The Green Building Option; Environmentally Sustainable Building In Residential Building Designs, A Case Study Of Makongeni Area, Thika Town, Kiambu County.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Declaration ................................................................................................................................................. i

Dedication .................................................................................................................................................. i

Acknowledgement ..................................................................................................................................... i

LIST OF ABBREVITIONS AND ACRONYMS ................................................................................................. iv

LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................................... iv

LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................................ 4

1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Problem Statement ....................................................................................................................... 3

1.3 Justification ................................................................................................................................... 3

1.4 Research Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 3

1.5 Research Questions ...................................................................................................................... 4

1.6 Null Hypothesis ............................................................................................................................. 4

1.7 General objective .......................................................................................................................... 4

1.7.1 Specific Objectives ................................................................................................................ 4

1.8 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................................... 4

1.9 Scope of the study ........................................................................................................................ 4

1.10 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................................. 5

2 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................... 5

2.1 Defining “Green Concept” in Building Design ............................................................................... 5

2.2 Green Building Technologies and Fundamentals of Green Buildings ........................................... 7

2.3 Sustainable Site design ................................................................................................................. 8

2.4 Energy Efficiency ........................................................................................................................... 8

2.5 Water efficiency .......................................................................................................................... 10

2.6 Green roofs ................................................................................................................................. 11

2.7 Environmental quality, materials and resources ........................................................................ 12

2.8 Environmental and social benefits of residential green buildings .............................................. 13

2.9 Financial Benefits of Green Buildings ......................................................................................... 13

3 CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................................ 14

3.1 Area of Study ............................................................................................................................... 14

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3.2 Location ....................................................................................................................................... 14

3.3 Topography ................................................................................................................................. 15

3.4 Climate ........................................................................................................................................ 15

3.4.1 Average Daily Temperatures ............................................................................................... 15

3.4.2 Average Humidity Values .................................................................................................... 16

3.4.3 Average Rain Amounts ........................................................................................................ 16

3.4.4 Average Winds .................................................................................................................... 17

3.4.5 Average Sunshine ................................................................................................................ 17

3.5 Soils and Geology ........................................................................................................................ 17

4 CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ........................................................................ 17

4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 17

4.2 Key Subjects ................................................................................................................................ 18

4.2.1 Local Community ................................................................................................................ 18

4.2.2 Local Administrators (Chiefs, County representatives, women representatives) .............. 18

4.2.3 Contractors ......................................................................................................................... 18

4.3 Research Design .......................................................................................................................... 18

4.3.1 Primary Data Sources .......................................................................................................... 18

4.3.2 Secondary data sources ...................................................................................................... 19

4.3.3 Data Processing and Analysis .............................................................................................. 19

4.3.4 Variables .............................................................................................................................. 20

4.3.5 Logical and Ethical considerations ...................................................................................... 21

4.3.6 Instruments and methods ................................................................................................... 22

4.3.7 Data Quality Measures ........................................................................................................ 22

5 Chapter 5: Data management, data analysis and discussion/interpretation......................................... 22

5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 22

5.2 Data analysis ............................................................................................................................... 22

5.3 Data results ................................................................................................................................. 23

5.3.1 Occupant satisfaction .......................................................................................................... 23

5.3.2 ENERGY PROVISIONS........................................................................................................... 25

5.3.3 Water efficiency .................................................................................................................. 32

5.3.4 Water consumption per month .......................................................................................... 32

5.3.5 Health and wellbeing .......................................................................................................... 35

5.3.6 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................... 36

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6 CHAPTER SIX: FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION ............................................................. 38

6.1 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 38

6.2 Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 39

References ................................................................................................................................................... 40

APPENDIXES ............................................................................................................................................ 41

APPENDIX 1 ............................................................................................................................................. 41