Project: Africa's first carbon neutral factory for electronic components

AFRICA'S FIRST CARBON NEUTRAL FACTORY FOR ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

The proposed hi-tech industrial facility in Cameroon, designed by Ground 11 Architects, an internationally known architectural design firm, is composed of 8000 square meters of double floored clean-room manufacturing for electronic components, and a 5000 square meters Administration, research and Immersive experience gallery.

The project is the first of several carbon neutral manufacturing hubs being proposed in various parts of Africa, to bring in indigenous manufacturing process and products into areas where local needs and global expertise can be amalgamated to give an impetus to intellectual property growth in Africa.

The design

The design incorporates the use of locally sourced sustainable materials, and extensive use of both passive and active methods as energy saving methods. Use of solar panels will provide lighting, and a significant portion of cooling will be enabled using earth cooling.

The Green aspect

Materials used express the green credentials of the project, with use of sustainable timbers both as structural elements, and as sun-shading devices.

The combination of wood and blue glass references forests and water bodies, where the building itself is conceptualized as a vessel to carry the message of sustainability. The interactive gallery is aimed at customers and guests to educate and inform them of experimental technologies that are being used not only during the construction of the facility but also in the manufacturing process of the components and products being manufactured here, and in the overall energy consumption and maintenance costs of the facility.

first mover advantage for any government that supports these initiatives is huge, as he mentions several sources for funding available globally for socially and fiscally responsible projects. He also states that several of their projects across Sub-Saharan Africa are testament to a new spirit of innovation that bodes well for the coming decades.