Experts urge Ghanaians to embrace green building concept

January 20, 2011 Accra, Jan. 20, GNA - The Ghana Green Building Council (GHGBC), a non-governmental organization that promotes conservation and use local raw materials in building construction, on Wednesday urged Ghanaians to embrace the "Green Building Concept."

The Council said the new concept helped to save water, energy and material resources in the construction and maintenance of buildings as well as reduce and eliminate the adverse impact of building on the environment and occupants.

Mr Foster Osae-Akonnor, Chief Executive of the GHGBC speaking at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday said the new "Green Building Concept" is cost effective and cheaper in building compare to the sandcrete materials.

He said the main objective of GHGBC was to transform the building environment in Ghana by ensuring sustainability through the way communities were planned, designed, constructed, maintained and operated.

Mr Osae-Akonnor said the Council would develop and promote a rating system that was accepted and recognized in Ghana to bring cohesion to the green building movement and provided clarity and coordination of effort and plans.

As an Architect by profession, Mr Osae-Akonnor said, the Council would establish a policy regarding green building for Ghana and campaign for action by government, industry and other bodies that had a role to play in delivering sustainability in the environment.

Ms Joyce Aryee, Chairperson of the board of GHGBC, urged Ghanaians to revisit the past where their forefathers were able to construct buildings from the local materials that did not have any adverse effects on the environment and the occupants in them.

She explained further that the Green Building Concept was based on the philosophy of creating structures and services using processes that were environmentally responsible and resources-efficient throughout the building's life-cycle.

Ms Aryee said apart from delivering smaller carbon foot print, the concept could also help the Government to meet other priorities such as delivering affordable housing, creating new jobs and supporting the economy.

GNA