THE GREEN TRANSITION IN CONSTRUCTION IS GAINING MOMENTUM

The construction sector, responsible for approximately 40% of global carbon emissions, is being redefined as one of the most critical areas in the fight against the climate crisis. In this context, the “green transition” is no longer a choice; it is becoming a mandatory paradigm driven by regulations, financing mechanisms, and rising cost pressures. In Türkiye as well, regulations enacted in recent years are reshaping the construction sector around energy efficiency, resource management, and low-carbon production.

In particular, initiatives such as nearly zero-energy buildings (nSEB), the YeS-TR certification, and rainwater harvesting—which will be implemented starting in 2025— are setting new standards in the sector; the 2026 outlook focuses on the practical implementation of this transformation in the field. Buildings are no longer merely structures that consume energy; they are now designed as systems that generate their own energy, use water in a circular manner, and repurpose waste.

However, rising financing costs and investment payback periods remain key factors limiting the pace of this transformation. Yet, the long-term savings in energy and water costs make green building not only environmentally but also economically inevitable.

All these transformation dynamics are reshaping the strategies of companies operating in the sector, while how companies adapt to this process and their on-site implementation experiences reveal the true pace and direction of the transformation.

THROUGH TREYSAN’S VISION: THE TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT OF THE EU GREEN DEAL ON THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

The EU Green Deal, which sets the European Union’s goal of becoming the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050, is not merely an environmental policy; it is a revolutionary economic growth strategy that redefines global trade, industry, and technological development. As Treysan, a company exporting high-quality prefabricated and steel structures to Europe and around the world, we are closely monitoring the disruptive and transformative effects this agreement will have on the construction sector and integrating our strategies into this new ecosystem.

The construction sector is among the sectors that will be subject to the most scrutiny and change under the EU Green Deal. In particular, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)—one of the agreement’s most important tools—directly targets key construction materials such as iron and steel, cement and aluminum. This situation has transformed reducing carbon emissions from an option into a prerequisite for competitiveness for construction and building materials producers in countries like Türkiye, which export heavily to the EU. The prospect of facing additional costs when carbon-intensive products enter the EU market is forcing the sector to rapidly invest in low-carbon production technologies.

The prefabricated and modular construction technologies we have adopted at Treysan align perfectly with the “Clean and Circular Economy” goals outlined in the EU Green Deal. The volume of excavation, water waste, and high energy consumption generated by traditional construction methods are no longer acceptable under Green Deal standards. The modular systems we offer, however, represent the ideal construction model for this new era with their design that prevents material waste, enhances energy efficiency and enables the recycling of components even after the building’s useful life has ended.

The Green Deal addresses not only the construction phase of buildings but their entire life cycle (Life Cycle Assessment). In this context, energy performance directives for buildings are being tightened and the use of digital tools such as smart building technologies and Building Information Modeling (BIM) is becoming mandatory. At Treysan, we apply green engineering principles from the design phase onward and transparently measure our carbon footprint. As a concrete demonstration of this approach, we planned and implemented our new Panel Factory—from design to production processes—in accordance with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Certification criteria. We are currently in the process of applying for certification; with this certification, we aim not only to create a production facility with high environmental performance but also to integrate the green building approach into our operational model. Through energy efficiency, a low-carbon approach and optimized resource use, we view this investment as a significant example of sustainable industrial transformation.

We view the EU Green Deal not as a threat or constraint for our sector, but rather as an initiative that fosters innovation, enhances quality and ensures sustainability. The Turkish construction sector’s swift adaptation to this agreement will strengthen our position in international markets. Treysan will continue to play a leading role in this green transformation journey and in shaping a sustainable future.