В Кении застройщики переходят на биофильное строительство ради снижения эксплуатационных расходов

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 14 – Property developers are increasingly looking to biophilic building designs to cut long-term operating costs, as rising construction and energy expenses push the industry to focus on the lifetime cost of buildings. The shift is putting greater emphasis on designs that use natural light, ventilation, vegetation and locally available materials to reduce energy consumption and improve the efficiency of buildings. Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome said Kenya could leverage traditional knowledge and modern construction technology to promote the use of locally available materials such as bamboo, agricultural waste and recycled glass. She said the materials could help support more sustainable construction, but must meet required safety and quality standards before being adopted in formal developments. Wahome also said Kenya does not yet have a dedicated regulatory framework for biophilic construction, pointing to the need for further policy work as the approach gains traction in the built environment. She was speaking during the second Africa Biophilic Building Conference and Expo 2026, which brought together developers, government officials and built-environment professionals to discuss nature-based construction. For developers, the attraction of biophilic buildings is increasingly shifting from their environmental benefits to their potential to lower costs over the lifetime of a property. Kenya Property Developers Association General Manager Rose Kananu said the biggest barrier remains the higher upfront investment required to incorporate green and biophilic features. “The initial cost seems high, but when we look at the whole life-cycle cost, it pays off in the long run,” Kananu said. She said features such as improved natural lighting and ventilation could reduce the amount of energy required to operate buildings, while the growing demand for healthier spaces could also strengthen rental and leasing returns. The approach could therefore allow developers to absorb higher construction costs at the development stage in exchange for lower energy and maintenance expenses over the life of a building. Green Biophilic Living Society founder Wangui Mwangi said the concept should be incorporated into mainstream construction policy rather than remain an architectural trend. “We need to make sure that these biophilic principles are something that we do in our policy, in the way we build,” Mwangi said. The growing interest comes as Kenya’s construction sector faces pressure from high input costs, expensive energy and increasing demand for efficient commercial and residential properties. However, wider adoption will depend on whether developers can justify the initial capital outlay through measurable savings in energy and maintenance, while policymakers establish standards that give investors greater certainty. For property owners, the business case is increasingly becoming less about simply building green and more about whether buildings can cost less to operate, remain attractive to tenants and deliver stronger returns over their lifetime.