Diffusion of bio-climatic building design techniques in Kenya: Impediments and opportunities

As net energy importers, many developing economies cannot sustain high mechanical cooling (or space heating) energy loads needed to achieve thermal human comfort in residential buildings. Unfortunately, bio-climatic building design approaches (such as passive cooling and heating using natural renewable energy sources) are not being widely adopted in these economies despite being proven appropriate and cost-effective methods of reducing commercial energy consumption without reducing significantly thermal comfort in buildings. This paper analyzes the results of a survey conducted in Nairobi on (1) impediments to diffusion, (2) agents and methods of promotion, (3) channels of communication, and (4) the role played by design education and design professions in the diffusion of these design techniques in the housing industry in Kenya. The analysis shows, first, that economic constraints, lack of systematic promotional campaigns, lack of trained manpower, institutional resistance to change, unreliability of the passive design systems, cultural resistance to change, and resistance by design professionals are perceived, in that order, as significant barriers. Second, a mix of interventions from the government, the non-government organizations and the private sector is found to have the highest likely promotional impact. Third, non-literate methods and channels of communication, such as the demonstration projects, are found to be potentially more effective than other methods. Fourth, it is found that the current design education and design practices are not only inadequate but also are discouraging innovation diffusion. Last, some possible strategies for facilitating future diffusion initiatives are discussed. It is hoped that the findings are useful to local diffusion agents, and are an equally invaluable addition to the meager literature on innovation diffusion theory in the housing industries in developing economies.