In many homes and offices today, the lights are kept on even during the day when natural lights ought to be depended on.

Again, many are investing in air conditioners rather than creating spaces in their buildings to allow free flow of air.

This has become the concern of climate change advocates and building construction experts from the African continent at the 2023 Green Building Conference ongoing in Accra.  

Two prominent initiatives gaining momentum in this movement are the use of natural air instead of air conditioners and harnessing natural light to reduce dependency on artificial lighting during daylight hours.

The environmentalists say the adoption of green building will save energy and help to mitigate climate change.

By incorporating thoughtful architectural design and efficient ventilation strategies, they believe homeowners can enjoy refreshing breezes without relying solely on power-hungry air conditioning units.

Director of the Green Building Conference, Prof. Emmanuel Kwamena Bamfo Agyei says by strategically designing living spaces and incorporating features like skylights and larger windows, homeowners can bathe their interiors in abundant natural light, positively impacting both the environment and their well-being.

“We are encouraging those who are building to use local materials because the sandcrite blocks and cement emit more of the carbon dioxide and because of that the climate change is now affecting us,” he said.

Prof. Bamfo Agyei wants architects to advise their clients when they consult them to work on their buildings.

“The architects need to advise their clients on the use of sustainable materials for their construction. Many are now using sliding windows, and this does not allow free flow of air into our rooms. Louvre blades are preferable because they allow free flow of air,“ he advised.

MP for Cape Coast North, Dr. Kwamena Mintah Nyarku stated that a lot of work needs to be done to mitigate the effect of climate change on the continent.

Ministers from South Africa, Ghana, academics from Africa have been presenting papers and brainstorming on ways to improve how buildings are constructed on the continent.