Introduction

Green housing, also known as sustainable or eco-friendly housing, refers to the residential buildings that are designed, built, and managed with an emphasis on sustainability while minimizing their negative environmental effects. It therefore uses energy-efficient designs, environmentally friendly construction materials, and sustainable practices to present a transformative solution that addresses not only the housing deficit but also the environmental impact of housing development.

The building sector contributes to 40 per cent of global emissions, which is higher than other sectors (UN-Habitat, 2022). Furthermore, the share of energy use during construction and operation of these buildings is above 60 per cent. By adopting green housing, Kenya could create eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and liveable communities that align with global Sustainable Development Goals and contribute to the Kenya Vision 2030 for a prosperous future.

The Constitution of Kenya recognizes housing as a basic human right and outlines the right to adequate and accessible housing in Article 43. However, 93.6 per cent of households live in inadequate housing in terms of quality, and housing deficit is over 65.6 per cent in urban areas (KNBS, 2019). This implies that there is need to improve the quality of housing in the country while addressing the shortage created by rapid urbanization.

Evidence on the status of built environment in Kenya (AAK, 2023) reports that Kenya has slightly over 100 projects registered or certified as green buildings, most of which are in Nairobi. They include Mlolongo Green Ville in Nairobi, Tatu City in Kiambu County, Two Rivers Development in Nairobi and UN-Habitat’s Sustainable Urban Energy and Ecosystems Project. However, the adoption of green housing is faced with various gaps, including higher initial costs, limited awareness, and inadequate policies and incentives (AAK, 2023).

The government, through the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), seeks to increase the supply of housing to 250,000 units per annum in the affordable housing plan to keep up with the rapid urbanization rate. This can be enhanced through adoption of green housing technologies that will meet both the housing supply needs and environmental conservation targets.

This policy blog explores ways of promoting green housing in Kenya by shedding light on the policies, strategies, and initiatives that can drive its growth. It focuses on the strides the country has made in adopting energy efficient designs, environmentally friendly construction materials and sustainable practices towards achieving sustainable housing in Kenya. This exploration unravels the potential of green housing to transform Kenya’s housing sector and pave way towards a sustainable and resilient future.

Status of Green Housing in Kenya

Government initiatives

The government is committed to promoting green building practices to address environmental concerns and enhance sustainability. The country has over time implemented efforts to ensure housing projects comply with its commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable building practices, with laws such as the Kenya Green Building Society’s Green Building Code (2022). The code encourages utilization of sustainable building materials, water conservation, and energy efficiency.

The proposed Climate Change Green and Resilient Buildings Regulations 2023 seek to establish a green resilient building unit under the State Department for Public Works, which will oversee implementation of provisions relating to green buildings in Kenya. The unit will keep a record of green buildings, oversee certification and rating systems and accredit green building professionals in Kenya. If enacted, the regulations will enable the country meet the zero carbon buildings emission goal.

The Public Private Partnerships Act 14 of 2021 enables the public sector to leverage more on financial resources that may be required for high-cost construction projects. The Act prescribes the procedures for the participation of the private sector in the financing, construction, development, operation or maintenance of infrastructure or development projects. It also provides for a transparent project selection process, clear procurement procedures, reduced regulatory approvals and expanded contractual models to promote private sector investment.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (2019) provides a legal framework for promoting energy efficiency and conservation measures in Kenya. It aims to reduce energy consumption, improve energy efficiency standards, and promote the use of renewable energy sources across various sectors, including housing and construction. The Finance Act 2023 provides for zero-rated import duty and removal of value added tax on renewable energy (supply of solar and lithium-ion batteries) for developers and homeowners adopting eco-friendly building practices. The government also introduced the feed in tariff policy in 2008, which allows renewable energy power producers to sell renewable energy electricity at a fixed tariff to the off-taker. This has promoted the use of renewable energy in building construction.

Building technological innovations

The adoption of appropriate technologies, such as smart home systems, renewable energy sources, and advanced construction materials, can further enhance the sustainability of green housing in Kenya. The Architectural Association of Kenya has developed the safari green building index rating tool, which has the capability of rating buildings on the degree of “greenness” using a qualitative and quantitative criterion. The tool is used to assess buildings on their environmental performance and provide leadership through reduced carbon footprint and energy use. It targets new buildings, existing buildings that require extension, conservation and heritage works. Buildings that meet the tool’s requirement are awarded green building certification.

These efforts have increased awareness among the public, developers, and policy makers on the benefits of green housing in terms of incorporation of energy-efficient technologies such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and energy-efficient appliances.

Financial initiatives

The International Finance Cooperation (IFC) in collaboration with International Housing Solutions (IHS) have established the IHS Green Housing Fund whose objective is to provide financial support to investors in the housing sector towards building affordable houses. The houses must meet the IFC’s Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) standards, which advocate for efficient use in water, energy, and construction materials. The fund seeks to invest in 5,000 newly developed, resource efficient, green affordable properties with initial focus in Nairobi County and other selected counties in Kenya.

Green financing has also been adopted in Kenya, with Acorn Holding Limited being the first to benefit from green bond issue in 2019 where it was able to raise Ksh 4.3 billion to construct affordable environmentally friendly student hostels. The Qwetu Hostels are built using climate resilient designs, are green resource efficient and adhere to the IFC EDGE requirements.

Policy Gaps and Emerging Issues in Green Housing

Green housing in Kenya is one of growth and development areas, with increasing awareness, policy support, and interest from various stakeholders. However, challenges still exist that need to be addressed to further accelerate the adoption of green housing in the country.

Renewable energy uptake

Renewable energy use is a key component of green buildings that ensures energy efficiency. Adoption of renewable energy varies across the country by type of residence and counties. The country has made efforts to promote its uptake, but adoption is still low. The county governments through the County Integrated Development Plans have identified renewable technology as a critical engine for development. There is observable difference in adoption of renewable energy between rural and urban population. For instance, the adoption of solar as a source of lighting energy is higher in rural areas than in urban areas at 29.9 per cent and 2.4 per cent, respectively. This may be attributable to the ease of access to alternative energy sources in urban areas, including access to electricity and liquid petroleum gas. Counties with the highest adoption rates are Homa Bay at 52.5 per cent and Siaya at 50.8 per cent, while the counties with the lowest uptake are Nairobi at 0.2 per cent and Kiambu at 1.2 per cent. Counties can promote green housing by monitoring and compliance, partnering with stakeholders, and adopting sustainable renewable energy options to complement the other sources of energy which may be expensive.

Green housing materials

Natural and renewable materials are used for construction of green buildings because of their environmentally friendly properties. There is a growing interest in using sustainable and eco-friendly building materials, such as bamboo, stones, recycled plastic bricks, solar bricks and treated timber. This is motivated by increased awareness on environmental impact and a commitment to mitigating climate change as per the Paris Agreement of 2015 These materials are locally available and can be easily sourced. Lamu Old Town, for example, has maintained its traditional building fabric in houses and cottages built from mangrove timber and coral stones developed from the rich Swahili building technology.

The Jenga Green Library is a database created by the Kenya Green Building Society (KGBS) in partnership with financial institutions to link suppliers and manufacturers to customers seeking to purchase green building materials. This will improve the ease of access to these materials, thus promoting adoption of green technologies by developers.

Sustainable building practices

Limited availability of skilled professionals and construction workers trained in green building practices poses a challenge on the widespread adoption and successful implementation of sustainable construction initiatives. The Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) reports that 80 per cent of building developments in Kenya are carried out without adequate input from green housing professionals.

There is limited awareness created among the public, developers, and policy makers about the benefits of green housing. This lack of knowledge can limit the demand for sustainable housing solutions. Limited awareness and understanding about the long-term benefits of green housing may impede its adoption. There is need for capacity building and training programmes to increase technical expertise in sustainable construction practices among architects, engineers, contractors, and other stakeholders.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To unlock the potential of green housing and make it accessible to all, a multi-faceted approach is required. This will include certification for green housing, public private partnership, standardization through the building code, and promotion of green housing financing. Regular reviews and updates to these strategies can help ensure their effectiveness in promoting sustainable green housing in Kenya.

The government may consider introducing green building certifications for all new construction projects. Certifications such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) will ensure that construction projects adhere to sustainability standards.

The government could encourage public private partnerships to help accelerate the adoption of sustainable construction practices, drive innovation, and make green housing more accessible and affordable. The PPP framework can work for government installations including academic institutions, hospitals, security institutions, government managed commercial and residential houses, and other premises. This can be implemented by lowering tax for developers of green buildings to attract partnerships, helping local investors source for low interest financing from social development financial institutions, and legislations that encourage partnerships with the private sector.

The National Construction Authority (NCA) could update existing building codes and regulations to incorporate sustainability and energy efficiency standards. This includes specifying requirements for energy-efficient building materials, water conservation systems, and renewable energy sources. Through implementation of County Integrated Development Plans, counties could prioritize green housing to achieve sustainable urbanization ecosystems. Adoption of these policy recommendations will provide a solid foundation for sustainable construction practices, and an enabling environment would encourage the adoption of green housing in Kenya. This, in turn, could lead to the creation of eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and resilient communities that contribute to the nation’s social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Authors: Yvonne Odhiambo – KIPPRA Young Professional

Sharon Amayo– KIPPRA Young Professional