 emissions in 2009. Sector’s energy consumption in the same year was 29.5 million TOE and it is estimated to reach 47.5 million TOE in 2020 (MENR, 2010) meaning that the CO2 emission figures will double in 2009.

More than one third of energy consumed in Turkey is used for heating and cooling. 90 % of the buildings in Turkey don’t have sufficient heat insulation. Heat insulation reaches 9 Million cubic meters in Turkey. Implementing company number in the sector is more than 1.000 and more than 100 companies are active in the field. Heat isolation is implemented in 200.000 new buildings and 200.000 existing buildings every year. However, there are some problems such as unrecorded production which effects isolation sector.  

According to the data from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, amount of coal and natural gas used in the building sector are quite similar (27% and 24% respectively - MENR, 2011).

20% of the total energy consumed by the building sector comes from electricity and 21% from other renewable resources such as solar, geothermal, wood, animal and vegetative wastes.

General Directorate of Renewable Energy (formal name- General Directorate of Electrical Power Resources Survey and Development Administration) has foreseen that heat isolation will be done in 10 million building until 2023 and thus, it is expected to save 2400 GWh infrigidation and 2, 3 million TEP gasoline.

Regulations and Laws

The heat insulation rules for reduction of heating and cooling energy consumption in terms of heat insulation in buildings implemented on housing and commercial buildings that are new or renovated is regulated with the standard TS 825 Thermal Insulation Regulations for Buildings. The Ministry ensures that this standard is The Ministry ensures that this standard is obligatory for all new buildings to be built after June 14th 2000.
With the new introduced provisions, the Regulation on Energy performance in Buildings (Published on December 5th 2008, effective on December 5th 2009 and amanded on 1 April 2010) has been an important step towards increased energy efficiency in buildings. This regulation provides that buildings with more than 2000 m² of usable space will be equipped with a central heating system and especially for buildings with more than 20.000 m² ways to use renewable energy and cogeneration facilities is defined.
Energy Efficiency Law of 2007 and the Regulation on Increasing Efficiency in the Use of Energy Sources and Energy of 2008 were entered into force. Circular No. 2008/2 dated 15/02/2008 from the Office of the Prime Minister defines measures for the effective and efficient use of energy within public bodies and institutions.
The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization- National Climate Change Action Plan
2012-2023 Energy Efficiency Strategy Document- Administrative sanction will be applied to the buildings having amount of carbondioxide on the Energy Identification Certificate, arranged according to the procedures defined in SA-02/SH-01/E-01, exceeding the defined minimum value  with the revision of related legislation by the year 2015. Moreover, on the subject of the buildings which received certificates before the effective date of the Energy Efficiency Law, the deadline stated in the law will be put back from 2017 to 2015.