INTEGRATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENT DESIGN ELEMENTS FOR OFFICE COMPLEX ABUJA, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Climate change is having a tremendous  effect  on our fragile ecosystem where the acceleration of its effect is believed to have occurred as a result of human activities that release Greenhouse Gases (GHG) into the atmosphere. In the built environment also, energy necessity of buildings has seen an increase over the past years, predominantly is the energy demand for cooling, ventilating, and lighting. The built environment has been identified as one of the major contributors to the immense diminishing of natural resources  through  the  use  of  artificial  energy for  cooling  and  lighting.  An  energy consumption research estimated that building sector alone accounts for 40% of the world‟s energy consumption, the research also related one-third of global greenhouse gas  emissions where approximately 80% of the energy is through  air  conditioning systems and artificial lighting. This study aimed at integrating passive energy efficient design elements towards achieving sustainable, low cost and energy efficient office buildings in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. To properly describe the functions and characteristics of the variables studied and to allow for multi-dimensional approach to data collection, descriptive survey was adopted. Qualitatively, the research determined the extent at which energy efficient design elements such as building orientation, shading devices, building form, building envelope/colour, landscape elements, courtyard, and skylight have enhanced energy efficiency in office buildings in Abuja. Energy efficient variables such as buildings orientation, buildings colour, landscape elements and natural ventilation techniques were collected through structured observation schedule, these served as the primary data gotten from the field. Secondary data was gotten through information obtained from documented literature by previous related  research  works.  The  research  adopted  the  stratified  random  sampling,  this method allowed office buildings in Abuja to be divided into strata such as high-rise and low building and then randomly selecting from the high-rise buildings. Ten (10) office buildings were randomly selected across the Federal Capital Territory. Data collected was analysed using statistical analysis represented with tables and charts. The result showed that office buildings in Abuja were built with little consideration for passive energy efficient design elements as most office buildings depend chiefly on artificial cooling and lighting. It is recommended that energy efficient elements such as courtyards, overhangs, landscaping, building orientation should be incorporated in the design of buildings, particularly office buildings so as to save running cost, reduce energy requirements of buildings, and also reduce the negative effects this energy has on the environment. Also, statutory regulations should be geared towards ensuring that designers and developers adopt energy efficient design elements in the design of buildings.  Furthermore,  stakeholders  (developers  and  designers)  in  the construction industry should provide inducements in the form of awards and recognitions for buildings built to achieve energy efficiency through passive design concepts.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0      INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

Climate change is now taking a tremendous consequence on our fragile ecosystem, the acceleration of its effect is understood to have happened as a result of the activities of human that discharge Greenhouse Gases into the environment (Golubchicov & Badyina, 2012). It is projected that the built environment accounts for 40% of the energy consumption of the world and associated one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions where about 80% of the energy is through non-natural lighting and air conditioning system (Rupp et al., 2015). The 4th assessment report of intergovernmental panel on climate change estimated that greenhouse gas emissions from building associated activities could almost double by 2030. However, the report also established that the building  sector  has  the  principal  potential  for  reducing  greenhouse  gas  emissions. Studies have shown that the cheapest and most effective way of decreasing the climate change effects is by adopting energy efficient passive design (Lechner, 2014).

Energy requirement of buildings has witnessed an increase over the past years, principally is the energy required for cooling and lighting buildings. Artificial methods adopted for cooling and lighting buildings have proven to lack reliability in terms of environmental and economic sustainability (Hyde, 2017). As such, there is need to reduce energy consumption of buildings through the application of energy efficient design elements. Bassler and John (2010) in their energy saving research stated that energy saving is locally designing for energy conservation which targets at reducing the use of conventionally powered cooling, heating, and lighting through passive energy efficient design elements. According to the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) (2012), energy efficient design elements are those elements that are used to provide the necessary internal conditions and services with minimum energy use in a cheap and environmentally sensitive way. This energy efficient design elements can best be achieved during the design stage of buildings. Energy efficient design elements such as  the  form  and  orientation adopted for  a building,  building mass, landscape design, natural ventilation and daylighting are some of the design elements that can be employed to achieve energy efficiency (Gokarakonda & Kumar, 2016). The energy efficient design elements listed above have passed the criteria for sustainable building design. Reduction in the consumption of resources, reduction in environmental impact, and economic viability are some of the benefits associated with the use of these passive design elements to achieve efficiency in the use of buildings (Peter, 2015).

In tropical regions like Abuja in Nigeria, the primary use of energy in commercial buildings like offices is for cooling, lighting and for services such as operation of elevators, operation of office equipment and refrigeration. Adopting energy efficient design elements to reduce buildings energy demands will result in less energy requirement of buildings. Passive energy efficient design can be achieved through using several energy efficient design elements such as operable windows, sun shading strategies, orientation and landscaping. Courtyards also perform effectively in lighting interior spaces. Roof lights, large windows are other energy efficient design elements used to achieve day lighting in office buildings (Anink et al., 2010).

According to the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG) (2009), office can be defined as any building that fits within a suitably zoned segment, block and lot as recognised by resident authorities for commercial purposes. This information can be authenticated based on the positioning of a structure with respect to an approved zoning map and permitted usage of an office space. The concept of an office differs, but will be best characterised by the building design guides by what spaces it comprises. As stated by WBDG (2009), a characteristic office layout may include an office work space, a lobby, meeting space, office support space; work spaces, storages, folder rooms, copy areas, telephone, mail rooms, rooms for mechanical and communication, rest rooms, restaurants,  private  conveniences,  childcare,  fitness  spaces,  and  vehicular  packing spaces.

During the time of the early civilizations, office buildings took the form of lightly furnished rooms decorated with artefacts, they were individual offices used for business and as stores for rolled up scrolls. In the time of the industrial age, there was significant growth in commercial and financial institutions, there was also a major growth in the number of office buildings to serve business and corporate purposes (Long, 2014). In the last century, there has been a boom in office building development. Its context has widened also incorporating specialized work and meeting spaces, support spaces such as storages, printing areas, correspondence and waiting areas. As the demand for office buildings increases, the form and layout of offices also were improved upon to properly serve the purposes in which they are built. Some of these office layout includes but not limited to open plan layout, combi layout, office layout in cells, Burrolanchaft office layout. Each of these office layouts are used by different organizations to suit the pattern and structure of work in which they carryout.

The  consumption  of  energy in  buildings  has  come  to  be  a  central  point  in  world discourse towards eco-friendly development, and its broader interconnections with the surrounding environment. It is estimated that the built environment accounts for about 40% of the total energy consumption globally and linked one-third of global greenhouse gas discharges where approximately 80% of the energy is by air conditioning systems and artificial lighting (Rupp et al., 2015). Since the advent of air conditioning technology,  energy  consumption  of  office  buildings  has  been  on  the  increase, minimizing this energy consumption with regards to energy efficient design elements will lessen the amount of energy needed by these buildings. The 4th assessment report of intergovernmental panel on climate change estimated that greenhouse gas emissions connected with activities in buildings could almost double by the year 2030. However, the report resolved that the building sector has the biggest potential for reducing greenhouse gas discharges through energy efficient design. Studies have shown that cheap and effective way of reducing the effects of climate change on the environment is by adopting energy efficient  design  (Lechner,  2014).  Studies  also  showed  that  the consumption of energy of the built environment surpasses that of other sectors as well as transportation in many parts of the world (Brown & Dekay, 2010). For example, in the United States of America, buildings use as much as 48% and 76% of the total electricity and energy respectively (Kasozi & Tutesigensi, 2007). In addition, buildings are responsible for a significant amount of greenhouses gas emission.

1.2       Statement of the Research Problem

Commercial buildings like office complexes have been recognised as one of the chief contributors to the enormous reduction of natural environmental resources (Lam et al., 2011).  Nigeria  is  confronted  with  epileptic  supply  of  electricity  due  to  pipeline vandalism and scarcity of fuel for the power plants. The amount of electricity presently generated is far lower than the estimated supply load of 12,800MW for the existing infrastructure (Sambo et al., 2012).  This shortfall has made at least 50% of Nigerians not to have access to electricity supply which as a result has led to dependence on back- up generators by office users to cool and ventilate office spaces. This artificial means of ventilating and cooling office buildings using hydroelectricity and fuel generators are neither environmentally friendly nor economically viable. The burning of fuels has resulted into several environmental concerns such as global warming and depletion of natural resources. As a result of this depletion in ozone layer, principles and ideologies aimed at providing more sustainable and cheap alternatives have been created. Energy efficient design elements are one of such ideologies.

Energy efficient designs elements are aimed at reducing the energy demand of buildings through logical application of architectural design concepts. As office buildings remain one of the building types where energy is highly utilized (Santamouris, 2007), adopting the principles of passive energy efficient design elements will ultimately improve the energy conservation quality of buildings. Energy efficient design elements are methods through which the consumption of energy of a building can be lessened while maintaining or improving the comfort of occupants of that building. Reducing energy demand is the most significant principle of energy efficient passive design because they give designers the avenue to design buildings in such a way that tends to decrease buildings‟ energy demands in the design stages of buildings (CIBSE, 2012).

1.3       Aim of the Study

The aim of this study is to investigate passive energy efficient design elements towards proposing a sustainable, energy efficient office building in Abuja, Nigeria.

1.4      Objectives of the Study

The objectives of this study are to;

i.  Assess the basic energy efficient design elements that can be applied to achieve energy efficiency in office buildings.

ii. Investigate energy efficient design elements that can be employed in the design of office buildings.

iii Propose an office building design which employs the use of energy efficient design elements towards sustainable office buildings in Abuja, Nigeria.

1.5       Scope of the Study

Generally, commercial buildings in Abuja have a tremendous impact on the energy supply  of  the  city  (Abbas,  2012),  the  study  also  confirmed  the  prevalence  of  a suppressed energy demand scenario due to shortages in energy supply. However, this limited energy supply is met through fuel  generators. As these fuel generators are operated, harmful substances are being emitted into the environment, and this emission has negative effect on the environment. In addition, commercial buildings like office complexes  require  more  energy for ventilation  and  cooling.  This  enormous  energy demand in office complex can be reduced through application of energy efficient design elements.

This study focused on applying design strategies and ideologies to enhancing energy efficiency of office buildings in Abuja, Nigeria. The office buildings will provide for corporate business activities, meetings, seminars and conference, relaxation and recreation and support spaces. Passive strategies adopted are centred on passive cooling and lighting of the office building as these are usually the primary consumers of energy in buildings within the city of Abuja.

1.6   Research Justification

The utilization of energy in buildings have seen a rapid growth in recent years due to the rise in demand for energy required for cooling and heating in buildings (Sartori & Hestnes, 2007). In a quest towards sustainable built environment and conservation of natural  resources,  many nations  have adopted these ecological  friendly and  energy conservative strategies. However, despite the high energy demand of office buildings, energy efficient design elements have not been adequately utilized in Abuja (Abdullahi, 2015). Today, buildings account for more than 40 percent of world energy use, and as much as one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, both in advanced and emerging countries. This implies that use of energy efficient buildings elements will offset the global energy demand by 40 percent which could have emanated from housing sector (Asdrubali et al., 2012).

This research work proposed a design that takes cognizance of energy efficient design elements. It also sought to provide effective energy efficient design considerations that can be adopted to  achieve sustainability.  The benefits of applying energy efficient design strategies in buildings to its owners and operators include; cost of savings as the need to use fossil fuel or hydroelectricity power generating sets are reduced to the barest minimum,   saving   building   occupants   and   owners   from   the   inconvenience   of maintenance of active elements  and  reduction  in  environmental  degradation  (Peter, 2015).

1.7       The Study Area

The study area for this research work is office buildings in Abuja, the federal capital Territory of Nigeria. Abuja was created in 1976 and built largely in the 1980s. It was officially named capital of Nigeria in 1991 substituting the country‟s most populous city of Lagos. After the 2006 national census, the city recorded a population of 1,405,201 people, making the city one of the ten (10) most populated cities in Nigeria. Abuja recorded of about 139.7% between the year 2000-2010, putting it among the fastest growing cities in the world. As of 2015, Abuja was undergoing a yearly growth of at least 35%, keeping its place as the fastest growing city in Africa and one of the fastest growing globally. As a result of these growth and shift in the seat of power, companies and industries are now moving their headquarters to the capital city, thus making the demand  in  office  spaces  in  the  FCT  to  increase  geometrically.  In  addition  to  this increase in number of office buildings, poor electricity supply is also a menace in the Federal  Capital  Territory  (Abdullahi,  2015).  As  a  result  of  this  shortfall  in  power supply, total dependence on artificial technique in cooling, ventilating and lighting office buildings is no longer possible. This has led to designers to think of ways to adopt energy efficient design elements in other to passively cool and ventilate office spaces in the Federal Capital Territory.

Abuja is situated in the Savanna region of Nigeria between Iatitude 8o25” and 9o20” north of the equator and Iongitude 6o45” and 7o30” east of the Greenwich meridian. Its total land mass is about 8000Km2. It has an estimated population of 1,405,201 people according to the National Population Commission (NPC) (2006). As indicated in figure 1.2, Abuja is made up of six local government areas called area councils, they include; Bwari, Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Kuje, Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Council. The state is overseen by the Municipal Area Council which is responsible for the administrative aspect of the city. For comfort and organisation of developmental efforts, the city was separated into phases by its designers, this allows the city‟s development to take a concentric form with phase one consisting of the city‟s inner districts- Maitama district, Central Area, Wuse, Asokoro, Garki, and Guzape-at its core and spread outwardly from the bottom of Aso Rock, while phase 5, consist of the Kyami District which was recently created. The city has an international airport-the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, a Federal University, some private institutions.

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