Evaluation of Building Materials Using Energy Efficiency Criteria in Selected Museums in South-West Nigeria

Abstract

Energy efficiency ensures reduced energy for heating and cooling space, lower maintenance requirements, reduce the cost of running a building, and improve users’ comfort in a space. The amount of energy used by building materials is an essential factor in defining the energy efficiency of the building. This study evaluates the building materials used in selected south-western museums using energy efficiency criteria to identify materials that comply with energy-efficient criteria, which would be recommended to ensure energy-efficient materials are adopted by Museum buildings. The study’s objective is to identify the existing energy-efficient materials used in Museums and evaluate the identified building materials in terms of energy efficiency. The study methodology employed is qualitative, engaging case studies and observation guides to determine the materials used in existing museums. The materials identified were evaluated using the energy-efficient criteria provided by Yüksek [1]. The sample size consists of materials used in selected national Museums of southwest Nigeria. The results derived from the case studies identified the materials used in the selected Museums and their level of energy efficiency, which affects the maintenance and the overall cost for running the Museum. The results from the study identified a total of eleven materials. It was shown from the results that while four of the eleven materials complied fully with the energy-efficient criteria, the other materials did not comply fully with the energy-efficient criteria. This study recommends that more materials that comply with energy-efficient criteria be adopted to improve energy efficiency in buildings. Professionals in the built environment should focus more on energy-efficient materials to ensure an energy-efficient building