Embracing green architecture

By Frank Gichuhi

South East Commercial Park, formerly known as Muthurwa along Landhies Road in Nairobi is the latest extension to the Nairobi Central Business District.

As man becomes aware of the negative impact his activities have had on the environment, ethics now demand environmental conservation in business.

Here are some factors to consider in embracing environmentally friendly developments in this area:

Solar Energy

Hydro-electricity is the main source of energy for buildings in Nairobi. This is usually not enough hence the frequent blackouts and power rationing. Use of solar for electricity production should be embraced within the park. Streetlights can be powered by solar. This is already in place on Harambee Avenue in Nairobi.

Use of Building Integrated Photo Voltaic (BIPV) facades will also enhance use of solar power for the buildings. These are solar cells integrated within the building facades. BIPV curtain walling are quite common and are used in place of windows and walls, hence savings are realised on the cost of walling and windows.

BIPV roofs are also used in place of roofing material, hence cost savings in the total construction cost.

BIPV curtain walls also enhance the appearance of a building since they give it a more ‘modern’ glass exterior finish, at the same time producing energy to power the building.

Carbon footprint reduction

Use of vertical gardens on balconies and rooftops will go a long way in reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and act as ‘lungs’ to purify the polluted Nairobi air. Building owners within the South East Commercial Park should ensure a certain percentage of building surface, say ten per cent, is covered by live plant material.

Planters can be incorporated on balconies and rooftops. Creepers can be planted along the building facades. This greatly improves the aeshtetic appeal of buildings and at the same time keeps the building internal spaces cool. In other developed countries, city councils have come up with bylaws to ensure live plant materials are included in the buildings. The City Council of Nairobi does not have such bylaws yet, but this should not stop developers ensuring their buildings become ‘green’, literally.

Recycling of water

Developers should ensure plumbing and drainage works for grey water (from kitchen and showers) is separated from foul water (from toilets). This ensures water from the kitchen and shower is drained to a separate system where it can be stored and used to water plants. Foul water should be drained to the city council sewer system. Once the grey water is harvested, it ensures that roof and balcony gardens and lawns are watered at a very low cost and remain green all year round. This increases the property value.

The writer is an architect with A4architect