Investigating how office space usage In Uganda facilitates emission of greenhouse gases: A case study of office developments from building number 9 to 32, Kampala road.
Abstract
The study by HC Chow & J Levermore, (2010) on the effects of climate change on UK office
buildings cooling and energy demands proposed that offices can contribute a substantial reduction
in energy related emissions. Also, (Saull, 2020, p. 5), noted that, “the average human adult will
spend a third of their life at work, more than any other activity, including sleeping”.
Therefore, as Uganda joins the rest of the world to battle the effects of climate change, there is a
need to carry out similar studies on the office sector to ensure that mitigation efforts are directed
towards the right direction through implementation of the National Climate Change Policy, Vision
2040, National Development Plan, and also fulfilling UN SDGs goals 7, 11 & 13.
The research adopted a case study of office developments along Kampala road from KCCA
Identification 9 to 32 in which 20 office buildings were surveyed through the use questionnaires
to obtain information from managers/ owners about annual occupancy rates and energy bills; the
main variables of the study. Observation also made identification of the different practices that
facilitate emission of GHGs possible which was one of the specific objectives of the study.
Preliminary analysis by the help of IBM SPSS Statistics revealed no strong relationship between
office space usage (annual occupancy rates) with energy induced emissions (energy demand in
buildings) because information about internal areas could not be obtained as these are
responsibility of tenants. However; further analysis justified a strong relationship between design
(number of floors) and energy induced emissions.
To answer specific objective one, it was also observed that some practices during occupation and
usage of office spaces such as space cooling, lack of a waste prevention and management
procedures, travel to work and others indirectly facilitate emission of GHGs by offices.