LEED Green Building Project: Panelsan Factory Building
Introduced in 1998, LEED is an environmentally friendly building certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). As of 6 November 2022, there were 546 LEED-certified buildings in Türkiye and more than 100,000 worldwide, making it the world's most widely used green building certification system. LEED is continually developed in line with current standards and practices, supporting innovative buildings with a lower environmental impact.
Studies carried out in 2008 after green buildings entered use indicated potential savings of 24–50% in energy use, 33–39% in carbon emissions, 40% in water use and 70% in solid waste.
LEED aims to reduce environmental damage from construction and encourage sustainable projects through strategies designed to achieve seven goals:
Goals: Combat climate change by reducing carbon footprints; improve human health and wellbeing; protect water resources; conserve and enhance biodiversity; encourage sustainable and renewable material resources; build a greener economy; and improve social equity, environmental justice, community health and quality of life.
Green buildings offer a holistic approach, assessing a structure across its life cycle from site selection onwards. Energy, water, indoor environmental quality and material selection are considered alongside users' social and environmental relationships throughout design. LEED certification is a lengthy process beginning at design and continuing until completion, covering multiple disciplines. The Panelsan Factory Project was designed against LEED v4 criteria, the current version developed in line with contemporary standards and practices at the time of the project.
The Panelsan Factory Project was assessed under the following LEED v4 categories and entered the candidate process for LEED v4 GOLD certification:
Integrative Process
Preliminary efficiency analyses of water and energy use were carried out with the project teams during the early stages, guiding the design accordingly.
Location and Transportation
The project occupies previously developed land, integrating into the area without damaging existing green space.
The planned installation of an electric vehicle charging station encourages the use of electric vehicles.
Sustainable Sites
The project aims to create a healthy, ecological environment by increasing green space and supporting biodiversity through a variety of plants suited to the local climate and soil.
Rainwater is collected and used as an alternative water source. Managing rainwater on site reduces pressure on municipal infrastructure and helps prevent overflow.
Water Efficiency
Efficient water fixtures meeting EPA standards were selected to save water without compromising user comfort. Indoor water consumption was reduced by 50% compared with EPA baselines.
Using collected rainwater as an alternative supply reduced mains water consumption.
Energy and Atmosphere
A solar PV system is planned across the entire roof. The electricity it generates will be able to meet the building's energy needs. The project therefore aims to achieve full performance under LEED's Optimise Energy Performance and Renewable Energy criteria.
Ventilation and lighting design choices prioritised the requirements of the American energy efficiency standard ASHRAE 90.1-2010.
Mechanical system selection, equipment efficiency and the thermal performance of building envelope components were assessed to identify potential inefficiencies at the design stage and optimise building energy efficiency. These measures will reduce energy costs.
A building energy monitoring system will track energy consumption during operation, helping identify potential issues and inefficiencies.
Materials and Resources
Construction waste was separated by type and sent to recycling facilities, with the aim of significantly reducing waste sent to landfill.
Construction and architectural materials were selected for low environmental impact, EPD certification, recycled content and local sourcing, prioritising products with measured production impacts. Arrangements for separately collecting and recycling waste generated during building use were integrated into the project.
Indoor Environmental Quality
Low-emission floor, wall and ceiling materials were selected, ensuring that levels of volatile organic compounds harmful to human health complied with international limits.
Interior lighting was designed to suit each space's function. Lighting zones allow unnecessary lighting to be switched off or dimmed for efficiency. Long-life LED fixtures were selected, with colour rendering close to natural light and designs that prevent glare, improving indoor lighting comfort.
