Evaluation of public buildings in the central district of bilecik province according to energy-efficient building design criteria

This study evaluates the energy performance of public buildings in Türkiye within the framework of energy-efficient building design criteria. The empirical analysis is based on a multidimensional, standards-oriented methodological approach. The research builds on the hypothesis that the "performance gap" defined in the literature arises not only from technical infrastructure deficiencies but also from institutional and managerial capacity limitations. To test this hypothesis, a control model was developed consisting of six themes and fifty rules, integrating the requirements of global green building rating systems (LEED, BREEAM) with national standards (BEP-TR, TS 825). The study employed a mixed-method approach through case studies of six public buildings in the Bilecik region, each representing different functional categories. Data were triangulated using numerical scoring, qualitative insights from interviews, and on-site observations. The results reveal that most public buildings perform at a "medium" level, indicating a clear discrepancy between their technical potential and institutional implementation capacity. Two major structural weaknesses were identified: (1) water efficiency is systematically neglected, and (2) technical investments are often unsupported by effective operation and maintenance mechanisms. Although newer buildings feature high-performance façades, insufficient energy management systems prevent them from achieving higher performance categories. These findings suggest that performance differences in public buildings stem from deeper institutional challenges rather than purely technical issues. The study concludes that the primary barrier to the sustainable transformation of public buildings in Türkiye is institutional capacity. The results propose a roadmap for improving the performance and management of existing public facilities.