BUILDING CERTIFICATION METHODS APPLIED IN AZERBAIJAN.

Rapid environmental and economic changes occurring at the international and regional levels have necessitated the creation of a mechanism to provide an expert evaluation of the building's sustainability. In this regard, building certification methods have been developed to assess their energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. Building certification is one of the tools for sustainable state development. In Azerbaijan, the significant amount of natural resources causes mainly the voluntariness of the building certification process and the passivity of the government and public authorities. The article explores the experience of using the building certification methods BREEAM, LEED, Green Zoom Azeri in Azerbaijan. Technical characteristics of the certified buildings were considered. The benefits and drawbacks of the certification methods used were outlined, along with reasons for boosting the attractiveness of certified buildings. Based on the comparative analysis, the existing issues were classified as people-oriented, technology-oriented, and processoriented. Expert recommendations on overcoming obstacles and eliminating issues are given. The outcomes of this research will contribute to the development of a roadmap for the sustainability of the building industry, and help a wide range of international and local experts to better understand the emerging green building market in Azerbaijan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]