Reading energy performance documents correctly helps a project team understand why each form of information is prepared. Türkiye's Energy Performance Certificate, known locally as EKB (Enerji Kimlik Belgesi), is a national document frequently encountered in this context. BEP-TR is the application used to create it. Distinguishing their roles makes it easier to plan data preparation, authorised professionals' responsibilities and other energy studies during design.
What does the Energy Performance Certificate explain?
The EKB provides information about a building's energy performance. Its subjects include energy demand, consumption classification, insulation characteristics and the efficiency of relevant systems. It brings building information together with calculated energy indicators to inform owners and occupants. Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change — Energy Performance Certificate booklet, in Turkish.
When reading this information, consider the building and data for which the document was prepared. A calculated performance indicator and a consumption record from actual operation provide different information. Design or use changes may require the relationship between earlier information and current conditions to be reviewed. This helps keep the document distinct from reports prepared for other purposes.
BEP-TR's role in the process
BEP-TR is the national application operated by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change. It connects building data with energy performance calculations and EKB preparation. Building envelope and technical system information form calculation inputs. The relevant method and application requirements govern the organisation of that data.
For a project team, an important aspect is consistency between information from different disciplines. Where an architectural change affects a system choice or calculation, the relevant teams need to know. Records identifying the current information help prevent conflicting inputs from being used for the same building.
Connecting preparation with the project stage
The EKB is issued through organisations and professionals authorised under the relevant legislation. The building's scope, preparation conditions and current requirements should be checked separately. A preliminary calculation should not by itself be treated as an issued EKB. The Preliminary Calculation Result Form prepared in BEP-TR at the building-permit stage is likewise not an issued EKB.
Starting data preparation early clarifies which team is expected to provide each piece of information. Architectural components, insulation decisions and system descriptions may change as design develops. Communicating these changes to the responsible people and tracking the versions used in preparation are important. Distinguishing the certificate-issuing role from consulting and design responsibilities also supports coordination.
The relationship with energy modeling
Design-stage energy modeling can compare the expected effects of different options. Examining envelope or system decisions under consistent conditions helps a team understand alternatives. The report should clearly explain the question being investigated and the assumptions supporting the comparison.
The purpose, method and deliverable of this study should be defined separately from EKB preparation. An energy modeling report alone does not show that an EKB has been issued by authorised professionals or that every national requirement has been met. Consistent building information across both activities is nevertheless important for sound preparation. Our energy modeling article discusses the relationship with design decisions.
How does it relate to YeS‑Int?
The EKB and YeS-Int have different certification scopes. The Ministry's public buildings guide includes the use of an EKB as evidence for some energy-related criteria. This does not make the EKB itself a YeS-Int certificate. The relevant criterion's scope and other required documents must also be considered. Ministry — YeS-Int (YeS-TR) public buildings guide, in Turkish.
Tracking national obligations separately from other certification objectives is useful. The same drawing or calculation may contribute to different preparations, but the outcome of one assessment should not be presented as the outcome of another. See our YeS-Int public buildings guide for scope considerations.
An initial discussion with AECO
Share the building's use, project stage, existing drawings and any earlier energy documents in an initial discussion. This helps identify the technical studies needed and the specialties involved. Identifying missing information and outstanding decisions helps turn subsequent preparation into an understandable work plan.
AECO's building energy modeling and YeS-Int consulting services can be considered alongside these needs. Energy analysis, documentation preparation and authorised professionals' responsibilities should be clearly defined around the project's actual scope.