A Comparative Analysis of Carbon Footprints of Selected Office Buildings in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

Carbon Foot Print (CFP) is a parameter used in appraising and examining office, residential and commercial building’s energy efficiency during design, construction, renovation and operations. It is also a bases of determining the environmental impact of a building at any point of its life-cycle. In this research, data was obtained from measured energy use as opposed to in-situ audited energy use. An E2 Wireless Electricity monitor was used to obtain this data. eQUEST 3-65 software was used for the purpose of simulation of energy consumption. This research indicated a Carbon Foot Print (CFP) of between 21 to 41 kWh/sqm/year for the buildings studied in Nigeria. This gives an average of 31 kWh/sqm/year for the three (3) buildings studied. Similar buildings in North America and Europe have CFP of up to 150 kWh/sqm/year. This low CFP is not unconnected with the fact that these buildings lack standard HVAC equipment and other energy consuming devices that are required standards features in developed regions. On the positive side, this low CFP indicates that the Carbon Foot Print, and by extension, the environmental impact of the buildings in developing regions are also low. This research is part of a larger study on energy use and assessment in developing diaspora. Keywords: Energy Performance, Carbon Emission, HVAC Equipment. DOI: 10.7176/JETP/13-2-03 Publication date: April 30 th 2023