Energy efficiency is an area that complements and horizontally intersects national strategic goals such as easing the burden of energy costs on the economy, ensuring energy supply security, reducing risks arising from external dependency, transition
to a low-carbon economy and protecting the environment. The building sector in Türkiye has been developing rapidly in recent years, and while the final energy consumption of the sector was 19.5 MTEP in 2000, it increased by 66% and reached
32.4 MTEP in 2015. The share of the building sector in final energy consumption reached 32.8%, surpassing the industrial sector.
Among the actions defined to increase energy efficiency in the building and services sector within the scope of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, there is also the action of improving the efficiency classes of new and existing buildings
and implementing the savings potential in the public sector.
Within the scope of the Kabev project, energy efficiency works are being carried out in our University's cafeteria building, library building, Altan Edige Village, Ali Ihsan Aldogan Village and Mobgam buildings and it is expected that these works
will be completed within 6 months. Since there are no reinforcement activities in the Kabev project, the works are being carried out while the building usage continues simultaneously.
Project Target: Achieving minimum 20% savings through energy efficiency measures in 500-700 public buildings
Affordable Housing for Local Residents
ITU Housing Research and Education Center
The rapidly growing industrialization, particularly concentrated in large cities, and the resulting urban migration caught the Turkish economy unprepared; a dramatic housing problem began to emerge in our country, which was unable to open new settlement areas or create new urban environments. The intense nature of the housing problem necessitated studies on affordable housing.
Studies conducted across a very broad spectrum, from the urban scale to the settlement scale, from the housing scale to the material and detail scale, from the design stage to the implementation stage, from housing culture to housing technologies, and from housing sociology to housing economics, have enabled the formation of units at an international level in our faculty's Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning Departments.
The establishment of the ITU Housing Research and Education Center was envisioned based on the expertise accumulated over the years at the ITU Faculty of Architecture through projects (including affordable housing) supported by national and international organizations in the field of housing. Established in 1998 by the TÜBİTAK Construction and Environmental Technologies Research Group under the name ITU TÜBİTAK/İÇTAG Housing Research Unit, the center has been operating within the university's central structure since November 2002, in accordance with the ITU Housing Research and Education Center regulations. The center's infrastructure matured with the establishment of the MED-CAMPUS HOUSING NETWORK, supported by the European Union in 1995, and has been physically established with the necessary computer infrastructure, library, research facilities, and training facilities for such a center. On January 17, 2011, the Center was transformed into the Housing Research and Application Center (KONUT UYG-AR). Our Center has been an institutional member of the European Network for Housing Research (ENHR) since 2004.
Mission; To provide national and international education and conduct interdisciplinary research on housing, settlement, urban, and environmental issues in terms of planning, design, and implementation.
Vision; To be a center that is a pioneer in its field in Türkiye and worldwide, providing national and international education, interdisciplinary research, consultancy, and publishing activities.
Housing Research (ENHR) since 2004.
There are specific working groups in the Center for affordable housing for the locals. These are;
Housing Technologies, Financing, and Costs
This working group aims to identify, classify, and determine the characteristics of technologies used in housing construction, as well as to research new technologies that can be used in housing construction for low-income individuals and to generate knowledge on topics such as the use of local resources, energy-efficient technologies, recyclable building materials, etc., in line with sustainable development.
Housing for Low-Income Groups
This working group aims to identify the necessary conditions for proposing and systematizing a solution model for the housing problem of low-income groups, taking into account the unhealthy, poor-quality, insufficient number, and poorly designed housing spaces for low-income groups in Türkiye, as well as the inadequacy of current housing policies in this regard.
Events for Affordable and Sustainable Housing
Istanbul Design Report Published!
The Istanbul Design Report, prepared within the scope of the IDEA4ISTANBUL (Industrial Design Ecosystem Axis for Istanbul) project, of which ITU is a partner, has been published! (31 Oct 2024)
In partnership with the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO), Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA), Istanbul Technical University (ITU), and the Industrial Designers’ Society of Türkiye (ETMK), the project offers strategic recommendations and analyses to strengthen Istanbul's design ecosystem.
The Istanbul Design Report provides a comprehensive analysis aimed at enhancing the city’s industrial design ecosystem. This report seeks to increase the competitiveness of SMEs in Istanbul and solidify the city's standing on the global design stage.
The report is the outcome of an in-depth research process comprising four phases: desk research, in-depth interviews with opinion leaders, computer-assisted surveys, and detailed interviews with potential users of ISO ETP.
It blends local and international industrial design strategies, presenting up-to-date data, global trends, and a comparative analysis of Istanbul’s design economy. Additionally, it highlights the role of design in the national economy and underscores the strengths of Turkish design, supported by examples.
This report, which highlights Istanbul's potential in the fields of creative industries and industrial design, offers strategic recommendations to further develop the city's design ecosystem and serves as a valuable guide for the business community and opinion leaders.
You can access the Istanbul Design Report on the website.
Earthquake Research Center from ITU and İşbank: MATAM
MATAM, which will conduct earthquake research at ITU with the support of İşbank, was introduced to the public with a signing ceremony held at ITU Ayazağa Campus SDCC Senate Hall on January 25, 2024.
Marmara Active Fault Hazard and Risk Application and Research Center (MATAM) was launched at Istanbul Technical University (ITU) with the support of İşbank. At the center, dynamic, digital, interactive hazard and risk mapping techniques will be developed regarding the hazards and risk posed by active faults in our country, especially in the Marmara Region. At the same time, earthquake scenarios will be prepared by creating building-based acceleration maps, and with these scenarios data will be generated for urban transformation, industrial planning, and disaster preparedness infrastructure. Click here for details.
ITU and the First Anniversary of the February 6 Earthquakes
In the year since the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, ITU has aimed to better understand the scale of the disaster and make cities more earthquake-resistant through numerous technical and scientific studies, while also supporting citizens and students affected by the earthquake through social support activities. (February 7, 2024)
From the very first moment of the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, Istanbul Technical University (ITU) embarked on technical and scientific investigations and social aid efforts related to the affected region. Along with providing aid, it also prepared reports on the region and held both international and local conferences and seminars on the earthquake.
ITU faculty members quickly traveled to the region after the first earthquake on February 6 to conduct technical research and support relief efforts. Our academics played an active role in providing the public with accurate information through their assessments in the mass media.
Our university also sent a group consisting of cooks, drivers, and security guards to the region to support humanitarian aid activities and meet the urgent needs of affected citizens. Click here for details.
Site Investigations in the Earthquake Zone
Project Title: Investigation of the Effects of the 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes on Infrastructure Systems and Art Structures
Supporting Institutions: Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) – University of Tokyo
Project Coordinators: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beyza TAŞKIN (ITU) – Prof. Dr. Yusuke ONO (Tottori University)
Within the scope of field research, public institutions and organizations were visited in the provinces where the survey was conducted and damage inspections were carried out in various public buildings, as well as drinking water, waste water lines, water and power stations, highway and railway bridges, viaducts and grade crossings. Opinions and impressions of the local citizens were interviewed. Soil samples were taken from areas where liquefaction was observed and experiments were carried out in the ITU Geotechnical Laboratory. Microtremor measurements were realized in various spots under the leadership of Dr. Yoshimi, who was in the research team representing the Japan Geological Survey and drone shots were taken under the leadership of Dr. Shiga from Nagaoka University.
Following the completion of the field research, a project proposal was submitted in cooperation with ITU and Tsukuba University within the scope of the TUBITAK Türkiye-Japan joint research projects call.
Interdisciplinary Perspectives: 2nd Annual “Social Sciences and Humanities Colloquium Series”
The seminar series titled “2nd Annual Social Sciences and Humanities Colloquium” was organized in the Spring semetser and speakers from different research fields addressed important topics. Filled with inspiring talks and interdisciplinary perspectives, this event offered participants an in-depth understanding of the social sciences and humanities. (15 Aug 2024)