Building materials play a significant role in sustainable architecture. The choice of materials is crucial from the perspective of both the thermal performance and the environmental impact of the building.

A well-designed building according to its respective climate can respond to the need for thermal comfort. Green building design strategies should address each of the following climatic data: temperature, solar radiation, relative humidity, rainfall and wind.

One way of reducing energy consumption in residential and institutional buildings such as schools and hospitals is by use of a tubular biogas digester. Use of biogas eliminates the use of the more expensive electricity and/or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Organic materials are the feedstocks for a biogas system. Some organic materials will digest more readily than others. Restaurants fats, oils and grease; animal manures; wastewater solids; food scraps, and; by-products from food and beverage…

Globally, approximately 1.5 billion people do not have access to electricity, often living far from the electricity grid. Household solar systems and lanterns allow those consumers access to electricity and replace costly, harmful kerosene lamps and candles. While solar lanterns play an important role in curbing kerosene usage and providing light to students, more sophisticated solar systems have been developed in recent years that provide a range of functions to customers – from mobile…

Gasifiers produce wood gas which is a syngas fuel which can be used as a fuel for furnaces, stoves and vehicles in place of petrol, diesel or other fuels. During the production process biomass or other carbon-containing materials are gasified within the oxygen-limited environment of a wood gas generator to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide. These gases can then be burnt as a fuel within an oxygen rich environment to produce carbon dioxide, water and heat. One of the main uses of wood…

Energy has been described as the missing Millennium Development Goal (MDG), the catalyst without which other goals for issues such as health, education and gender equality cannot be achieved. Studies indicate that access to modern energy services and particularly electricity has a positive effect on local economic development and closely correlates to a country’s UN Human Development Index (UNDP, 2012).

Nowadays, over 75% of the world’s energy generation is consumed in urban areas alone and more than half of that is consumed in buildings. This has a major impact on our environment and contributes to climate change.

It is estimated that buildings use more than 40% of the total energy generated for heating, cooling and lighting, among other uses. Many people still depend on artificial light during the day. This may be due to inefficient design and construction using climate inappropriate materials, combined with poor understanding of thermal comfort, passive building principles and energy conscious behaviour. All these factors contribute to tremendous energy wastage.

The building code is a tool that interacts with the planning law and as such is a part of the authorities’ resources whose purpose is to guarantee the right to sustainable cities and safeguard a healthy and comfortable urban environment. At the same time, it should provide valid solutions according to the local climate, social needs and transformations, local cultural identity and cultural practices.