Sustainability in housing has become a cornerstone of environmental responsibility, especially in regions like Ghana, where the housing sector faces increasing challenges due to rapid urbanization. Join us as we explore four innovative sustainable housing projects in Ghana, each offering unique solutions to the country’s housing needs while minimizing their environmental impact.
The Rise of Sustainable Housing in Ghana
Accra, with its growing population and rapid urbanization, faces numerous challenges, including rising energy consumption, water shortages, and environmental degradation. As a response to these issues, both local and international stakeholders have started to focus on creating more sustainable living spaces.
Sustainable housing refers to homes that are designed or adapted to minimize environmental impact while providing energy-efficient solutions for residents.
While the concept of “green building” is relatively new in Accra and in Ghana, it has gained momentum in recent years due to the global push for sustainable development and climate change mitigation.
If you are looking for homes that align with their values of sustainability, energy efficiency, and eco-friendliness, Accra is becoming a hub for energy-efficient homes.
By integrating renewable resources and eco-conscious designs, these projects aim to reduce carbon footprints and promote eco-friendly living. Below, we explore how various initiatives are redefining sustainable housing in Ghana, focusing on a few notable case studies.
4 Notable Green Building Projects in Ghana
1. Greenviews Residential
The garden and pool at Green Views II
Greenviews Residential is a model of sustainable living in Accra, combining modern housing with eco-friendly innovations. The project incorporates several green features designed to minimize environmental impact and promote sustainable living.
One of the standout features of Greenviews Residential is its use of solar energy. Solar panels installed on the rooftop provide a renewable source of energy, reducing reliance on grid electricity and lowering carbon emissions. The building’s double-wall facade with insulation helps to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, significantly reducing the need for air conditioning in Ghana’s warm climate.
Residents at Greenviews Residential benefit from a shared herb and spice garden, encouraging community interaction and promoting access to fresh, homegrown produce. This initiative supports the idea of urban agriculture and reduces the carbon footprint associated with food transport. Additionally, the community fosters biodiversity with bird nests and feeders, creating a haven for local bird species.
Waste management is another area where Greenviews Residential excels. The housing estate collects and sorts tenant waste into categories such as glass, metal, plastic, organic matter, and general waste.
Organic waste is repurposed on-site, as it is used to produce compost from tenant contributions, swept leaves, and other collected materials. This composting initiative promotes a circular economy within the community.
Finally, Greenviews Residential prioritizes the use of organic insecticides whenever possible. By avoiding chemical pesticides, the community maintains a healthier living environment for residents while protecting local ecosystems. These combined efforts demonstrate Greenviews Residential’s commitment to sustainability, offering a blueprint for other housing projects in Ghana to follow.
2. The Ghana Bamboo House
The Ghana Bamboo House exemplifies innovative use of renewable materials. Bamboo, a fast-growing and sustainable resource, is used extensively in construction. This project showcases how locally available materials can replace traditional, less sustainable options like concrete. Bamboo’s strength, flexibility, and thermal properties make it an ideal choice for eco-friendly housing.
Beyond material choice, the Ghana Bamboo House incorporates passive cooling techniques, reducing the need for artificial air conditioning. Its design maximizes natural ventilation, ensuring comfort in Ghana’s tropical climate while minimizing energy use.
3. The Eco-Village by Joshua Kwaku Asiedu
Joshua inherited a land near the small farming community of Mankrong from his ancestors. He moved to Ghana and over the years, built his own self-sufficient eco village. That’s how the Eco-Village was created. The aim is to retrace and preserve ancient indigenous wisdom and knowledge related to self-sustainability.
This includes practices such as natural building, organic farming, herbal medicine, pottery, food processing, and other traditional crafts that were inherently based on self-sustainability and independence.
4. Ghana Meet Me There Eco Lodge
Sustainability is at the core of everything they do at Meet Me There Eco Lodge. They try to make a positive impact on the environment and the economy whenever possible:
- They are powered by the sun;
- They have compost toilets in 80% of their rooms;
- Their food and drinks menu is close to 0% import free;
- Their ethos is to only employ from the local communities;
- They strive to be single-use plastic free;
- They support local artisans through their entrepreneurship programme
Key Features of Sustainable Housing in Ghana
These are the most important features you should consider if you want to find a more energy-efficient home in Ghana.
Solar Energy Systems
Did you know that Ghana is one of the highest consumers of electricity per capita in Sub Saharan Africa?
With almost 80% of the population having access to electricity, Ghana is doing a good job compared to neighboring countries, but there is still a lot of improvement that can be done.
Solar panels can power lights, fans, and appliances, significantly reducing electricity costs and providing reliable energy in the event of power outages.
Many homes in Accra are now being built with solar infrastructure. Also, existing homes can easily be retrofitted with solar systems, as there are companies that install solar panels in Ghana.
Outside of Accra, there are also very interesting projects happening where solar kiosks are installed in villages. In many of the rural areas, villages are not connected to the electricity grid and use either kerosene lamps or torches with one-way batteries to have at least some light in the evening. Each solar kiosk is equipped with a 300 watts solar panel on their roof providing 0.84 kW solar power per hour.
The kiosk itself consists of 80 lockable compartments for charging the customers’ phones and lamps by using the solar power of the kiosk’s panels. At the back of the compartments they also have 80 money slots through which the customers are depositing their daily fee for using the kiosk. For a daily fee, they can charge their phone and rent a lamp.
Water Harvesting and Conservation
Water scarcity is a growing concern in Accra, with frequent water supply interruptions and unreliable access to clean water. Many modern homes in Accra are now equipped with rainwater harvesting systems, which collect and store rainwater for non-potable uses like irrigation, flushing toilets, or washing vehicles.
Water-efficient fixtures, such as low-flow faucets and showerheads, are also popular in sustainable homes, helping to conserve the city’s limited water resources.
Natural Ventilation and Insulation
To reduce the need for air conditioning, sustainable homes in Accra are often designed with natural ventilation in mind. Strategic placement of windows, vents, and open spaces can allow for airflow, cooling the home naturally.
In addition, insulation materials are used to minimize heat gain from the sun, helping to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the home year-round. These design elements not only improve comfort but also reduce reliance on energy-intensive cooling systems.
Sustainable Construction Materials
Sustainable housing also involves the use of environmentally friendly construction materials, such as locally sourced timber, recycled materials, and energy-efficient windows. These materials not only help reduce the carbon footprint of a building but also ensure that homes are resilient to the climate conditions in Accra.
