Green building certifications are systems that document a building's compliance with internationally recognized standards across areas such as energy efficiency, water use, material selection, indoor environmental quality and site impact. Increasingly common in Turkey since the 2010s, these certifications have today become a standard requirement, particularly for commercial office projects, hotel investments, retail centers and investor-driven residential developments. US-based LEED, UK-based BREEAM and the human health-focused WELL are the three most widely used certification systems worldwide.
Comparing the Three Certifications
| Feature | LEED | BREEAM | WELL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developer | USGBC (USA) | BRE (UK) | IWBI (USA) |
| First Version | 1998 | 1990 | 2014 |
| Focus | Environmental performance | Environmental performance + management | Human health and well-being |
| Certification Levels | Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum | Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent, Outstanding | Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum |
| Prevalence in Turkey | Most common | Second most common | New but growing |
| Suitable Building Type | New construction, existing building, interiors | New construction, building in use, infrastructure | New and existing interiors |
Assessment Categories
The three certification systems measure similar categories under different names. The core categories for LEED v4.1 are:
- Location and Transportation: Pedestrian/bicycle access, proximity to public transit, alternative-fuel vehicle charging.
- Sustainable Sites: Rainwater management, heat island reduction, light pollution prevention.
- Water Efficiency: Indoor water consumption reduction, outdoor irrigation optimization.
- Energy and Atmosphere: Building performance (ASHRAE 90.1), renewable energy, commissioning.
- Materials and Resources: Recycled content, local materials, product transparency (EPD).
- Indoor Environmental Quality: Air quality, daylight, acoustic comfort, thermal comfort.
- Innovation: Bonus points for above-standard performance.
- Regional Priority: Bonus for critical issues specific to the geographic location.
From Design to Commissioning
- Certification selection: LEED, BREEAM or WELL is selected based on building type, target market (lease/sale) and investor expectations.
- Setting the target level: A realistic target level (e.g. Gold, Excellent) is defined according to budget and technical capacity.
- Design integration: The architectural, mechanical, electrical and lighting teams work in coordination within the framework of certification requirements.
- Energy modeling: The building's annual energy performance is calculated through simulation and benchmarked against ASHRAE 90.1 reference values.
- Material selection: EPD-certified, low-VOC materials with recycled content are preferred.
- Construction-phase management: Waste management, recycling rate and material procurement tracking are carried out.
- Commissioning (Cx): Independent verification that the mechanical and electrical systems operate at their design values.
- Documentation submission and certification: Evidence documents uploaded to the online platform are reviewed and the certification level is determined.
Green certification is not an award received after construction is complete; it is a discipline that shapes architectural and engineering decisions from the design phase onward. Projects that start the process late are forced to settle for lower levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does the cost of green certification pay for itself?
In most projects, yes. A LEED Gold office achieves an average premium of 7-10 percent in lease or sale value. Energy and water bills, meanwhile, see annual savings of 15-30 percent. The payback period is typically between 3 and 7 years.
- How do you choose between LEED and BREEAM?
If your investor/user base is US-based, LEED is more widely recognized; if EU-based, BREEAM is preferred. Both certifications are strong in Turkey, but LEED is still ahead in terms of the number of projects. If your building type is infrastructure or a building in use, BREEAM offers more flexible modules.
- Can WELL be obtained alongside other certifications?
Yes, and it is in fact common. WELL measures a building's impact on human health (air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, mind). It does not conflict with LEED or BREEAM; the two certifications complement each other.
- Can existing buildings obtain green certification?
Yes. LEED O+M (Operations and Maintenance), BREEAM In-Use and WELL Performance Rating are certification streams designed for existing buildings. Unlike new construction, the certification process relies on active operational data (energy bills, water consumption, waste volumes).