Developing a Building Energy Efficiency Assessment Tool for Office Buildings in Ghana: Delphic Consultation Approach

Abstract

Abstract In Ghana, the inability to solve peak demand constraints by finding a balance between reducing demand and increasing supply has resulted in power rationing coupled with erratic electricity supply. Various studies have reported the enormous influence energy assessment tools, contribute to solving building energy demand. However, no building energy standards are in place in Ghana and this is aggravated by lack of data for building energy consumption. As a first step towards developing a building energy efficiency assessment tool this paper aims to identify applicable energy efficient building assessment categories and criteria for the Ghanaian Built environment. As building assessment methods involve multi-dimensional criteria, a consensus based approach is used to conduct the research. Hence, the Delphi technique is selected and conducted in two successive consultation rounds involving professionals and highly informed local experts from academia, government and industry in the domain of building energy assessment methods. The results reveal that international assessment methods are not fully applicable to the Ghana built environment, as reflected in the identification of new energy efficient building assessment criteria. The research is focused in Ghana and similar developing countries grappling with building energy problems. It is expected that findings from the study will provide further directions towards the full development of building energy assessment tool in such regions.