Turkey’s first certified Passive House cuts energy use by 90%

Turkey's first certified passive house in Gaziantep produces nearly all of its own energy with an on-site photovoltaic system. This small building located in Turkey's Southeastern Anatolia region has light colored walls and green roofs that offer protection from the sun and an efficient ventilation system that regulates indoor temperatures.

The 310-square-meter building was constructed in 2013 in collaboration between local architects EG Mimarlık Planlama ve Kentsel Tasarım and partners in Germany. German architecture company r-m-p acted as the passive house technical specialist, while Turkish company Izocam provided the insulation. The building accommodates the offices of the Human Resource Center of Gaziantep Municipality and includes a small auditorium, as well as other rooms used for educational purposes.

The original building was designed and renovated according to EnerPHit criteria of German Passive House Institute. It is a Multi Comfort Building that has excellent acoustic, visual and thermal performance and aims an energy saving of over 90 percent. Depending on the time of year, the air supply derived from the ventilation system is preheated or pre-cooled with the aid of a ground heat exchanger. The energy demand of the building is largely covered by a photovoltaic system in the garden.