Green Building Certificates

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), this certificate evaluates a building's environmental performance and confirms compliance with sustainable design principles. It focuses on energy efficiency, water conservation, material selection, indoor air quality and innovation. LEED has separate rating systems for new and existing buildings, and also stands out with its "net zero" certificates: LEED Zero Carbon, LEED Zero Energy, LEED Zero Water and LEED Zero Waste.

You can find more about the LEED certificate here .

Created by the UK-based Building Research Establishment (BRE), this certificate aims to reduce the environmental impact of construction and deliver social and economic benefits. BREEAM approaches sustainability topics from a broader perspective, assessing energy, water, materials, waste, transport, land use, health and well-being.

Developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the WELL certificate focuses on advancing buildings and interiors that support human health and well-being. It evaluates topics that directly affect quality of life, such as air quality, water quality, nourishment, light, physical activity and comfort.

Created by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), this certificate prioritizes resource efficiency. It targets savings in energy, water and material use and is more widely applied in emerging markets.

You can find more about the EDGE certificate here .

This national certificate, developed by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, aims to support the development of sustainable green buildings and developments adapted to conditions in Türkiye. It covers integrated building design, energy efficiency, water management, material selection, indoor environment quality, waste management and land use. YeS-Int has separate rating systems for new and existing buildings and developments.

You can find more about the YeS-Int certificate here .

Indoor water conservation: Low-flow fixtures, water-saving toilets and faucets are preferred. Monitoring and recording water use is important.

Outdoor water conservation: Irrigation methods and plant species that reduce water use are preferred. Rainwater harvesting provides water reuse for irrigation and other uses.

Rainwater harvesting systems: Rainwater is collected and stored for use in irrigation, toilet cisterns and similar uses.

Energy-efficient design: Energy efficiency is prioritized in building design.

Thermal insulation: High-performance insulation materials and applications reduce energy losses.

Airtightness: An airtight building envelope increases energy efficiency.

Efficient equipment: High-efficiency HVAC systems and lighting are used.

Energy monitoring and management: Systems are installed to monitor and manage the building's energy consumption.

Solar power: Electricity is generated with solar panels.

Wind power: Electricity is generated with wind turbines.

Geothermal energy: Heat energy is obtained from geothermal sources.

Natural and mechanical ventilation: Natural ventilation and mechanical systems supplying fresh air improve indoor air quality.

Materials affecting air quality: Paints, adhesives and other materials with low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) protect indoor air quality.

Comfort: Beyond air quality, thermal comfort, lighting and acoustic comfort matter.

Daylight: Building design maximizes the use of natural light.

Lighting controls: Sensors and automated systems control light levels.

Waste management plan: Plans are created to reduce waste generation during construction and operation.

Waste separation: Waste is separated into recyclable and non-recyclable streams.

Recycled materials: Products with recycled content are preferred in building materials.

Local materials: Using locally sourced materials reduces transport emissions.

Recycled materials: Materials with recycled content reduce resource and energy use.

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD): Products with EPD documentation showing their environmental impact are preferred.

Public transport access: Proximity to public transport matters.

Bicycle routes: Infrastructure that encourages cycling is provided.

Walkability: Buildings are designed to be pedestrian-friendly.

Each green building certification system has different criteria. These differences may reflect the characteristics of the region where the certificate was created, as well as the priorities of the organizations behind the systems. LEED and BREEAM have systems that start with site selection, include project design and material selection, and cover construction processes; EDGE focuses only on savings in energy, water and embodied energy, while WELL focuses on human health.