Adopt green housing technology to save on cost, protect environment

The popularity of green building technologies in Kenya is rising with more stakeholders employing green or environmentally sustainable architecture in housing development. [iStockphoto]

Green housing is a novel type of building that advocates energy and water saving, environmental protection and the general wellbeing of house occupants.

Owing to the increasingly serious environmental pollution in recent years and calls for corporates to conduct their businesses responsibly and embrace sustainability, green housing has certainly attracted a lot of attention. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme, real estate contributes about 30 per cent of global annual greenhouse gas emissions, hence the plea for the sector's stakeholders to support global efforts to adapt to and mitigate climate change in order to ensure sustainability.

The Kenya Economic Report 2021 estimates that only 2 per cent of the formally constructed housing units are targeted at the low-income population. This means we have a long way to go before parity and inclusivity in housing can be achieved. It is principally important that the housing sector stakeholders support the greening of residential buildings given that cities, towns and peri-urban areas are teeming with new residents every year. We all have a role to play to see to it that we not only provide housing solutions for this target population but that these solutions are adequate and sustainable.

The central feature of green buildings is a significant reduction in environmental and social impacts. Foremost, buildings use power to run, water for occupants and building materials during construction. Each of these generates carbon emissions. Some of the key features that make buildings sustainable include efficient use of energy, water and materials; use of renewable energy and waste management measures such as reuse and recycling.

Adoption of suitable construction methods and appropriate materials, as well as the use of innovative practices in developing green affordable housing can lower annual operating costs for developers, which may, in turn, enable them to build more affordable units. Green developments avoid the need for major future renovations and reduce costs associated with energy use, water use and maintenance. It is therefore critical that we consider house development as an end-to-end process and build houses with as many green features as possible.

As the industry continues to evolve, developers are keen on greening some of their projects whose designs, construction and operations reduce or eliminate negative impact (and can create positive impact) on the climate and natural environment. The popularity of green building technologies in Kenya is rising with more stakeholders employing green or environmentally sustainable architecture in housing development. According to a survey by Knight Frank, 29 per cent of home buyers in Africa prefer green homes and do not mind the extra costs on greenhouses. Another survey by KGBS estimates that 19.3 per cent of Kenyan homes use solar power, indicating affinity towards green housing.

Superior value comes down to just three fundamentals: Lower operating costs, higher sales or rental income, and lower long-term risk. Data from mature markets shows that green buildings have higher sales prices, quicker sales cycles, lower operational costs, lower mortgage default rates, and higher resale value. Greening also implies specifications towards certain design requirements, including standardisation, which ultimately supports the creation of more employment opportunities among actors towards the supply of green affordable housing. Emerging global trends are driving a shift in attitudes amongst home buyers and property developers worldwide.