Sustainable Water Conservation as Climate Change Adaptation: A Study of Hotels and Office Buildings in Accra

Sustainable Water Conservation as Climate Change Adaptation: A Study of Hotels and Office Buildings in Accra examines the urgent need for effective water conservation measures in the face of climate-induced water scarcity, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas. The study adopts a qualitative multiple case study approach with a sample of six hotels and three office buildings. The study was underpinned by the Norm Activation Model (NAM) and the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM), with data acquired through semi-structured interviews and thematically analysed. Findings reveal a pervasive awareness of climate change and its impact on water resources; yet many hotels and office buildings prioritize financial savings over adaptive water-conservation strategies. These facilities employ several technology and process-based water-saving measures, highlighting a preference among hotels for technological solutions, contrasted to the more customer engagement-driven techniques identified in office buildings. Financial constraints, regulations, and a lack of service providers were also noted as impediments to the greater implementation of water conservation techniques. The research provides helpful recommendations for hotels, business buildings, and policymakers. It underscores the need to align climate change awareness with pragmatic water management practices to foster sustainability and resilience in urban contexts. Further, the study underlines the need for greater research into the hurdles to implementing water conservation technologies and the long-term efficacy of established measures. Overall, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how climate consciousness can be integrated into water management practices to enhance environmental sustainability.

Sustainable Water Conservation

1. Abdou, A. H., Hassan, T. H., & Dief, M. M. E. (2020). A description of green hotel practices and their role in achieving sustainable development. Sustainability, 12(22), 1–21. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Agodzo, S. K., Bessah, E., & Nyatuame, M. (2023). A review of the water resources of Ghana in a changing climate and anthropogenic stresses. Frontiers in Water, 4. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Agyekum, K., Adinyira, E., & Ampratwum, G. (2020). Factors driving the adoption of green certification of buildings in Ghana. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 9(4), 595-613. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Anheier, H. K. (2017). Nonprofit organizations: Theory, management, policy. Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Antonova, N., Ruiz-Rosa, I., & Mendoza-Jiménez, J. (2022). Water resource management in hotels using a sustainable balanced scorecard. Sustainability, 14(13). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Clarke, V., & Braun, V. (2013). Successful qualitative research: A practical guide for beginners. Sage. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 319–340. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Dinarès, M., & Saurí, D. (2015). Water consumption patterns of hotels and their response to droughts: Barcelona’s experience. Documents d’Anàlisi Geogràfica, 61(3), 623–649. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Dodoo, A., & Ayarkwa, J. (2019). Effects of climate change for thermal comfort and energy performance of residential buildings in a Sub-Saharan African climate. Buildings, 9(10), 215. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Dogo, E. M., Salami, A. F., Nwulu, N. I., & Aigbavboa, C. O. (2019). Blockchain and internet of thingsbased technologies for intelligent water management system. In Artificial intelligence in IoT (pp. 129150). Cham: Springer International Publishing. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. (2016). Comparison of convenience and purposive sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1–4. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Gabarda-Mallorquí, A., Fraguell, R. M., & Ribas, A. (2018). Exploring environmental awareness and behavior among hotel guests applying water-saving measures. Sustainability, 10(5). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2022). Climate Change 2022: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. IPCC. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Kasim, A., Gursoy, D., Okumus, F., & Wong, A. (2014). The importance of water management in hotels. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 22(7), 1090–1107. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Kinyanjui, D. N. (2019). Adaptive responses to climate change in hotel water resource management. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 9, 287–296. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Koranteng, C., Simons, B., & Gyimah, K. A. (2021). Potential measures towards the reduction of cooling loads of office buildings in Ghana. Frontiers in Engineering and Built Environment, 1(2), 161-172. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Logah, F. Y., Amisigo, A. B., Obuobie, E., & Kankam-Yeboah, K. (2017). Floodplain hydrodynamic modelling of the Lower Volta River in Ghana. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 14, 1-9. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Mensah, I., & Blankson, E. (2013). Determinants of hotels’ environmental performance. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 21(8), 1212–1231. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Midgley, J. (2017). Social development: Theory and practice. Sage. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Mogotsi, K., & Saruchera, F. (2023). The influence of lean thinking on philanthropic organisations' disaster response processes. Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, 13(1), 4260. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Moyo, B. (2016). Philanthropy in Africa: Functions, origins, and challenges. Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Nuong, D. M., RAGAVAN, N. A., Zaazie, P., Niber, A., & Anandene, D. (2022). Green practices among hotels in the Sunyani municipality of Ghana. Journal of Business and Environmental Management, 1(1), 1-22. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Nyide, C. J. (2017). The role of environmental management accounting and voluntary self-regulatory initiatives in improving resource efficiency in South African hotels. Business and Economic Horizons, 13(1), 30-41. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Njenga, S. N., Gichuhi, D., & Koome, P. (2021). Influence of millennials innovativeness on organization change in the hospitality industry in Naivasha sub-county, Kenya. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science, 10(7), 379-388. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Oriade, A., Osinaike, A., Aduhene, K., & Wang, Y. (2021). Sustainability awareness, management practices and organisational culture in hotels: Evidence from developing countries. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 92, 102699. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Orikpete, O. F., Ikemba, S., & Ewim, D. R. E. (2023). Integration of renewable energy technologies in smart building design for enhanced energy efficiency and self-sufficiency. The Journal of Engineering and Exact Sciences, 9(9), 16423-01e. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Owusu-Ansah, K. K. (2024). Sustainable Development: Implications for Urban Employment in Emerging Global Cities, a Case Study of Accra, Ghana. University of Wyoming. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Palinkas, L., et al. (2015). Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis. Clinical and Translational Science, 8(4), 534–541. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Payton, R. L. (1988). Philanthropy: Voluntary action for the public good. Macmillan. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Schwartz, S. (1973). Normative influences on altruism. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 10, 221–279. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Sedegah, D. D., Agyekum, M. W., & Kyeremeh, B. (2023). Local-level water conservation and management in rural Ghana. Irrigation and Drainage, 1095–1108. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Shen, L., Qian, J., & Chen, S. (2020). Effective communication strategies for sustainable hospitality. Sustainability, 12(17). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Su, Y., Hall, C., & Ozanne, L. (2013). Hospitality industry responses to climate change. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 18(1–2), 92–107. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Ulus, M., & Hatipoglu, B. (2016). Human factors in organisational sustainability in tourism. Sustainability, 8(3), 232. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. United Nations. (2020). Water and Climate Change Report 2020. United Nations. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. United Nations. (2022). Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022. UN Publishing. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Eco-Microcredit and Rural Transformation: The Mediating Role of Sustainable Farming Practices and the Moderating Effect of Financial Literacy on Household Sustainability
• Comparative Analysis of Traditional and Innovative Methods for Rare Earth Element Extraction
• Global Trends in Sustainability Reporting: A Malaysian Evidence
• Blockchain for Transparency: Tracking Zero-Waste Practices Across the Fashion Value Chain in Bangladesh
• Entrepreneurship and the Path to Globalizing Jamdani Weaving: Tradition, Innovation, and Sustainable Digital Practices