Energy Efficiency Assessment of Higher Education Buildings in Bauchi, Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose: Energy efficiency, often referred to as efficient energy use, is aimed at reducing the amount of energy required for cooling, heating, ventilation and lighting in buildings to create desirable thermal comfort conditions. Global energy and climatic challenges have necessitated new ideas and investments in developing energy-efficient strategies in the building industry. The building sector is responsible for over 40% of total primary energy consumption across the globe and almost 30% of the world's total Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions and therefore plays a critical role in addressing global energy and climate change issues. Retrofitting is needed in buildings to make them more energy efficient. This study investigates energy efficiency in higher education buildings with a view to developing a conceptual energy efficient framework for sustainable higher educational building design in Nigeria. Design/Methodology: The emphasis is on the Building envelope and shading in higher educational buildings. This research adopts a mixed research method, it collates and analysed data on the perception of users and designers, in inculcating sustainable design solutions. Interviews were conducted and questionnaires distributed, analysed using the Likert scale grading system to test the relationship between users' perception of energy efficient buildings and amounts of energy conserved. Findings: The findings validated perceptive benefits of the passive and sensible cooling loads to the Primary and Total Energy Demand of educational buildings in Nigeria. The study also indicates the lack of conscious consideration to the environmental and socio-cultural impact of buildings on the environment but more attention seems to be focused on building costs, labour and materials in Nigeria. Originality/Value: The results of the study also form part of a conceptual Energy Efficiency Framework to which Architects are expected to adhere to as a rule guiding their design for energy efficient Higher Education buildings.