Regional Workshop and Training on Energy Efficiency in Buildings - Praia, Cabo Verde

The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) in collaboration with the European Union, the Government of Cabo Verde, Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Energie (ADEME) and Institut de la Francophonie pour le développement durable (IDFF), organized a training workshop on Energy Efficiency in Builldings, in Praia, Cabo Verde from the 9th to 13th of June 2014.

The meeting brought together stakeholders from the ministries of energy, ministries of housing /building, chambers of architects and institutions with experience on solar thermal energy in the ECOWAS region. The comprised of 

• Training on Energy Efficiency in Buildings
• Regional Validation Workshop of the ECOWAS Directive on Energy Efficiency in Buildings
• Definition Workshop on a new ECOWAS solar thermal energy capacity building program

The training on energy efficiency in buildings provided opportunities to the participants to learn the state-of the art skills and technologies used in modern building construction to be highly energy efficient without compromising quality and increasing cost, codes and standard practices being applied internationally, best practices and how these could be applied in the region;

The draft ECOWAS directive on energy efficiency in buildings developed in the framework of the implementation of the project “Supporting Energy Efficiency for Access in West Africa (SEEA-WA)” was validated by representatives of ECOWAS member states.

Participants also share their experiences on the potentials, opportunities and benefits of solar thermal energy for solar heating and cooling use in buildings and in industrial processes in the ECOWAS region.

Key otcome of the workshop/ meeting includes

• Participants are adequately informed about  the benefits incorporating  highly energy efficient measures and components in the building  design and construction;
• Increased capacities of member states are enhanced on the design and construction of efficient buildings in the region;
• The document of the regional ECOWAS Directive on energy efficiency in buildings was validated.