Mainstreaming energy efficiency in building codes in West African countries
Background
The West African Economic and Monetary Union (known as UEMOA from its French name, Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine) is an organisation of eight fast-growing West African states.
Their pace of development means that these countries are facing electricity shortages, so energy efficiency is a high priority. A previous REEEP-funded project helped UEMOA in developing a regional EE labelling programme for appliances, and formed a network of country experts to handle EE issues.
This project will enable UEMOA to support national efforts to promote EE via building codes. A new conceptual building code in Benin shows that 35% energy savings can be achieved through EE technologies and best practices that are adapted to local conditions.
Purpose
To develop a voluntary regional EE Model Building Code based on the Benin experience for implementation by UEMOA countries, with a regional standards body for support.
Main Activities
- Hold a workshop to gather Benin stakeholder input on the national EE Building Code, make adaptations
- Share the Benin results with experts in Burkina Faso and Niger to assess where changes are needed to make the EE code regionally applicable
- Develop the draft regional EE Model Building Code
- Organise and deliver a regional workshop for national stakeholders
- Develop the Terms of Reference for a third-party certification programme and selection of a regional body in charge of EE Building Rating
- Develop a toolkit to guide building professionals in UEMOA countries in applying the regional code
- Organise two training sessions on implementation of the code for relevant national stakeholders
- Support information dissemination
- Assess potential for cooperation with other ECOWAS states
Expected Impact
- Regional EE Model Building Code developed to reflect local conditions
- National UEMOA stakeholders trained for code implementation
- UEMOA enabled to implement a regional certification program
- Fundamental changes in typical construction practices in member countries, increasing the level of EE in new residential, commercial and institutional buildings
- Reduced need for new investment in energy supply infrastructure
- Creation of EE-specialised jobs
- Sustainable reduction in CO2