Smart Energy Solution Literacy Among Student Housing Investors: Perspective of Awareness and Challenges in Ghana

Purpose: Promotion of smart energy solution adoption is critical to reducing carbon emissions and ensuring energy efficiency in buildings. The emergence of the Purpose-Built Student (PBSH) housing concept in Ghana necessitates the adaptation of smart energy solutions. However, there seems to be high energy consumption among PBSH. This required an assessment of the level of awareness and barriers to its adaptation among student housing investors in Ghana. Design/Methodology: The study adopted a quantitative methodological approach. Using multistage sampling and survey, 225 on-campus PBSH investors were selected across 5 Public and 4 Technical Universities in Ghana. Exploratory Factor Analysis was adopted as the analytical approach to extract the key smart energy awareness and challenges among 12 energy solutions and 10 barriers. Findings: The results revealed that student housing investors are only aware of the use of solar as the only smart energy solution. Aside, building smart solutions was understood as energy-efficient solutions. High cost, students’ attitudes, and lack of knowledge of a variety of smart solutions and its implementation were key barriers. Practical implications: The investigation of the awareness and challenges of smart solutions is significantly important as it is geared to provide ways of enhancing student housing investors’ awareness of the impact of smart energy solutions on building performance. Aside, discussion that focuses on intensive education, financial investment, and marketability of smart energy solutions will enhance literacy and energy efficiency in student housing in Ghana. Originality: Despite the effort to ensure energy efficiency in student housing using renewable energies, smart energy solutions provide the most sustainable and reliable approach. However, research studies about measuring the literacy levels of smart energy adaptation amongst investors and facility managers are limited. This study promotes research endeavours on smart energy solutions in residential buildings in Ghana.