Unveiling Energy Saving Techniques for Cooling in Residential Buildings in Ghana

The gradual shift from the traditional approach of outdoor processes of habitation in Ghana to the indoor, coupled with an ingress of solar radiation, liberates excess heat into buildings and makes occupants feel uncomfortable. A straightforward response has been the adoption of air conditioners. This has resulted in high peak electricity demand and excess emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This paper identifies passive and low energy techniques which can improve the thermal comfort in buildings for the different climate zones of Ghana, and consequently reduce electricity demand and environmental effects due to air conditioning. The potential for various passive and low energy cooling techniques was determined by plotting climatic data comprising average monthly temperature and relative humidity over a thirty year period (1976-2005) for a total of ten towns and cities from the various climatic zones of Ghana on the Building Bioclimatic chart. This work is aimed at encouraging innovative and individual design solutions amongst building design professionals applicable to Ghana and regions elsewhere that are experiencing a growth in air conditioning. Reducing peak cooling-energy demand is of great interest to the power generating industries and policy makers. It is of interest to building investors, since it implies a possible reduction in the required installed plant capacity. This is also an essential element in Ghana's Climate Change Mitigation Program.