Development and diffusion of bio-climatic building design techniques in the developing countries: A program for Kenya

Ample evidence exists that shows that use of available low cost bio-climatic design and construction techniques as well as energy conservation management practices can reduce significantly the rate of residential energy demand while improving indoor climates. But these techniques have not been successfully developed and diffused in the low-income housing industries of developing countries where their benefits are needed most.; This dissertation uses sample survey data from end-users (residents of low-income housing schemes in Nairobi), professionals, and building artisans to identify indoor climatic problems, and barriers to innovation and diffusion in the housing industry in Kenya. In addition, it uses the Building Bio-Climatic Chart method and the climate data for Nairobi to demonstrate the process of developing bio-climatic building design guidelines for low-income housing.; The analysis of the residents' responses, reveals numerous low-income housing performance problems relating to indoor human thermal comfort, quality of lighting, acoustics, privacy, odors, and ventilation. From the users' responses and field investigation, it was found that these unsatisfactory conditions are due to overlooked design parameters and poor choice of building materials.; Using the bio-climatic design process, the study identifies passive solar heating, natural ventilative cooling and time-lag of materials as appropriate design strategies for Nairobi to ameliorate these conditions. The design guidelines are developed with respect to building orientation and form, sizes of openings, shading, building materials and external surface finishes. Considerable scope was found to exist for moderating indoor temperatures using these design parameters.; Through the analysis of the results of the professionals' and the building artisans' surveys, the study reveals a number of economic (and market), technical, institutional, educational, cultural, and promotional constraints that are likely to impede the diffusion process of these techniques. The study recommends shifting the current low-income housing development paradigm to make it more responsive to design and planning variables that influence indoor comfort conditions and in turn affect human health and productivity. That shift should include, among other things, innovation and diffusion strategies that are based on active community participation.