Sustainable buildings will be called upon to play an increasingly important role in driving Mauritius towards achieving its energy security as they can lead to a positive primary energy balance on a yearly basis. The sustainable or positive-energy concept combines energy saving and electricity production using on-site renewable resources namely wind, solar, biofuel or geothermal. Also, through advanced building design, material choices and innovative approaches to building management, the net amount of energy used can be reduced.

Presentations made during the workshop enabled participants comprising stakeholders both from the public and private sectors to take stock of the present situation and draft the way forward in encouraging and accelerating adoption of sustainable buildings and environmentally-responsible practices. The presentations focused on Energy efficiency in buildings-paradigm shift, Towards sustainable building and positive buildings in Mauritius, Identifying research areas in green buildings development and a way forward, and The greening of the existing building stock.