THE APPRAISAL OF ENERGY SAVING MEASURES IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

THE APPRAISAL OF ENERGY SAVING MEASURES IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

ABSTRACT

Energy saving measures within the built environment refers to specific strategies undertaken to achieve energy efficiency and conservation in buildings. The residential building is a hub for individuals from various backgrounds, cultures and all works of life. It was observed that in most parts of Minna, Niger state, there is no constant supply of electricity as it is in other parts of Nigeria. Nigerians are capable of exhibiting a nonchalant attitude towards anything that they think does not affect them directly. This shows justification of relevance for carrying out this research on the appraisal of energy saving measures in the built environment with Bosso estate as a case study. The aim of this research is to evaluate various energy saving measures in the man made surrounding so as to determine the behavioral and technological approach of occupants towards energy saving measures. For this research, literature reviews concerning energy saving measures was done, so as to identify the various energy saving measures available. The descriptive survey design was employed, the use of questionnaires and interviews as the major sources of gathering data, where various energy saving measures was identified to be ticked appropriately as practiced by respondents. A total of sixty-five questionnaires was distributed, forty-four questionnaires was received making a response rate of 67.69%. 65.9% of the respondents used prepaid meters, 34.1% used postpaid meters, 34.1% used incandescent bulbs, 50% used compact fluorescent lamps and 15.9% use both. 93.2% of the respondents’ switch of all outdoor lighting during the day, 6.8% of them do not. 50% of the respondents set appliances on standby mode, the other 50% do not. 75% of the respondents use multiple appliances simultaneously, 25% of the do not while 11.4% of the respondents are influenced by manufacturers, 9.1% of them by size, 18.2% by energy rating, 11.4% of them by price and 6.8% of them are influenced by both beauty and price. This study concluded that most of the residents who are energy conscious are those with the prepaid meters, a large portion of them are aware of energy saving measures but cannot properly define and practice them and that resident that use postpaid meters exhibit energy intensive behaviors. Finally it is recommended that the government make policies that will gradually phase-out the use of incandescent bulbs and promote the practice of other energy saving measures, create awareness and sensitize the people about the benefits of energy saving measures, the use of prepaid meters should be made mandatory and all energy saving measures to be discussed should be practiced.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF RESEARCH

Energy in our present time is said to be the backbone of recent developmental trends. The incisive and increasing instalments to cater for human energy use around the later stages of the 18th century has changed the order of the society. All stages and categories of our modern life have traces of inclusive energy imprint at every turn. Energy can be virtually translated in terms of recreational, agricultural, industrial, transformational and institutional purposes. Being the bedrock of modern development, the use of energy is almost directly proportional to the degree of commercial, agricultural and industrial productivity activities. Use of energy in virtually all spheres of life originated from the industrial revolution and definitely brought forth enormous rise in the level of productivity and a drastic change in individuals’ lifestyles. (Awwad & Mohammed, 2007).

Oil and gas is the life-blood of Nigeria’s crawling development and stagnant economic growth. It has an essential say in Nigeria’s diplomatic relations with the world, most importantly it portrays itself and obviously it is a commodity which can be bought and sold with massive generation of earnings which significantly transforms an underdeveloped nation to a developing or developed nation if properly managed. (Sambo, 2009).

“Although Nigeria is relatively endowed with abundant fossil fuels, the energy situation in the country is yet to be structured and managed in such a way as to ensure sustainable energy development. As a nation that has limited technological capacity but sees industrialization as constituting a crucial leverage and precondition for meaningful development, Nigeria should be wise enough to manage her scarce energy resources judiciously. As a matter of utmost importance, industrialists, civil servants, researchers, government officers, and students inclusive in Nigeria should take advantage of opportunities in low level, low risk but high worth energy-efficient measures that reduce the bottom line of any business enterprise” (Unachukwu, 2003). Nigeria has a lot reserves of oil and natural gas, coupled with coal but at present rate of extraction and the high rate of mismanagement and technical blunders, it has been forecasted that it will take only 4oyears for this reserves to be depleted to such a level that it will be virtually uneconomical to tap and export the oil.  (ECN-UNDP, 2007).

Energy consumption in buildings has become a focal point in global discourses towards sustainable development and its wider interconnections with the environment. Studies have shown that energy consumption of the built environment exceeds that of other sectors, including transportation, in many parts of the world (Brown, 2010) and (Perez-Lombard, Ortiz&Pout2008). For example, in the US, buildings consume as much as 48% and 76% total energy and electricity respectively. In addition, buildings account for a significant proportion of greenhouse gas emissions (Kasozi, & Tutesigensi, 2007). More so, researches show that commercial buildings and office buildings in particular, account for significant amount of energy consumed by buildings in many parts of the world including the US, Hong Kong, UK and China (Iqbal &Al-Homoud, 2007).

 Thus, it has become paramount that energy consumption in such buildings is rationalised so as to reduce the potential adverse environmental impacts (Li &EAI, 2008).

This research will review the various ways of saving energy in the built environment that is available to the occupants of the built environment. Over time, occupants of built environment have developed a nonchalant attitude towards energy saving measures. The study will also look at the various inefficient use of energy in the built environment and suggest best possible ways of effectively saving energy in the built environment.

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The glaring benefits of energy saving measures in terms of economic and social aspects of life  and the lack of access to energy efficient devices used in the built environment are hindrances to maximizing the limited energy that are available for use in the man-made surrounding. This is also coupled with the fact that there is practically little or no access to data’s of individual energy consumption.

In view of this, it is relevant to bring forth energy savings measures that will assist in the reduction of energy used in the built environment. For the benefit of this research the following questions arises:

1. What are the various behavioural and technical approaches to energy saving by the occupants of the built environment?
2. What are the variousenergy saving measures and how can they be adopted in the built environment?
3. What are the efficient ways of eliciting for information which will serve as a guide to draft policies for energy use?

1.3       AIM AND OBJECTIVES

1. Aim

The aim of this research is to evaluate the various energy saving measures in the man-made surrounding in order to determine behavioral and technological approach of occupants towards energy saving measures.

1.3.2    Objectives of Study

1. To determine the behavioural and technological approach of occupants towards energy saving measures.
2. To identify energy saving measures and how it can be adopted within a built environment
3. To bring forth proper information that willaid the drafting of policies which will in turn provide a suitable regulatory regarding saving energy in the built environment.
   1. JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY

There is a need for energy saving measures in the built environment due to the insufficient energy available for use in the built environment. The study will be essential to all built environment users, be it the government owned one’s or the privately controlled one’s. It will provide a thorough analysis of different energy savings measures in the built environment.

1. METHODOLOGY

The use of questionnaires will be adopted, which will be distributed at the locale of the study. A review of existing literature will be the primary source of gathering information and data for the report. Physical survey, focused group discussions and interview with key informants will also be adopted.

1. SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The research is focused on identifying the various energy saving measures in the built environments of Bosso Estate, Bosso Local Government Area of Minna, Niger state so as to present the best ways of using energy more efficiently. Target respondent for this research will be the occupants of the built environment. The study will not capture the various sources of energy being used in the built environment and will exclude every other part of Minna apart from the locale of the study.