Statement from Türkiye İMSAD on Energy Efficiency

Statement from Türkiye İMSAD on Energy Efficiency Speaking on the occasion of Energy Efficiency Week, Türkiye İMSAD Board Chairman Tayfun Küçükoğlu stated that meeting the growing global energy demand and avoiding high costs is possible only through proper energy use. Drawing attention to the importance of efficiency in energy consumption, Küçükoğlu said, "We must use energy efficiently in order to reduce energy consumption in the buildings we live in and leave cities with higher living standards to future generations." Tayfun Küçükoğlu, Board Chairman of Türkiye İMSAD (Turkish Association of Building Materials Manufacturers), made statements on the occasion of "Energy Efficiency Week" from 9-15 January. Emphasizing the need for more efficient use of available energy to meet the growing daily energy demand, Tayfun Küçükoğlu said, "We face energy, food and water crises at our doorstep. For sustainable living and the future of our world, we cannot afford to deprioritize efficient energy use." Highlighting that global energy demand is rising alongside rapid population growth worldwide, Tayfun Küçükoğlu noted that meeting the growing energy demand and avoiding high costs is possible only through proper energy consumption and achieving energy efficiency and savings.

"We source 70 percent of our energy through imports"

Küçükoğlu, noting that their earlier assessments stating "Energy-efficient, sustainable buildings will become an important agenda item for countries in the future" are being validated today, made the following evaluation: "Approximately 70 percent of our total energy is sourced through imports, and nearly 31 percent of this is consumed in buildings. Seventy-five percent of global greenhouse gas emission sources originate from energy generation, industry, transportation, heating-cooling and building operations. However, by increasing energy efficiency in buildings, we can reduce energy imports and greenhouse gas emissions while providing substantial benefits to the economy and environment. As the European Union's Green Deal alignment process continues, if we consider Turkey as a production hub, in a country with a predominance of energy-intensive sectors like ours, we need to implement the necessary transformation regarding the Green Deal and Carbon Border Adjustment and manage this process well. Because rational and effective use of resources is becoming increasingly important for a more liveable and sustainable world."

"Global climate crisis makes energy efficiency mandatory"

Drawing attention to the need for rapid implementation of energy efficiency in existing buildings in Turkey, Tayfun Küçükoğlu said, "Rising energy costs worldwide demonstrate that both producers and consumers must become more conscious. Because the global climate crisis makes efficiency mandatory in our cities to ensure our energy sources are sustainable. By reducing energy consumption in the buildings we inhabit, we are compelled to use energy efficiently in order to leave healthier cities with higher living standards to future generations. In both today's and tomorrow's cities, energy, water, waste and time efficiency rank among the most critical issues. Measures to protect the environment play an important role in building a sustainable future."

"Care should be taken to develop innovative materials for sustainable structures"

As global demand for green buildings and sustainable materials increases, Türkiye İMSAD Board Chairman Küçükoğlu emphasized that the construction materials industry's responsibility is growing and used the following statements: "By focusing on sustainable structures, we should prioritize the development of environment-friendly innovative materials. Today, construction materials can be produced by recycling industrial waste. Innovation work that brings together the R&D efforts of different sectors can yield effective results. By taking advantage of technology's capabilities, we should create cities of the future with high living standards, safety, sustainability, and efficient economic potential. In this period when interest in smart cities and environment-friendly buildings is accelerating, we are acting with awareness that our responsibility as construction materials manufacturers is increasing further. We continue to develop innovative products primarily to meet our country's sustainable materials needs, and we are working toward the construction of healthier and nature-friendly cities."

"We are preparing to present our green transformation guide to the sector"

Stating that Türkiye İMSAD has begun preparations for "Research, Development and Innovation Guide for Green Transformation in the Construction Materials Industry" since the European Green Deal and carbon border regulation affecting all countries trading with the EU is one of the sector's most important agenda items, Küçükoğlu said, "We believe this work will create significant impact and value for our sector. The guide document, which will cover high-priority topics including transition to sustainability and climate neutrality, indicators and measurement of sustainable production, low-carbon innovative production technologies and corporate carbon footprint, transition to renewable energy sources, research and innovation qualities for decarbonization, life cycle assessment in research and innovation, waste management and circular economy, focus of university-industry cooperation on research and innovation for green transformation, innovative university-industry cooperation models, and financing of research and innovation for green transformation, is planned to be presented to the sector at the beginning of 2023." Stating that Türkiye İMSAD participated in the Energy Efficiency and Supply Security Special Commission working group organized within the framework of the 12th Development Plan preparations, Küçükoğlu drew attention to the importance of topics such as fossil fuels, renewable energy sources, clean energy production and energy efficiency within the scope of the meetings, and said, "These meetings play a very important role in energy transformation. As Türkiye İMSAD, we support the policies developed to increase Turkey's energy supply security and we support all activities conducted on this matter."