Improving Sustainability of Housing in Ghana through Energy Efficient Climate Control Strategies

Abstract

This paper aims at explaining testing procedures used to evaluate the potential of natural ventilation and daylighting applications to passive design of housing in Ghana. The objectives of research were to reduce energy costs and increase the sustainability of housing. From the results of these experiments actual and potential designs are illustrated and discussed. Mass housing results in multi-storey buildings which require substantial artificial lighting and ventilation. Also, with the increasing usage of glass for windows and doors in Ghana, even the shaded depths of buildings require additional daylight usually resulting in more energy consumption. By supplementing the internal lighting levels with daylight, reducing the internal heat load by shading windows to direct radiation and the utilization of natural ventilation over air conditioning where possible, significant energy savings are could be achieved. The research proposes mass housing design changes such as: delivering daylight above the suspended ceiling into the depths of the building by horizontal light pipes and natural ventilation, utilizing stack effect and wind siphonage, etc.