Compact fluorescent lamps and electricity consumption trend in residential buildings in Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the electricity consumption trend in residential buildings using incandescent lamps and retrofitting with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaires were administered to capture the necessary data from three randomly selected residential estates in Ilorin, Nigeria. In total, 8,840 sampled incandescent lamps were retrofitted with CFLs. The electric energy in kilowatt hour (kWh) consumed prior to replacement for three months was compared with kWh consumption after retrofitting and analyzed employing t‐tests.FindingsThe three‐month average electricity consumption of ten households for the University of Ilorin GRA quarters and Lower Niger River Basin staff quarters pre‐ and post‐installation were 20,259 and 13,010 kWh, and 46,891 and 29,588 kWh, respectively. Results show that there were significant differences between the observed and tabulated values for the pre‐ and post‐installation of CFLs, respectively, at 5 per cent confidence level. About 40 per cent reduction in electricity consumption was achieved through deployment of CFLs in the residential households.Originality/valueThis paper demonstrates how retrofitting of incandescent lamps with CFLs can bring about possible reduction in electricity consumption in residential households in Nigeria.