ABSTRACT
Green buildings are defined as resource-efficient and ecosystem-conscious structures designed with a holistic understanding of social and environmental responsibility, harmonious with local conditions, built with proper materials and systems so as to minimize energy consumption, where renewable energy sources are given priority and waste production held under control (Turkish Green Building Association, 2009). The notion of “green building” pertains to the whole life cycle of a building from site selection to demolition. Also variously designated as “ecological,” “environmentfriendly,” or “sustainable” buildings, green buildings have become one of the most important elements in the issue of sustainability, an issue inevitably highlighted by climate change and depletion of natural resources.
