Hector Chapa Sikazwe, 2011, Newcastle upon Tyne

UK

Hector Chapa Sikazwe

Keywords

Green architecture, sustainability, design costs Global warming, Energy efficiency, Co2 emissions, bio gas, local Materials, government legislation

Legislation

Abstract According to Mhlaba (2003), the impact of foreign motives on African architecture has remained a force to address. He states that since colonial interventions African architecture, much like all other aspects, has been a victim of suppression; drowned into Eurocentric standards of definitions and interpretations. Much of academic materials and buildings designed in the name of African architecture so far, have displayed, from various angles, influences of colonial ideologies; consciously, subconsciously or unconsciously so. There is a paradigm whose conscious mission has been to reinforce European imperialist objectives in the continent through the built environment and that has acted contra to sustainable design.

As expected, African architects and designers face unique challenges when faced with the concepts of green design architectural theories that have been in circulation for over thirty years in developed nations. Farmer (1999), explains that Green architecture is an approach to building design which has become more prevalent in the last 25 to 30 years. The concept that is widely known in African design offices as sustainable design is the equivalent of green architecture and is defined simply as a method of design that minimizes the impact of building effects on the ecology and general environmental systems. Green architecture was once thought of as unconventional and nonstandard, but has quickly become an accepted way of approach to design by both regulatory agencies and the public alike as a socially responsible and logical means of construction for the future.

For African Architects and design professionals, the beginnings of today's green revolution in developed nations can be traced back to the social awareness of the 1960s in European design such as is found in Scandinavia. With the introduction of new construction techniques that have led to the development of innovative materials and design concepts, African designers
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have been left behind as they face different challenges that this paper attempts to address. As widely observed by green proponents, indeed, successfully designed green projects can involve an extensive array of factors, ranging from the resourceful use of materials, to careful consideration of function, climate, and location.

Table of Contents
Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.0 2.0 2.1 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 4.0 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 6.0 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 5 Literature review ............................................................................................................................. 5 Definitions of adaptation used in Climate change issues .......................................................... 10 Green issues and climate change in Africa ................................................................................... 11 Government awareness: ............................................................................................................ 12 Community awareness:............................................................................................................. 12 Lack of regulations, standards or codes to be guidelines: ..................................................... 12 Lack of local Green P r o d u c t Components a n d m a t e r i a l s : ......................................... 13 Not profitable:........................................................................................................................... 14 Trained Personnel: .................................................................................................................... 14 Prevailing challenges and initiatives ............................................................................................. 14 Special considerations ................................................................................................................... 16 Location of buildings and heat issues ....................................................................................... 16 Small spaces/structures ............................................................................................................. 18 Solar Energy .............................................................................................................................. 19 Renewable Energy .................................................................................................................... 19 Conserving water ...................................................................................................................... 19 Using local and natural materials .............................................................................................. 20 Saving our forests ..................................................................................................................... 20 Durability .................................................................................................................................. 21 Special design Considerations .................................................................................................. 21 References and Bibliography ........................................................................................................ 25

1.0

Introduction

As largely discussed by Mendler et al (2006), sustainable architecture is designing buildings keeping in mind environmental goals and sustainable development. Sustainably designed buildings aim to lessen the structures impact on the environment through energy and resource efficiency. The terms green architecture or green buildings are often used interchangeably with sustainable architecture to promote this definition further. Beer and Higgins (2000) sees sustainable design in a broader sense and explain that it should take into account the pressing economic and political issues and that sustainable architecture seeks to reduce the negative environmental impact of the buildings by increasing efficiency and moderation in the utilization of building materials, energy and development space. Similarly, Cadrecha (1997) states that green architecture denotes economical, energy-saving, environmentally-friendly, sustainable development and explores the relationship between architecture and ecology. Whereas developed nations have an easier way of appropriating available technology when addressing design factors, African professionals have completely different design considerations that instigates constraints in attaining green architecture. Green architecture initially seemed to promote unconventional methods that alienated the professionals and their design theories. Clients immediately found their concepts of using professionals undermined by the green theories and occasionally curtailed future use of the professionals in question.

2.0

Literature review

African societies have largely depended on what is commonly known as Vernacular architecture. Under this term, designers, or to be more specific Architects, have used locally sourced/recognized materials, climatic conditions, traditional and design artifacts to express a local African expression of traditional African architecture. Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions
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to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it exists. It has often been dismissed as crude and unrefined, but also has proponents who highlight its importance in current design. Brunskill (2006) has defined the ultimate in vernacular architecture as: ...a building designed by an amateur without any training in design; the individual will have been guided by a series of conventions built up in his locality, paying little attention to what may be fashionable. The function of the building would be the dominant factor, aesthetic considerations, though present to some small degree, being quite minimal. Local materials would be used as a matter of course, other materials being chosen and imported quite exceptionally... This definition has automatically removed trained professionals that are trained in African universities as Architects to be the protectors of the built environment to be part of the traditional movement of indigenous African architecture. This definition of vernacular architecture in contrast to traditional architecture has been a subject of different African professional forums who have indicated that the two terms have been used interchangeably resulting in gross misunderstandings when the two terms are applied. African Architects have insisted that the term vernacular architecture should is not to be confused with so-called "traditional" architecture, though there are links between the two. Traditional architecture can also include buildings which bear elements of polite design: temples and palaces, for example, which normally would not be included under the rubric of "vernacular." In architectural terms, 'the vernacular' can be contrasted with 'the polite', which is characterized by stylistic elements of design intentionally incorporated by a professional architect for aesthetic purposes which go beyond a building's functional requirements. Between the extremes of the wholly vernacular and the completely polite, examples occur which have some vernacular and some polite content, often making the differences between the vernacular
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and the polite a matter of degree. The Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World defines vernacular architecture as: ...comprising the dwellings and all other buildings of the people. Related to their environmental contexts and available resources they are customarily owner- or community-built, utilizing traditional technologies. All forms of vernacular architecture are built to meet specific needs, accommodating the values, economies and ways of life of the cultures that produce them. This definition does not preclude professional Architects but rather embarrasses both the untrained designer and the trained designer to be part of the built environment design team. The influence of both the untrained and the trained designer have characterized the traditional African expression of design. Susan Denyer in her book African traditional architecture has documented the various ways that traditional neighborhoods in Africa were allowed to sprawl unabated according to the needs and aspirations of the cultural and ethnic functional requirements. Her book is one well researched source of literature on traditional African architecture that takes very little influence from polite Architecture which later has come to affect the built environment. International styles and influences have conflicted with African traditional Architecture resulting in various aspects of green issues that prevail in western Communities. Susan Denyer has argued at length that traditional African architecture has always answered the green issues concepts inadvertently without specifically attending to particular areas raised by green issues proponents. Nawangwe (2004) agrees with Susan Denyer that many authors have extensively written about the vernacular architecture of the different regions of Africa. Nonetheless, no author has discussed in a comprehensive manner the lessons that can be learnt from vernacular architecture for enhancing environmental sustainability in modern African architecture. In a paper to the NOFUA conference in Oslo in 2004, Nawangwe suggested as follows: However, the study of vernacular architecture of Uganda is revealing that the use of industrial materials for construction can produce environmentally friendly shelter, responsive to our climate and
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conserving our dear cultural heritage. (Nawangwe, 2004) Nawangwe argued strongly at the conference that The onslaught of modern technology has robbed African communities of the construction skills and environmentally sensitive design of their dwellings. He mentioned that Modern Architecture had become more and more environmentally unfriendly not only to people, but also to the entire surrounding natural environment. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in its Second Assessment Report, defines vulnerability as the extent to which climate change may damage or harm a system. It adds that vulnerability depends not only on a systems sensitivity, but also on its ability to adapt to new climatic conditions (Watson et al. 1996: 23). In an Assessment Methods presentation made at the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP-6), Robert T. Watson, Chair of the IPCC, defines vulnerability as the extent to which a natural or social system is susceptible to sustaining damage from climate change, and is a function of the magnitude of climate change, the sensitivity of the system to changes in climate and the ability to adapt the system to changes in climate. Hence, a highly vulnerable system is one that is highly sensitive to modest changes in climate and one for which the ability to adapt is severely constrained. (IPCC 2000a) Handmer et al. (1999) posit that many regions and countries will be capable of adapting to climate change, but that poorer countries and regions like Africa and Asia1 will have difficulty responding to climate change. These authors argue that the study of adaptation to climate change should begin with the study of social and economic vulnerability. This, as is noted by Smit et al. (2000), some authors distinguish pre-adaptation vulnerability from postadaptation vulnerability. Kelly and Adger (2000) argue that according to the IPCC approach, vulnerability is contingent on estimates of the potential climate change and adaptive responses. In other words, the level of vulnerability is determined by the adverse consequences that

Own insertion by Author (Hector Chapa Sikazwe)

remain after the process of adaptation has taken place (Kelly and Adger 2000). African built environmental issues are normally addressed from an economic perspective when providing solutions. Intrinsically, other regions of the World address the same problem from a different perspective. For instance, from a natural hazards perspective, Blaikie et al. (1994) define vulnerability as the characteristics of a person or group in terms of their capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impact of a natural hazard The same authors argue that vulnerability is a measure of a person or groups exposure to the effects of a natural hazard, including the degree to which they can recover from the impact of that event. These definitions of vulnerability and adaptation have implications for assessments of vulnerability. In one case, vulnerability depends on the adaptation that has taken place; in the other, vulnerability is defined in terms of capacity to adapt, and capacity to respond to stress is a starting point for impact analysis. The response to these issues in Africa has been completely different and this paper has an objective to address the little developments that have been seen in different parts of the Continent. African Architects are therefore faced with completely different challenges than those faced by other Architects around the World. The nature of the difference is based on economic, availability and ability to acquire these inputs/resources for implementing the built environment policies that poor governments are faced with. It is no wonder that African architecture has been slow to catch up with the global adaptability to climate change that has resulted in the continent to be viewed as being a laggard in addressing its communitys vulnerability to the elements. The level of vulnerability has differed from region to region in Africa and a study by the Climate change knowledge network2 in America found that Africa was vastly slow in adapting to the changes that the climate has impacted different parts of the World.

http://www.iisd.org/cckn/pdf/va_foundation_final.pdf

A common theme in the climate change impacts and vulnerability literature is the idea that countries, regions, economic sectors and social groups differ in their degree of vulnerability to climate change (see, for example, Bohle et al. 1994). This is due partly to the fact that changes in temperature and precipitation will occur unevenly and that Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change: Concepts, Issues, Assessment Methods climate change impacts will be

unevenly distributed around the globe. It is also due to the fact that resources and wealth are distributed unevenly. Though vulnerability differs substantially across regions, it is also recognized that even within regions impacts, adaptive capacity and vulnerability will vary (IPCC 2001: 15). Handmer et al. (1999) posit that many regions and countries will be capable of adapting to climate change, but that poorer countries and regions will have difficulty responding to climate change. These authors argue that the study of adaptation to climate change should begin with the study of social and economic vulnerability. As noted by Smit et al. (2000), some authors distinguish pre-adaptation vulnerability from post-adaptation vulnerability. Kelly and Adger (2000) argue that according to the IPCC approach, vulnerability is contingent on estimates of the potential climate change and adaptive responses. In other words, the level of vulnerability is determined by the adverse consequences that remain after the process of adaptation has taken place (Kelly and Adger 2000: 327). These research works indicate that Africa has had little pradaptation vulnerability policies due to lack of resources, poor policy formulation and a diversity of understandings of the true impact of climate on the built environment. 2.1 Definitions of adaptation used in Climate change issues

Smit et al. (2000) point out that several definitions of adaptation are found in the climate change literature. The following are some of the examples found:

Adaptation to climate is the process through which people reduce the adverse
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effects of climate on their health and well-being, and take advantage of the opportunities that their climatic environment provides (Burton 1992, quoted in Smit et al. 2000);

Adaptation involves adjustments to enhance the viability of social and economic activities and to reduce their vulnerability to climate, including its current variability and extreme events as well as longer-term climate change (Smit 1993, quoted in Smit et al. 2000);

The term adaptation means any adjustment, whether passive, reactive or anticipatory, that is proposed as a means for ameliorating the anticipated adverse consequences associated with climate change (Stakhiv 1993, quoted in Smit et al. 2000); Adaptation to climate change includes all adjustments in behavior or economic structure that reduce the vulnerability of society to changes in the climate system (Smith et al. 1996, quoted in Smit et al. 2000); and

Adaptability refers to the degree, to which adjustments are possible in practices, processes or structures of systems to projected or actual changes of climate. Adaptation can be spontaneous or planned, and can be carried out in response to or in anticipation of change in conditions (Watson et al. 1996, quoted in Smit et al. 2000)

3.0

Green issues and climate change in Africa

In the last decade, African architects are leaning towards making greener buildings that are ecologically sound and the drive and quest for desire not to be left behind has been seen in
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the several seminars and symposiums that deal with green issues on the rise. This change has come about as a reaction to the demands of customers who want to lead a life that has a less negative effect upon the environment. The challenges that are faced by African Architects are numerous and in some Nations, insurmountable, and poses a challenge to environmental professionals and legislation bodies. The following are some serious issues that green designers have to address in Africa: 3.1 Government awareness:

Most governments have just started to be aware of international green issues and to apply the International Standards and Regulations in the past decade. According to Shafik (2009), some African governments like Egypt are even beginning to consider providing support for Green Initiatives whether by Subsidies or Tax reduction to organizations that promotes green design in the industry. 3.2 Community awareness:

Most African communities are unaware of the impact of the built environment on the sustainability of the ecological and environmental stability of the future of the built environment. There is need for more awareness campaigns to allow the community to get involved in the global movement to have sustainable environment. 3.3 Lack of regulations, standards or codes to be guidelines:

Green design is not considered as a cardinal part to design requirements in most African countries. Due to the format of most African design regulatory frameworks, green architecture is remotely considered as one of the essential design requirements. African governments are being encouraged that all levels of government need to implement policies and funding that support ecosystem-based strategies and that help the natural world and human communities
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adapt to the impacts of climate change. It is normally considered to be a high cost end solution and most design concepts and approaches are glossed over and in most cases ignored. As a result, many countries have developed their own standards of energy efficiency for buildings, and the following table shows some examples that are currently used in the USA:

Standards source: source: gao analysis.

3.4

Lack of local Green P r o d u c t Components a n d m a t e r i a l s :

Design solutions that address green issues are not readily available in most African Countries and as such the ideas dissipate before implementation is even considered. Materials that are required to define a structure to be a green structure are not found readily in African building materials shops and can constitute a fake construction process problem if the designer insists on finding the material in question.
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3.5

Not profitable:

The immediate savings in Materials and Resources just to implement green architecture does not encourage alternatives. Most design solutions in low economy areas like African communities have costs as a major factor in determining design solutions. Architects and clients regularly agree on solutions that are cost effective and functionally appropriate for the current design brief. Unlike developed nations where regulations exist as a guide when design solutions, African design solutions have concentration on costs rather than anything else. 3.6 Trained Personnel:

The lack of trained environmental designers and professionals has acted as a barrier to environmental concerns in majority of African built environment initiatives. African Universities are rising to the challenge at the moment as can be seen in the nature of design theories and courses being offered to new students. Zambia has led the cause in Africa by establishing the School of the built environment at the University of Zambia that has come to be the main provider of trained Architects, Quantity surveyors, Landscape Architects and Land economists for most Architectural and Construction companies in Sub Saharan Africa

4.0

Prevailing challenges and initiatives

Most African households at the moment have a high level of energy consumption leading to greenhouse gasses being released into the atmosphere and contributing to global warming. With the current situation being addressed by various initiatives, most African governments have indicated positive outlook as they insist that the current structures are set to change for the better in the near future. Professional bodies in African countries are adopting modern design techniques that incorporate green architecture. This modern architecture has begun to include low energy consumption devices which can help save the environment whilst saving the functionality of the requirements demanded by clients and their money in the long run.
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Some of these devices are costly to install initially, but customers reap the benefits later and the trend is currently spreading throughout southern Africa. African societies are now being educated on the impact of environmental degradation as a result of the impact of the construction or built environment. For instance in Zambia, the department of building science at the Copperbelt University has introduced academic initiatives to bring about awareness of environmental and ecological impact design has on the environment. Young students are being sensitized to the grave impact that their future design would affect the environment. Mukalula (2004), in a seminar paper, addressed sustainable or green design as the way forward to alleviate poverty in African societies. He stated that through the adoption of sustainable construction practices in Zambia's comprehensive strategy, alleviation of poverty could be a reality. He alluded to the fact that there is an imbalance in the application of indigenous construction technologies and conventional construction technologies. His research paper/study showed that rural areas are forced to adopt technologies that are not energy threatening to the environment on a large scale. Zambia, like most of the regional governments has taken specific initiatives to address the built environment and its sustenance. The formation of statutory regulatory bodies like the National Council for Construction (NCC) run by a dynamic young architect Dr Sylvester Mashamba, a graduate of Copperbelt University (Zambia) and Newcastle University (United Kingdom), has defined and emphasized the seriousness that the government apportions to green architecture. The National Council for Construction (NCC) is a newly reconstituted statutory body, affiliating and representing all trade organizations and professional bodies within the Zambian Construction Industry. Cape Town University in the republic of South Africa are equally enjoying the promotion of green design and responsible existence by taking up specific global warming initiatives. Nicholas Wiid and the Green Campus Initiative are the driving forces behind a new recycling
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project at self-catering residences. The headline "Go green or go home" on a notice posted around Liesbeeck Gardens Residence summed it up. Liesbeeck Students at self-catering

residences across UCT have recently been introduced to an integrated recycling system, taking heed of the three R's - reduce, reuse and recycle - as part of the university drive to go green, save energy and be "sustainable". Several initiatives on African universities, with the help of European governments, have embarked on positive green awareness and departments that deal directly with the built environment have introduced specific academic content to buttress the wave of awareness. With green awareness on top of the agenda in most African Universities, the need to encourage community awareness is equally being promoted via the United Nations wings operating in African Nations.

5.0 5.1

Special considerations Location of buildings and heat issues

As in most green architecture projects, Woodson (2009) explains that location of buildings and surroundings can impact not only the visual and ecological benefits for the environment but also the future of the built environment. It is a well-known factor that erecting a structure close to other tall buildings and vegetation can cut out daylight and sunlight, both of which can be used to the structure and end user holders advantage if in good supply. Most African landscapes are sparsely populated with buildings and such consideration is regarded as being negligible and does not affect most green designs. The expansive landscapes available to Designers in African design schemes influence explorative green architecture and the use of natural sunlight is used extensively in collaboration with building orientation to devise the best green effects for the structure. Brown et al (2000), states that in addition to the natural use of sunlight, the use of solar panels in modern structures has now become common.
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Sunlight is captured by solar panels and is used to heat water for the environmentally designed structure for water heating and other uses that have less greenhouse gas emissions. The principle behind the concept is that these solar panels are generally laid on the roof of such structures and specially designed pipes inside the panels are heated by the sun and the water is pumped to t h e h o u s e o u t o f t h e p i p e s . Denyer ( 1978) w r i t e s t h a t A f r i c a n environments are richly endowed with clear skies and the use of this technology is irrepressible if pursued by green projects. In essence, Architects make use of the natural light available by making cylindrical windows in the roof of the house, as well as the usual ones around the sides to capture as much sunlight as possible. Woodson (2009) states that warm environments do not require the conventional radiators that are used to heat structures in the northern hemisphere, Natural heat energy transfer is naturally relied on and any green design concepts can highly be enhanced by the natural existence of natural heat energy resident in the environment. Brown et al (2000) explains that Instead of the conventional radiators, which is high on energy consumption, radiant heat is trapped and redirected for heating, cooking and cooling inside the home. Green design concepts here rely on radiant heat transfer. The design of floors or ceiling panels circulates either chilled or heated water to condition the space. This system requires less energy to run and can help boilers to operate more effectively because of the low temperature. Architecture in Africa has come a long way in energy efficient3 operations and is poised to go further as more and more awareness is encouraged through legislation and statutory initiatives of how the built environment are affects global warming. Environmental researchers Moughtin and Shirley (2005), assess that building construction and usage of the structures is responsible for nearly half of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions and close to a
3

Refers to products or systems using less energy to do the same or better job than conventional products or systems. Energy efficiency saves energy, saves money on utility bills, and helps protect the environment by reducing the demand for electricity. When buying or replacing products or appliances for your home, look for the ENERGY STAR label the national symbol for energy efficiency.

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third of its solid waste stream. Buildings are also significant emitters of particulates and other air pollutants that have to be taken into design considerations by designers. In short, building construction and operation cause many forms of environmental degradation that place an increasing burden on the earth's resources and jeopardize the future of the building industry and societal health and welfare 5.2 Small spaces/structures

In a case strongly promoting sustainable architecture, green experts like Zelov, (1997) have laid down certain basic elements that contribute to green architecture positively. It is unanimously viewed that large structures generally use exponentially tremendous amount of energy to heat and cool. These structures also consume far more building materials which may have their own environmental consequences and specific design considerations are required to address these observations. In a move to do away with such wastefulness, small structures are now being preferred allowing one to conserve energy and avoid unnecessary depletion of natural resources. Due to the expansively wide African landscapes, this concept is largely questioned as there is no restriction embedded in the legal framework of design regulations. Environmental and cultural turnaround awareness has in the past decade become prominent in symposiums so that designers can be persuaded to use the green environmental factors rather than availability of space.

Refers to products or systems using less energy to do the same or better job than conventional products or

systems. Energy efficiency saves energy, saves money on utility bills, and helps protect the environment by reducing the demand for electricity. When buying or replacing products or appliances for your home, look for the ENERGY STAR label the national symbol for energy efficiency.

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5.3

Solar Energy

Solar heating is becoming a tech idea that is fast taking storm within sustainable design forums. The idea behind is the fact that there is nothing more comfortable for body and mind than living in a good solar-heated house, with full control of climate control parameters. When structures are designed ecologically, good passive solar energy is capable of providing just enough sunlight into the rooms to be absorbed by the surrounding thermal mass which acts as a heat battery and gives the warmth back into the room when the sun goes down. Crushed volcanic rock and straw bales make for good thermal mass insulation and designs in a green house 5.4 Renewable Energy

According t o t h e U . S . Environmental P r o t e c t i o n A ge n c y, t h e t e r m r e n e w a b l e e n e r g y generally refers to electricity supplied from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, geothermal, hydropower and various forms of biomass. These energy sources are considered renewable sources because their fuel sources are continuously replenished. Under Virginia law, renewable energy refers to "energy derived from sunlight, wind, falling water, sustainable biomass, energy from waste, wave motion, tides, and geothermal power and does not include energy derived from coal, oil, natural gas or nuclear power." Among the several ways to conserve fossil fuel and produce electricity are using the natural powers of the sun, wind, or water. 5.5 Conserving water

Incidentally, African green design has not yet developed the conserving of water as a serious green design factor because there are areas that are not yet supplied with tapped water. The use of low water capacity toilets, flow restrictors at shower heads and faucet aerators are now being used as a part of sustainable architecture. More radical water conservation approaches include diverting gray water from bathing, clothes washing and bathroom sinks to watering
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plants; catching rain water from roofs and paved areas for domestic use. Landscaping with drought tolerant plants can also save water. 5.6 Using local and natural materials

Green experts insist that nature has been benevolent enough to provide earth with several materials to build with, no matter the geographical location. When local materials are used for construction, processing and transporting costs and processes are minimized. From both, an aesthetic, health and ecological point of view, building with natural local materials enhances and promotes sustainable development. By using these local materials which are native to the area, it reduces the use of more expensive imported materials. More importantly, vernacular materials are part of cultural manifestations. The question is raised: if a system works well enough, why should it be changed by outside influences which may not be fully understood? In the African green design context, natural materials would include stone, glass, lime or mud plasters, adobe or rammed earth, burnt bricks, tiles, untreated wood, cork, paper, reeds, bamboo, canes and grasses as well as all natural fibers. Including plants in the living space can greatly enhance the natural ambiance. Plants not only have aesthetic quality but they also release oxygen into the air, whilst acting as a filter of pollutants of the air. 5.7 Forest Conservation

Green architecture equally considers forest conservation as a vital aspect of sustainable design. Wood is a renewable source of energy but designers have abrogated there responsibility of protecting natural forestation by allowing the destruction of natural forests to become non sustainable designs that have ruined our eco-systems through deforestation. The green movement insists that wood must be used as little as possible and mainly for decorations. The push is to only cull dead trees for structural supports and instead use masonry, straw bales; paper crepe, cob, adobe, rocks, bags of volcanic rock, etc., instead of wood. Suggestions from Cole (1998) are that homes can be made with certified sustainable
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harvested trees. This means that the forests where the trees are cut down from are carefully monitored to ensure that the health and character of the forest is maintained. Only certain trees are culled periodically, leaving the remaining trees to grow and contribute to a healthy ecosystem. 5.8 Durability

One of the important elements of sustainable architecture is durability. If a building doesn't stand the test of time, it would be a waste of energy, from all perspective, human, resource and economic input. African architects are encouraged to design using techniques and materials that have a longer life span. The use of Aluminum has become prominent in African high rise buildings. An Aluminum-framed green structure stands up to extreme weather conditions, providing a stable, strong and reliable choice for most environments. In exposed structural designs and areas where the weather delivers strong winds, frequent storms and a prevalence of snow, sleet and hail, an Aluminum green structure is an educated choice for sustainable architecture. The advantage is that Aluminum structure is stronger and better able to withstand harsh weather conditions. Aluminum is very durable and will not rust. With the added advantage of powder coating, the Aluminum frame does not corrode and provides increased longevity when compared to a wooden equivalent. 5.9 Special design Considerations

Architects and general designers are expected to utilize research solutions arising from different parts of the World combating global and climate changes that affect the built environment. It is estimated that at present, buildings contribute as much as one third of total global greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through the use of fossil fuels during their operational phase. Past efforts to address these emissions have had a mixed record of success, although there are many examples which show that carefully considered and properly funded policies can achieve significant reductions.
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African Architects are fully aware that if the desired targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction are to be met in their design solutions, they have to tackle emissions from the Building Sector with a much greater seriousness and vigour than they have applied themselves to date. It is commonly known by Architects globally that buildings have a relatively long lifespan, and therefore actions taken at design stage continue to affect their greenhouse gas emissions over the medium-term. The full extent of the life-time emissions of a building can best be understood by using the life-cycle approach (LCA). The LCA approach reveals that

over 80% of greenhouse gas emissions take place during the operational phase of buildings, when energy is used for heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, appliances, and other applications. A smaller percentage, normally 10 to 20% of the energy consumed is for materials manufacturing and transportation, construction, maintenance renovation and demolition. To overcome these barriers, African governments must are expected to take the lead by prioritizing the building sector in their national climate change strategies and putting in place a number of Green-gas-emissions-Reducing solutions from buildings. These strategies are envisaged to bring multiple benefits to both the economy and to the general society. Surprisingly, the construction, renovation, and maintenance of buildings contribute 10 to 40% of countries Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and represent on a global average 10% of country-level employment. On a much brighter side of African Architecture, greenhouse gas mitigation strategies for buildings can stimulate the growth of new businesses and jobs, as well as contribute to other, equally pressing, social development goals, such as better housing and access to clean energy and water. Architects can seize the opportunity offered by the climate change crisis to build the foundation for sustainable development today and for the future building blocks for development and sustainability.

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5.0

Conclusion

African green issues have peaked in the past decade. Sustainable design (environmental design, environmentally sustainable design (ESD), environmentally-conscious design) that encompass the philosophy of designing building structures, objects, and services to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability has become a repeated issue in African design corridors. As addressed in this paper, the intention of sustainable design is to eliminate negative environmental impact completely through skillful, sensitive design techniques. Green African designers have shown desire to design and manage the built environment in a responsible manner. Architects and designers are currently aware that solutions to sustainable designs require no non-renewable resources, impact on the environment minimally, and relate people with the natural environment. African universities are currently concentrating on the use of sustainable technologies. Sustainable architecture drives the concept of reducing the collective environmental impacts during the (a) (b) (c) Production of building components, during the construction process, as well as during the lifecycle of the building (heating, electricity use, carpet cleaning etc) African Universities are driving the agenda to produce these green design practices that emphasizes efficiency of heating and cooling systems, alternative energy sources such as solar hot water, appropriate building location, reused or recycled building materials, on-site power generation (solar technology, ground source heat pumps, wind power), rainwater harvesting for gardening and washing, and on-site waste management such as green roofs that filter and control storm water runoff. Sustainable architects design with sustainable living in mind. The concepts are alien to African communities and as such the challenges faced by
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stake holders are largely different from those faced by European or American counterparts. Awareness symposiums, bulletins, magazines, seminars, University lectures and international discussion forums are being used to bring about awareness in the communities. A deliberate thrust to involve legislation and global involvement in sensitizing the communities has gone a long way to promote sustainable design. Architects and designers are encouraged to get involved in the global movement of fighting climate change and global warming using their influence in the built environment as they design with a sustainable approach a the design stage. African Architects are required to improve or acquire technical knowledge and skills in order to propagate a new technology or building technique. The building professionals involved must be able to actually apply them. In this regard, Baden et al (2006), list the following training needs for the development of personnel to certify a buildings performance: qualification of raters; development of code of standards for the field and performance testing verification; definition of quality assurance requirements; and the definition of insurance requirements. These are the essential tools for designing effective policies, and include: credible and

comparable energy performance standards; accurate and comprehensive data and information about the Building Sector; the appropriate skills-base and capacity to assess energy performance and implement energy efficiency policies; and systems and frameworks for consultations with all major stakeholders. Governments must work together with the building and construction industry, NGO and civil society organizations, research and educational institutes, and most importantly, the public, to achieve the common goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.

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6.0

References and Bibliography

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