Assessment of Energy Wastage and Saving Potentials for Higher Educational Institutional Buildings in South Western Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the energy wastage areas in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Buildings in South Western Nigeria; factors influencing the energy wastage and energy saving opportunities available in the study area with a view to promote energy conservation and cost savings. The study adopts the use of stratified simple random sampling techniques and the administration of two hundred (200) open ended questionnaire on the respondents who are mainly students, teaching and non-teaching staff in the physical planning, works and maintenance service department. Data obtained from respondents was analyzed using descriptive statistics and mean score index (MSI). Findings revealed that energy wastage are common with lighting consumption (MSI 4.59), poor controls and regulators for both lighting and other appliances in HEIs (MSI 4.57). Lighting related operations also exert significant impacts on energy wastages as six out of the thirteen major energy wastage areas are connected to it. The major factor influencing energy wastage are due to poorly designed HEIs buildings (MSI 4.62) and all other factors aside this need to be adequately considered in future designs for effective energy management. Findings further revealed that HEIs buildings require sound energy policy, improvement on passive building designs principles are critical to the reduction of energy wastage and hence should be adhered to since it has potential to saves cost. The study recommends the usage of metering system to determine energy consumed in each facilities/building, using scheduling devices with intelligent building designs for power supply and controls during peak and off peak period, implementing standard Energy Policies and creating awareness for students and staffs on energy usage and cost savings benefits and provisions.