Sustainable building entails a comprehensive methodology for the designing, construction, and ongoing management of buildings to reduce their ecological footprint.
The African continent is uniquely positioned to benefit from the green building revolution, due to its abundant solar energy resources and its growing population.
According to the Global Green Building Council, the green building market in Africa is expected to grow from $15.3 billion in 2022 to $30.2 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 13.5%.
Green building trends in Africa
The green building market in Africa is growing rapidly, driven by a number of factors.
Increased awareness of the benefits of green buildings
Green buildings can help to reduce energy consumption, water usage, and waste production. They can also improve indoor air quality and create healthier and more comfortable living and working environments.
Therefore, the benefits of green building practices include:
- Reduced energy costs. Green buildings can help to reduce energy costs by using energy-efficient appliances and materials, and by designing buildings to maximise natural light and ventilation.
- Reduced water usage. Green buildings can help to reduce water usage by using rainwater harvesting systems, water-efficient fixtures, and drought-tolerant landscaping.
- Reduced waste production. Green buildings can help to reduce waste production by using recycled materials, designing for disassembly, and composting food scraps.
- Improved indoor air quality. Green buildings can help to improve indoor air quality by using low-VOC materials and by providing adequate ventilation.
- Healthier and more comfortable living and working environments. Green buildings can help to create healthier and more comfortable living and working environments by providing access to natural light and fresh air, and by maintaining a comfortable temperature and humidity level.
Use of sustainable materials
African architects and builders are increasingly using sustainable materials, such as recycled materials, composted or locally sourced materials, and materials that have a low environmental impact.
Since water conservation is a major priority in Africa, green buildings in Africa are designed to use water efficiently. This includes using greywater recycling, rainwater harvesting systems, water-efficient fixtures, and drought-tolerant landscaping.
This also improves indoor air quality which is important for the health and well-being of occupants. Green buildings typically have good ventilation and use low-VOC materials. Also, such constructions as living walls can help to improve air quality, reduce the heat island effect, and provide habitat for wildlife.
Government support for green buildings
African governments are introducing policies and incentives to promote the adoption of green building practices.
The South African government has introduced a Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) Green Star rating system, which provides certification for green buildings.
The Kenyan government has also introduced several green building initiatives, including the Green Building Policy and the Green Building Standards.
Increased use of solar panels
The continent receives an average of 2,000-3,000 hours of sunshine per year, which is more than any other continent in the world. This makes Africa a perfect place to adopt green building practices using solar panels.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Africa added more than 1.1 gigawatts of solar power capacity in 2021, an increase of 90% from the previous year.
The cost of green building technologies, such as solar panels and energy-efficient appliances, has been decreasing in recent years. Find out about the cost of solar panel installation on GreenMatch.
Solar panels can be used to power a wide range of applications, including homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals. They can also be used to power water pumping systems and other essential infrastructure.
There are a number of green building practices that can be used to integrate solar panels into buildings. These practices include:
- Passive solar design. Passive solar design is a type of architecture that uses the sun’s energy to heat and cool buildings without mechanical systems.
Passive solar design techniques include orienting the building to maximize solar exposure, using overhangs and awnings to shade windows in the summer, and using thermal mass to store solar heat for use at night.
- Active solar design. Active solar design uses mechanical systems to collect and distribute solar energy. Active solar design techniques include using solar panels to generate electricity, using solar thermal collectors to heat water, and using solar air heaters to heat air.
- Integrated solar panels. Integrated solar panels are solar panels that are incorporated into the building envelope, such as the roof or facade. Integrated solar panels can provide a number of benefits, including improved aesthetics, reduced wind resistance, and increased energy efficiency.
This being said the green building market is expected to continue to grow rapidly in the coming years. This is due to a number of factors, including the increasing awareness of the benefits of green buildings, the decreasing cost of green building technologies, and government support for green building practices.
The green building market in Africa has the potential to create a number of jobs and boost the continent’s economy. The market is also expected to help improve the quality of life in Africa by creating healthier and more comfortable living and working environments.
