An approach to sustainable, energy efficient design for low-cost housing in Botswana

Abstract

The study was premised by the apparent lack of sustainability and poor quality of low cost housing of Botswana. The overall aim of the study was to investigate the possibility of integration of sustainability and resource efficiency into housing practice. The research first conducted a desk study into the low cost housing industry of Botswana which was followed by a survey in a representative area of Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana. The survey was in the form of a situational analysis which was conducted through user questionnaires. This was followed by structured interviews that were administered to stakeholders to gain insight into housing and design practice. In order to investigate the performance of different types of existing low cost housing, the following parameters were identified; planning and implementation, housing design, the building envelope and its response to its environment, materials and resources used in low cost housing, their application and consumption pattern. The study found that sustainable, energy conscious design of housing makes a considerable difference to the building’s thermal performance, user comfort, health, appropriate use of resources and the environment. It results in cost savings for services by the occupants, reduces institutional expenditure on programmes and maintenance costs, and reduces the negative impact on the environment by the building sector. Following the research, the study found that for successful integration of sustainability and energy efficiency in low cost housing for Botswana, there must be a balance in the integration of three primary elements; energy efficient housing, culture and regional identity and the environment. Institutional low cost housing was targeted as the first point of intervention for better impact. The study recommended a phased implementation approach. The output of the study was a framework for the integration of these strategies into new and existing housing for the institutional low cost housing sector.