Households’ Energy Efficiency Practices in a Bereft Power Supply Economy of Nigeria

The study focuses on attaining energy efficiency practices in the housing sector of the Nigerian economy. This is essentially necessary in order to reduce the energy demand on the central power supply of the nation and as well attain energy security. Nigeria as a nation is endowed with enormous energy resources, yet beleaguered with chronic energy crisis because of inadequate power supply to the citizens. The overall goal is to seek ways of improving the energy use situation of the country; and the objectives are to determine the prevailing levels of energy efficiency practices in housing design; appliances in use; and occupant behavior. The findings reveal a low level of energy efficiency consideration in housing design practice; a very low level of appliances efficiency; and a much low level of energy efficiency practice by the housing occupants. Thus, a strategic scheme of energy efficiency practices to be realized by the government and housing stakeholders is proffered for the housing sector of Nigeria

The challenges of energy efficiency practice in the Nigerian households

The behavioral approach energy conservation is the latest dimension among others (design and technology) to receive attention. This is logically methodical because, the undaunted challenges of energy resources exploitation (i.e. resource depletion, climate change and environmental pollution/ degradation) still remain a menace in spite of the immense and great advances made in energy efficient design principles and efficient technologies. Meanwhile, the existing economy and technology based models have apparently yielded in sufficient contribution in initiating sustainable development towards energy conservation. Thus, the emergence of the ‘behavioral approach’ is likely to complete the links towards the desired energy efficiency. While the architectural scope proffers ways to minimize the demand for artificial services, and the technological dimension offers to maximize the efficiency of essential services: the behavioral approach is attempting to condition occupant behavior towards the attainment of a sustainable energy efficiency practice in the households. This is in recognition of the fact that it is people who use energy and the effectiveness of technological solutions will depend to some extent on how they are applied (Bell, Lowe & Roberts, 1996). In addition, the phenomenon of consumption is still poorly understood because the variables that determined the consumption have not been clearly identified (Wilk, 1996); thereby prompting further studies on the human dimension to energy conservation. This paper therefore attempts to press challenges of awareness/ information, proper policy/ implementation and other incentive programmes necessary for the attainment of energy efficiency practice in the Nigerian households. The methodology is opinion survey of households of modern building typology in a typical urban town of Bauchi t o determine their levels of perception/ practice of energy efficiency in a bid to foster a framework. Ultimately, the presumption that the level of awareness and education of the individual influence his/ her energy efficiency practice has been significantly validated in this study

Human behaviour in household energy use and the implications of energy efficiency delivery: a case of Bauchi, Nigeria

Purpose – Although the term “energy efficiency” is technologically focused, it has a behavioural content due to the associated energy conservation practice involved. The technology aspect applies essentially to the application of new or better technology in order to derive same output or level of service for less input energy, while the conservation aspect is attributed to behaviour. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – In an attempt to expound on this understanding, a social survey of some households in Bauchi town, Nigeria was undertaken so as to seek ways of improving the energy use situation of the country. The principal objective is to determine the influence of human behaviour in energy efficiency delivery in the households. Findings – The result reveals a much low level of energy efficiency practice by the occupants due largely to lack of awareness and requisite knowledge on the phenomenon of energy efficiency. Originality/value – Finally, the study highlights on the implications of good energy efficiency practice in household energy use as derived from the present as well as past studies in a bid to attain energy sufficiency

Human behavior in household energy use and the implications of energy efficiency delivery: a case of Nigeria

Although the term energy efficiency is technologically focused it has a behavioral content due to the associated energy conservation practice involved. The technology aspect applies essentially to the application of new or better technology in order to derive some output or level of service for less input energy, while the conservation aspect is attributed to behavior (NEB, 2009). In an attempt to underscore this postulation social survey of some households in Bauchi town, Nigeria is undertaken. The principal objective is to determine the influence of human behavior in energy efficiency delivery in the households. The result reveals a much low level of energy efficiency practice by the occupants due largely to lack of awareness and requisite knowledge on the phenomenon of energy efficiency. Finally, the study highlights on the implications of good energy efficiency practice in household energy use as derived from the present as well as past studies in a bid to attain energy efficiency

Energy development in Nigeria and the need for strategic energy efficiency practice scheme for the residential building sector

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to seek ways to improve energy efficiency in the residential building sector of Nigeria. This is necessary so as to promote a wider scope of energy efficiency practice in order to reduce energy demand on the central power supply of the nation and as well-attain reasonable level of energy security. Design/methodology/approach: However, the objective of the study is to propose a strategic plan (scheme) of energy efficiency practice for the housing sector of the Nigerian economy. To accomplish this task, a review of the main issues of energy efficiency; the current energy situation in Nigeria; and the challenges to implementing energy efficiency in the country was undertaken. Findings: Finally, remedial measures to achieving energy efficiency in the Nigerian households were proffered by the provision of a "strategic scheme" to be accomplished by the government and the housing stakeholders. Research limitations/implications: It is evident that a strategic plan or framework must be put in place in order to overcome the challenges of energy efficiency in the residential building sector. And this framework is to adequately address the issues of design practice, the efficiency of appliances in use and the housing occupant behaviour. Practical implications: The main goal is the attainment of energy-efficient households in Nigeria through the application of EE practice strategies. Originality/value: The study highlights on the energy development level of the country. It has also identified the numerous barriers as well as the principal actors to achieving energy-efficient households in Nigeria. After all, the suggested "plan of action" as provided in the scheme is to serve as a benchmark and reference point to the government, the housing stakeholders as well as the housing occupant for the attainment of energy efficiency

Housing design practice and energy efficiency consideration in Nigeria

The growing concern on the reduction of energy consumption in the residential sector of national economies rests on some parameters and issues that deserve to be resolved. Fundamental among these issues are the architectural concern, the appliances/ services efficiency issue: and most recently the human behavioral dimension. This study focuses on the architectural issue with the objective of determining the level of energy efficiency consideration in housing design practice by the housing stakeholders in Nigeria, with a notion that arousing the professional cultures of the stakeholders, particularly architects and building services engineers in the directions of efficiency can help improve energy efficiency design practice. This is in recognition of the fact that more than one third of the world’s energy is used in buildings: and a majority in houses and apartments (Wulfinghoff, 2003) [1]. Therefore, instituting energy efficiency design practice would lead to attainment of significant reduction in household energy consumption. This study employs opinion survey on the stakeholders (architects, building services engineers and builders) as a measure of their perception and practice in our attempt to evolve energy efficiency housing design practice guidelines. The result reveals an obvious gap in housing design practice and energy efficiency consideration in Nigeria