The Usage of Green in Office Buildings: An Appraisal of Some Office Spaces in University of Jos

Abstract

Activities of the construction industry in Nigeria have plagued the country with so many problems that have affected the natural environment adversely. The concept of green building seems to be poorly embraced in a developing country like Nigeria where buildings are poorly designed, blatantly neglecting the long term effects of such buildings on the natural environment and the health of its inhabitants. Buildings play a major role in the degradation of the environment from construction stages to the usage (life-cycle) of the building. The environmental impact caused by buildings accounts for 18% of global emissions today or an annual equivalent of 9 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. The usage of energy in offices alone accounts for more than 20%, even up to 70% in some cases. Fisher’s z-transformation was used to determine the correlation between green features in the workplace and health perceptions of the occupants. Majority of the participants in this study revealed their perception that green features in the work place enhances their productivity and that they also provide a form of therapy to the mind and body. The research rejected the null hypothesis which states that there is no linear correlation between the variables. This study proposes a framework for the usage of green in offices in other to curb the level of degradation to the natural environment, improve workers’ health and productivity, and increase energy efficiency.