Energy demand reduction for Nigeria housing stock through innovative materials, methods and technologies

Abstract

Energy utilisation has recently become a highly sought-after commodity on a global scale. This situation is not limited to Nigeria, where the national grid’s supply of electricity has been severely inadequate. This has hampered the country’s ability to meet the mounting needs of its large population and expanding economy. Aside from the global challenges of rising energy costs and environmental disasters, a number of factors such as a lack of interest in indigenous building technologies and materials have contributed to the Nigerian construction industry’s slow pace of meeting energy demand and achieving energy efficiency. This study investigates the possibility of achieving energy conservation through innovative materials, methods, and technology to increase energy efficiency and minimise energy demand in Nigeria’s residential housing. The objective is to determine the variables that influence energy usage in residential house design, select methods and technologies to reduce energy demand, and assess the best materials and processes. A quantitative approach to data collection was used by distributing questionnaires to respondents in the Minna metropolis. A hundred and forty (140) questionnaires were distributed, and 117 of them were returned. Secondary data were obtained from literature reviews, journal articles, and conference papers. According to the findings, the most energy efficient residential buildings would result from the appropriate use of innovative materials, methods, and technology to reduce the energy demand of the building. In order to decrease energy demand, the study suggests that built environment professionals should focus largely on changing energy-consuming devices and their end uses for energy efficiency. It concluded that, in order to reduce overlap between the applications of these elements and better meet the needs of building occupants in terms of energy usage in Nigeria, energy demand should be considered from the design stage.