The International Finance Corporation (IFC), in collaboration with Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) and the Ghana Green Building Council (GhGBC), has organised a training programme for industry players on the new Ghana Building Code.

The Ghana Green Building Code Masterclass brought together architects, engineers, urban planners, property owners, members from the Ghana Green Building Council, and the Architect and Engineering Institutes to be educated on Section 37 of the Ghana Building Code, which highlights green building.

The training, held at the World Bank’s office in Accra, aimed to encourage the participants, to incorporate the concept of designing sustainable buildings in their various fields of endeavours.

Among the topics discussed at the intensive training programme were requirements for building envelopes, HVAC, indoor environmental air quality, lighting and controls, renewable energy, water efficiency, and waste management.

Marloes Reinink, Director of Solid Green Consulting in South Africa, who was the facilitator for the Ghana Green Building Code Masterclass, explained that the rationale for the training was to bring attention to the importance of Section 37 of the Ghana Code.

“Building professionals need to understand the code on green building and its requirements so they will know how to apply it,” she remarked.

Reinink emphasised that the environmental benefits of the new Ghana Building Code.

“We need to change the way we build to prevent climate change. It’s beneficial from the social point of view as the new code provides a better-quality environment for people working or living in the building, and it’s beneficial from an economic point of view for building managers due to reduced operational savings over time.”

The incorporation of IFC’s EDGE green buildings software simplifies interventions that positively affect buildings. The EDGE software is freely available for professionals. 

Reinink further advised that through the new code, it will be possible for governments, real estate developers, property owners, architects and engineers to “build sustainable, sensible buildings; buildings that are adjusted to the climate and the location that they are found.”

On his part, Seth Bright Attipoe-Denyah, the Chairman of the Ghana Building Code, who is also the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Consultant for Appro-Plan Consult explained that:

“The green building code will help discipline those who design buildings to save energy and water. This is particularly important as energy has become not only expensive but at times difficult to get. In Ghana, we have experienced ‘Dumsor’ (erratic power supply) because energy consumption is rising and we cannot meet the demand”.

The Ghana Building Code was officially established on August 31 and is now being rolled out by building designers and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

It is expected that the various designers and local assemblies would have an in-depth understanding of the new building code before it becomes enforced.