AEEP Energy Talks Spotlight: Financing Energy Efficiency in Buildings for a Green Recovery in Africa: Health, Jobs and Climate

A new AEEP Energy Talks Spotlight explores the benefits green buildings offer at the nexus of health, climate and a green recovery. Experiences from the health sector show that green buildings can have immediate benefits for patients’ well-being, staff satisfaction and cost savings. In addition, green buildings can strengthen local employment and economy to support the economic recovery after COVID-19.

The global building floor area is expected to double by 2060. Buildings and construction are therefore essential sectors to fight climate change and reach development objectives. At present, the construction and operation of buildings stands for 40% of all energy-related carbon dioxide emissions and consumes 36% of the global final energy.

Experiences from Senegal

Lessons from the Senegalese health sector provide proof of the impacts energy efficiency planning and implementation can have. The Senegalese Ministry of Health has, with assistance and advice from the Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB), evaluated and optimised the energy performance of three health care centres in rural areas. In practice it meant considering the orientation of the buildings, integrating energy efficient devices for air conditioning and lighting and using renewable energy sources.

Doctor Isseu Tall Diop, manager of the health care structures at the Centre National Hospitalier d’Enfants Alebert Royer, summarises the immediate as well as long-term impacts of the work: “These green buildings will not only improve the quality of care for children, but they will also reduce the energy costs and have a positive impact on the environment.”

Five areas for intensified Africa-EU collaboration

Many bilateral and multilateral cooperation programmes between Africa and the EU already target the energy sector and urbanisation. There is, however, room to further enhance and intensify the cooperation between the two continents.

The Spotlight stresses five key areas: including green buildings in climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, setting up green building programmes, mainstreaming and including energy efficiency standards for green buildings, increase research collaboration between Africa and EU and support the adoption of ambitious regulation.

This AEEP Energy Talks Spotlight draws on insights and discussions from the second AEEP Energy Talks on December 1, 2020 and contributions from PEEEB.

Download and read the whole AEEP Energy Talks Spotlight here.