Awareness of building sustainability: A case of architectural students of Kaduna state university

Abstract

Sustainability has gained increasing significance within the field of architecture due to the growing urgency caused by climate change. However, despite its paramount importance, many architecture students often lack the necessary preparation to fully integrate sustainable practices into their architectural projects. Consequently, this research aims to investigate the extent of sustainability awareness among architectural students in Nigeria and how effectively they incorporate sustainability principles into their building design projects. To gather data from the university's architectural students, a questionnaire survey was conducted. The assessment of awareness encompassed inquiries about the definition of sustainable building and its potential benefits, while the evaluation of application focused on the utilization of building sustainability principles which are: energy usage, water usage, material usage, occupants' health and environmental impact. 169 filled questionnaires were collected and analysed. The results indicated that higher-level students possess a good understanding of the term “building sustainability” and are well-informed about the characteristics and benefits of sustainable buildings. Regarding the application of sustainable principles, these students frequently incorporate natural ventilation and lighting into their building designs as methods to save energy. However, they tend to overlook factors such as using sustainable materials and generating renewable energy to reduce cooling loads. In terms of water and material usage, most students rarely give consideration to these aspects in their designs. On the other hand, students display a high level of awareness about how their building designs impact both the health of occupants and the environment. The majority consistently take into account occupants' health and environmental effects when designing. The findings from this study highlight the importance of integrating sustainability into architectural education early on, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to incorporate sustainable practices into their future architectural designs.