A ten-unit residential project in Istanbul, Turkey recently received LEED for Homes certification, making it only the second project outside of North America, and only the third project in the entire LEED for Homes International Pilot program, to earn the prestigious green building certification. Active Energies, a Minturn, Colorado-based energy consulting firm provided services on the project, including on-site verification and ongoing expert support in pursuit of the project’s ground-breaking certification effort.
The US Green Building Council recently expanded the LEED for Homes program to international markets through an international pilot program. Due to the inherent complexities of applying the program and its requirements to areas with unique building methods, varying equipment availability, and different resources, the program required international pilot projects to work only with approved highly experienced companies, including Active Energies. “We were immediately interested in working on projects within the international program. It is a fabulous opportunity to experience different building types and share successes and strategies for producing the world’s most advanced green buildings.” said Megan Gilman, President of Active Energies.
Active Energies was engaged as the LEED for Homes Green Rater on the Istanbul project, which was one of the first projects to join the LEED for Homes International Pilot. In response to securing their first international contract, Gilman stated, “I believe our full breadth of experience, from high end residential properties to affordable housing projects, combined with a focus on outstanding attention to our customers, allows us to provide the level of service necessary for coordination on an international project.” As the Green Rater, Megan was responsible for providing on-site verification of LEED-related items, including two in-person trips to the project site in Istanbul, as well as a full HERS rating and the related performance testing.
In addition to the general scope of work of a Green Rater, international projects require the highest level of coordination and communication between the project team and the verification team. Gilman was responsible for identifying prerequisite and credit areas requiring alternative compliance due to the complexities of the international location. Following identification of issues needing alternative compliance, she provided coordination of recommended methods of compliance and documentation appropriate to the project’s specific location and opportunities.
Following the conclusion of on-site testing and verification, Active Energies continued to work with the local project team to properly document prerequisites and credits. In March 2013, the project was submitted for certification to the LEED Provider and US Green Building Council. On March 15, 2013, the Gulnar Evleri project in Istanbul, Turkey was awarded LEED for Homes Gold certification. Upon its certification, the project was only the third project certified through the LEED for Homes international pilot program outside of North America.
Active Energies continues to work through the LEED for Homes International program with a new project in Montenegro.
Please contact Megan Gilman, President of Active Energies, with any questions at 970-306-4233 or megan@activeenergies.com.