Abstract

Settlements, as they are designed and used, may contribute to serious environmental problems
because of excessive consumption of energy and other natural resources. Informal settlements
in particular, due to their unplanned physical structure, have significantly contributed the global
energy problematic scenario typified by high-level inefficiencies.
With the high energy consumption by human settlements, there is need to shift to planning and
settlement designs that minimize the use of conventional energy in order to cut down running
and maintenance cost of settlements significantly and the environmental impacts that the use
of mechanical means have. They produce greenhouse gases which have diverse effect on the
climate of the day contributing significantly to climate change.
The purpose of this research was to assess energy efficiency in informal settlements.
Operationally, it sought to establish the impacts of energy access and utilization patterns as
well as settlements planning and design, as reflected in the settlement morphology, on energy
efficiency.
This study was carried out in informal settlements where there is manifestation of different
morphologies within a small locality. Mukuru Kwa Ruben, was the informal studied. The
research narrowed down to three villages (Mombasa, Kosovo and Railway villages) in Mukuru
Kwa Ruben, representing the different type of morphologies present in the settlement. Data
was collected through energy audits1, physical observations and measurements, interviews,
mapping and photography. The information collected was then analysed using qualitative and
quantitative methods and presented in a report, with maps, photos, chats, sketches and other
graphic illustrations.
The study reveals that the causes of energy inefficiency in settlements are mainly related to the
poor access and utilization patterns of energy, the poor settlement structure and site layout as
well as the energy irresponsive building designs. The impacts of this inefficiency are high
economic burden to the poor, high levels of pollution, lack of thermal comfort and emissions
to the environment.
The study concludes that there is need to plan for settlements that are energy efficient. The
study recommends measures to pursue energy efficiency through use of clean, and renewable
energies such as biogas and through responsive settlement layouts/plans and appropriate
building designs that use the beneficial elements of nature to achieve natural lighting, natural
ventilation, and solar control to create thermally comfortable, energy efficient, and
environmentally responsive settlements. It is out of this that man can create habitats that will
protect the environment and the available resources as he coexists with nature.

Energy audits were used to identify where and how much energy is consumed in a building
or structure, in order to evaluate opportunities for reducing energy use.
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