The design of a house can determine how much its occupants spend on electricity for decades, the Energy Commission has warned, urging homeowners to consider energy efficiency before construction begins.
The Commission says decisions about a building’s orientation, windows, materials, ventilation and appliances can influence its energy consumption for between 50 and 100 years.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Home Owners Show, Engineer John Adjei, who leads the Commission’s work on energy performance certificates for buildings, said homeowners could end up paying higher electricity bills because of decisions made at the design stage.
He said proper orientation of a building alone could reduce the amount of energy required for cooling.
“Just simply doing a proper orientation can save you up to 30% of cooling,” he said.
The Commission has also raised concerns about the growing use of large glass windows and expansive glass walls in modern Ghanaian homes.
Mr Herbert, who works on energy performance promotion at the Commission, said such designs could trap significant amounts of heat in buildings, particularly in Ghana’s climate.
The resulting increase in indoor temperatures can lead to greater reliance on air conditioning, pushing up electricity consumption and household bills.
The officials said energy efficiency should therefore be incorporated into building plans rather than addressed after homeowners have moved into their properties.
They recommended that homeowners and architects consider the positioning of bedrooms and living areas to take advantage of prevailing winds, while using features such as cross ventilation and solar shading to reduce heat gain.
The Commission also pointed to features found in older Ghanaian homes, including verandas, large windows and layouts designed to encourage natural airflow.
According to the officials, some modern architectural designs adopted from countries with different climates may not be suitable for Ghana without modifications.
“We are now trading aesthetics for cost,” Engineer John said.
The Commission said homeowners do not have to abandon modern architectural designs but should adapt them to Ghana’s climate and energy needs.
It advised homeowners to discuss building orientation, cross ventilation, solar shading, window placement, double glazing, energy efficient lighting and roof designs suitable for solar installations with their architects.
The choice of appliances and water heating systems should also form part of the planning process, it said.
Mr Herbert encouraged homeowners to use fans and passive cooling where possible before relying heavily on air conditioning.
The Commission also recommended LED lighting because of its lower electricity consumption compared with traditional incandescent bulbs.
For water heating, it recommended instantaneous systems for kitchens instead of storage heaters that continuously consume electricity to maintain hot water in a tank.
The Energy Commission’s warning comes against the backdrop of rising interest in modern house designs that can require significant cooling and electricity use.
It said the cost of keeping a house comfortable should be considered alongside its construction cost.
For buildings that may remain in use for 50 years or more, the Commission said, decisions made before construction could have a long term effect on household energy costs.
The key message is that electricity consumption is not determined only by how occupants use appliances. The building itself can influence how much energy is required to keep it cool, lit and comfortable.
By the time a homeowner receives a high electricity bill, many of the decisions contributing to that cost may already have been made in the building’s design.
