Effects of shoreline erosion on infrastructure development along the coastal belt of Ghana: Case of Nkontompo community

The coastal areas of Ghana are the locus of rapid urban and industrial growth, oil and gas development, industrial-scale fisheries, recreation and tourism destinations. However, lateral changes in the coastline position has seriously threatened the equilibrium of the coastal environment and affected the socio-economic life of local populations, threatened cultural heritage and hindered coastal tourism development. This paper assessed the extent of shoreline recession and its effects on buildings and  infrastructure along Ghana's coastline through a study of the NkontompoCommunity, a suburb of Sekondi in the Western Region of the country as a case. The study employed data spanning a period of 23 years, including Topographic sheets that were interpolated to establish the rate of recession of the shoreline. The extent of land lost in conjunction with the building density was used to establish the number of buildings lost. The study  revealed that environmental conditions at Nkontompo have changed over the past three to four decades as a result of shoreline erosion. The coastline of the community has been receding at a rate of approximately 2 metres per annum. From the topographical sheet interpolations and analysis made by the authors, it was realized that approximately nine acres of the land, forming a third of the total built up area has been eroded leading to damage and subsequent loss of about 117 buildings to the sea. Recommendations have been made identifying adaptation  techniques and strategies to manage the effects of this phenomenon along the coastal belt of Ghana.Keywords: Coastal erosion, infrastructure development, Nkontompo, Ghan

STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF AND ADHERENCE TO ENERGY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SELECTED STUDENTS' HALLS OF RESIDENCE AT KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, GHANA

Energy management is one of the current policy directions of the Ghana government given the increasing challenges associated with energy generation to cope with the growing demand. A conscious attempt at adopting practices aimed at conserving energy is considered a sinequanonto coping with the current energy challenges in Ghana. However, an assessment of the awareness level of energy management practices is yet to be rigorously pursued as an agenda towards energy conservation in institutions and agencies perceived to be high energy consumers. Currently,the increasing growth in student numbers in the universities in Ghana and the high energy demands against the low level of energy generation to cope with these demands needs urgent attention. Consequently, adherence to effective energy management practices among students in these universities is considered a prima-facie in coping with the energy challenges in the country. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness and adherence levels of energy management practices of students in tertiary institutions in Ghana. Using KNUST as a case study, a questionnaire survey was carried out amongst students in residential accommodation on thecampus. Subsequently, mean score and one sample t-test analyses were employed to analyze the empirical data elicited. The findings revealed a generally low awareness and adherence level to the critical energy management practices amongst students. These findings have implications for energy policy formulation and innovations towards conservation and management.Keywords: Energy management; Ghana; Hostels; Student

Effects of Thermal Mass, Window Size, and Night-Time Ventilation on Peak Indoor Air Temperature in the Warm-Humid Climate of Ghana

Most office buildings in the warm-humid sub-Saharan countries experience high cooling load because of the predominant use of sandcrete blocks which are of low thermal mass in construction and extensive use of glazing. Relatively, low night-time temperatures are not harnessed in cooling buildings because office openings remain closed after work hours. An optimization was performed through a sensitivity analysis-based simulation, using the Energy Plus (E+) simulation software to assess the effects of thermal mass, window size, and night ventilation on peak indoor air temperature (PIAT). An experimental system was designed based on the features of the most promising simulation model, constructed and monitored, and the experimental data used to validate the simulation model. The results show that an optimization of thermal mass and window size coupled with activation of night-time ventilation provides a synergistic effect to obtain reduced peak indoor air temperature. An expression that predicts, indoor maximum temperature has been derived for models of various thermal masses

Implications of climate change on human comfort in buildings: evidence from Nkontompo community of Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana

Climate Change has become the most talked about issue in recent times. The impact of climate change is likely to become more evident in the coming decades. Currently, atmospheric conditions, especially in the dry season, are getting hotter and drier with increased heat waves. Increased demand for air conditioning for space cooling as a result of internal discomfort in buildings is already manifesting. This could put an additional stress on the already over-burdened energy capacity of the nation. The study on implications of climate change on human comfort in buildings was conducted in Nkontompo community, a suburb of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan area of the Shama-Ahanta District of the Western Region of Ghana. The objectives of this study are to assemble and disseminate information about some of the possible impacts of climate change on the built environment. This is to set the platform for building professionals to identify possible adaptive measures to serve as basis for development of standards to maintain and enhance the quality of life in buildings. The results showed that there were significant changes in temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity. A rise in temperature and humidity levels constitutes a potential hazard to health and human comfort and accelerates many degradation processes and material damage. Subsequently, the amount of energy needed to maintain the condition of air in spaces at comfort levels keep increasing. It is therefore imperative that landlords and other property owners should be effectively guided by qualified professionals within the framework of policy guidelines based on sound research. Keywords: climate change, greenhouse-effect, comfort zone Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 26(1) 2006: 102-11

Evaluation of sound attenuation effect in recording studios: case of angel FM station in Kumasi, Ghana

Cities in developing countries like Ghana experience severe environmental noise pollution resulting predominantly from a blend of exponential increase in road traffic volume, industrial, commercial and residential activities that are associated with thick population trends. High levels of noise pollution can have detrimental effects on human beings. Buildings that house noise sensitive activities such as recording studios in city centres need to be designed to provide protection from high ambient noise levels that may interfere with speech communication. Cities and towns in Ghana have about one hundred and eighty Frequency Modulation (FM) stations that are invariably sited in the Central Business Districts (CBD) that happen to be in very noisy environments. The study investigated prevailing sound levels in the recording studio and associated spaces in an FM Station in Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana. Data collection approaches involved monitoring of indoor and outdoor sound levels, interviewing of residents and workers of the community to assess their perception of noise levels. In addition measured drawings of the facilities and some observations were undertaken. The data was analysed within the context of the study objectives. Monitored sound levels were compared to set standards by World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO permissible ambient noise level limits of 45dB to 55dB and 55dB to 65dB for residential and commercial zones respectively were exceeded for all outdoor monitored values. However, the sound attenuating capabilities of the FM Station building maintains sound levels in the recording studios that are within permissible sound limits. It is expected that the findings of this study will contribute in assisting designers to make more objective design decisions at the preliminary phase of a studio building project, especially in very noisy urban environments