Green Architecture Review and the Responsive Building Materials Towards a Sustainable Built Environment in Nigeria

Abstract

The high cost of construction materials in Nigeria has become a serious problem of obtaining a decent environment especially for the low income earners who find it very difficult to construct an affordable decent house. It is more serious for the low-income groups whose challenges are complicated by several factors including the ever increasing cost of construction materials. Citizens cannot afford decent materials for their building construction which makes the environment polluted and difficult to have an environmentally responsive buildings. The study aims at identifying potentials of sustainable building materials in addressing Green Architecture and Affordable housing construction in Nigeria through the review of principles of Green Architecture and sustainable building materials. The purpose of the review is to compile the available data of different sustainable building materials found in Nigeria that would be used alternatively to reduce the cost of building materials thereby enhancing Green Architecture in the built environment. The study employed the use of qualitative data analysis from relevant literature. The review showed materials used in Green Architecture are those that encourage good thermal performance, energy efficiency, water efficiency, resource management and save general construction cost. Sustainable materials to lower cost of construction are best described in their resource efficient, made from renewable materials and it is non-toxic.