Accra: The Energy Commission is introducing energy efficiency requirements into Ghana's building permit system to reduce electricity consumption and promote sustainable construction. The measure will integrate energy efficiency standards into building permit administration and development control processes of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) nationwide.
According to Ghana News Agency, the initiative was announced at a Training and Consultation Workshop on Integrating Energy Efficiency into Ghana's Building Permit System held in Accra. The Commission stated that the move is part of efforts to support Ghana's sustainable development agenda and climate commitments by ensuring that new buildings meet energy-saving standards. It has developed a Building Energy Efficiency Guideline under GS 1207:2018, which provides prescriptive, performance-based, and certification-based compliance pathways for different categories of buildings.
The Commission has also proposed revisions to the Local Government Service Operational Manual to incorporate energy efficiency requirements into building permit approval and development control processes. Rev. Harry Nii Kwatei Owoo, Chief Director of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC), emphasized that the initiative would make energy efficiency an integral part of planning, design, and construction. He highlighted the necessity of promoting sustainable and energy-efficient development given the growing concentration of residential, commercial, and public infrastructure in Greater Accra.
Rev. Owoo urged professionals in the built environment, such as physical planners, engineers, architects, and building inspectors, to incorporate energy-saving principles into their work. He stressed that whether constructing schools, hospitals, markets, office complexes, or other public facilities, adopting designs and technologies that reduce energy consumption while improving comfort, efficiency, and long-term operational costs is essential.
Further elaborating on the initiative, Mr. Chris Nanabanyin Yalley, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, stated that the building sector is among the largest consumers of electricity in Ghana, with heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems accounting for about 50% of electricity costs in air-conditioned buildings. The initiative, based on the Building Energy Efficiency Guideline developed under GS 1207:2018, includes proposed updates to the Local Government Service Operational Manual to strengthen enforcement.
Mr. Yalley projected that successful implementation could lead to a 20% reduction in building energy consumption within five years, lowering energy costs for households, businesses, and public institutions while contributing to Ghana's Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.