Energy Bulletin Special Interview: CBRE Türkiye Director Can Kadir Sadecen

Special Interview: Erkan Sancak – Energy Bulletin

Can Kadir Sadecen, Director of CBRE Turkey, the world's largest real estate services firm based in the United States, answered questions from Energy Bulletin Founding Partner Erkan Sancak about efficiency , energy savings , digitalization and sustainability practices in industrial facilities.

Sadecen made statements on many topics, from digital solutions that shape the future of industrial facilities to international certifications.

Today, efficiency is no longer measured solely by the number of parts produced per hour. Facility management, maintenance strategies, energy use, and building-infrastructure optimization directly impact operating costs, production continuity, and risk profile. For example, maintenance programs that prevent unplanned downtime, systems that monitor and optimize energy consumption, and efficient building operations reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO), allowing the same production volume to be achieved at lower costs and greater sustainability. At CBRE, we view facility management and energy management as integral components of investment and operational performance.

Two main changes have been evident in recent years: (1) The prioritization of energy and operating costs—in particular, the volatility of energy prices is forcing businesses to invest in energy efficiency;

(2) Digitalization and data-driven decision-making—both production and infrastructure processes are being optimized using sensors, IoT, and analytics. Investors are no longer just looking for "container/land + factory" but for sustainable, documented, and manageable facilities. This is driving the demand for green certification, data-driven facility management services, and smart infrastructure.

Planned maintenance and sensor-based monitoring enable pre-failure intervention, reducing unplanned downtime and maintenance costs. Automation optimizes labor requirements and reduces process variations, while sensor-based analytics optimize energy consumption and production efficiency in real time. The biggest gains are: reduced OPEX (especially energy and maintenance), increased equipment lifespan, higher production availability (uptime), and consistent process quality. Integrated FM and data platforms in CBRE applications materialize these gains for investors/operators.

In Türkiye, the transformation is progressing gradually but at an accelerated pace. Advanced automation and full digital transformation are occurring faster in large-scale manufacturers (3–5-year projects), while it is slower in SMEs due to financing, competence, and scale issues. However, due to energy costs, supply chain optimization, and international market demands, "basic digitalization + energy monitoring" will become standard across industrial portfolios within five years; advanced "fully smart factory" implementations will vary by sector. CBRE reports indicate that investors and tenants are prioritizing smart/monitorable assets.

Energy data analysis offers tangible benefits, including identifying and correcting overconsumption points (immediate savings), reducing peak loads by rescheduling energy-intensive processes, prioritizing renovations/retrofits by measuring equipment efficiency, carbon reporting, and aligning with sustainability (ESG) goals. Furthermore, data facilitates ROI calculations; accurate data increases investor confidence and financing availability.

Moderate energy savings of 8–12% provide a direct competitive advantage for many manufacturers with tight margins: a lower cost base increases price competitiveness, attracts investors, and increases export profitability. Furthermore, holding sustainable production certifications opens the door to new markets and corporate supply chains. Energy efficiency also increases operational resilience—making it less vulnerable to price shocks. Therefore, spending on energy efficiency is often becoming a competitive imperative rather than a "preventive investment." (National and industry reports are available for examples of energy efficiency strategies and implementation in Türkiye.)

LEED and BREEAM provide investors and tenants with a standardized framework to demonstrate a facility's sustainability performance. Value-added features include lower operating costs, stronger rental demand and premium rental prices, improved access to financing and insurance, and the ability to meet institutional buyers' supply chain sustainability criteria. For international investors, these certifications mitigate risk and increase liquidity, as ESG recognition directly impacts financing costs and investment approval processes.

Interest is growing significantly. Both domestic large-scale industrial players and international funds are turning to ESG-compliant and certifiable assets. Driving forces include energy costs, supply chain expectations, corporate reputation management, and investor demand. However, the initial cost of certification processes and the need for technical capacity can still be a barrier for some investors—thus, consulting, financing solutions, and progressive certification strategies are gaining importance.

Key factors: (1) Industrial and logistics density—these cities are close to industrial-dense population centers and port/logistics lines; (2) Energy costs and supply security concerns; (3) Tenants' demands for centralization and supply chain proximity; (4) Local governments and investment incentives—some regions have regulations/incentives that support green or efficient investments;

(5) Reputational and ESG pressures—particularly the desire of international companies to implement sustainability standards in their Turkish operations. All of these are driving investors toward energy-efficient solutions.

My prediction: accelerating adoption and proliferation. Basic digital monitoring (BMS/EMS), LED and efficient HVAC, waste heat recovery, and power management solutions will become standard in the short term. In the medium term (3–5 years), green certification and energy performance requirements will become more prevalent in lease agreements and investment criteria. Large-scale automation/robotics investments will expand at different speeds depending on the sector's profitability and workforce structure. Financing mechanisms, government incentives, and the role of energy service companies (ESCOs) will be critical in this process.

As CBRE Türkiye, our priorities include:

(1) Integrated energy management and certification consultancy (LEED/BREEAM/WELL), (2) Facility management + implementation of IoT-based monitoring platforms, (3) Portfolio optimization with TCO and ESG-focused investment analyses, (4) Energy efficiency improvements with retrofit/renovation projects, and

(5) Investor/tenant matching involves aligning sustainability criteria with operational requirements. CBRE Turkey's local service network and global data/technology infrastructure make such projects scalable.

Three short, clear suggestions:

Measure and prioritize: Collect energy and operational data and prioritize areas that will deliver the highest return on investment (IRR).
Plan for incremental, measurable transformation: Instead of large “all-at-once” projects, start with steps like low-cost sensors/monitoring + planned maintenance + LED/HVAC upgrades; measure success, then scale up.
Consider certification and financing options: Standards such as LEED/BREEAM may add short-term costs but increase medium-term value; ESCOs and green financing solutions should also be explored for energy efficiency projects.

As CBRE Türkiye, we provide technical and financial consultancy to investors and facility operators on this journey; our aim is to simultaneously increase both operational efficiency and investment value.