AN ENERGY AUDIT ASSESSMENT OF AN INSTITUTIONAL BUILDING

(A CASE STUDY OF SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLEX, FUT, MINNA)

ABSTRACT

This research is an energy audit of the school of environmental technology complex as an institutional building, it also looks into energy efficiency measures that have been employed by the school decrease energy requirement of running the school, these energy efficiency measures do not only serve to reduce energy consumption it also reduces the operating costs and the environmental impacts associated with the utilization of conventional energy resources and avoid the need to build new power plants that use conventional energy sources at little costs and with no adverse environmental impacts.The research is aimed at accessing the rate of energy consumption in the school of environmental technology complex. And its objectives include an evaluation of the current rate of electric energy consumption, determine the availability of energy efficiency plans in the university and determine the efficiency of energy consumption in the University. The research uses one of the university’s faculties, School of Environmental Technology Minna as a case study to estimate average energy consumption per faculty and this was obtained by performing an energy audit on the complex.It was found that there were no clear cut plans on energy efficiency available. Results of the audit showed that the school of environmental complex consumes at least 2467899W (2467.899kW) daily. The energy efficiency measures which have been undertaken by the institutions are more or less initiatives put forward by well-meaning members of its staff.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of Study

Energy is an intricate part of sustaining the built environment in whatever form it may be utilized.“Energy consumption keeps increasing in both the developed countries and developing countries. There is no doubt demand for energy will keep on increasing as a result of population growth and economic development as reported by the EIA (2007) in its Annual Energy Outlook. Efficiency of use of energy in buildings is therefore one of the growing concerns for builders everywhere especially in developing countries.

Institutions are organisations that provide substantial services. The core higher education services are teaching and learning. According to Pereira and Da Silva (2003), traditionally higher education institutions have two main goals: to create and spread knowledge. An institutional building is essentially a large organization that is influential in the community, e.g. a college, hospital, or bank (Anonymous, 2009).

The electricity production in Nigeria centres on The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), which accounts for about 98% of the total electricity generation. Power generation by other agencies such as the Nigerian Electricity Supply Company relies on thermal power for electricity generation unlike PHCN, which relies on both hydro- and thermal power. However, electricity is also a consumer of fuel and energy such as fuel oil, natural gas, and diesel oil. The importance of these sources of energy and fuel for generating electricity has been decreasing in recent years. However, hydropower that is relatively cheaper than these sources has grown to be more important than other sources (Oyedepo, 2012). Only 40% of the Nigerian population has access to the central electricity utility which is really mainly the urban areas. Buildings account for about 40% of electricity consumption. Energy supports the provision of basic needs such as cooking, room heating and cooling, lighting, the use of appliances, piped water or sewerage, essential health care, educational aids, communication… (Oyedepo, 2012)

Energy in the form of electricity is consumed in three main kinds of daily life activities: 1) room heating and cooling, 2) cooking and heating water, and 3) lights and electric appliances. These uses account for half of the energy that is consumed daily (Hiroshi and Steven, 2008). Lighting is a daily life activity with particularly low energy efficiency. Incandescent light bulbs change only 2% of electricity into light, and even fluorescent light bulbs, which we consider to be energy-saving devices, have efficiencies of only about 12% (Hiroshi and Steven, 2008).

Throughout the world, electricity is the most used and desirable form of energy. It is a basic requirement for economic development and for adequate standard of living. As a country’s population increases and its economy also expands, demand for electrical energy multiplies (Sunday, 2012).

Having a good energy conservation scheme in place will be very valuable and economical not only will it improve the development of the economy as stated by Sunday, 2012 (Energy is an important factor in all the sectors of any country’s economy. The standard of living of a given country can be directly related to the per capita energy consumption…), energy conservation also goes farther to improve our environment as it reduces the emission CO₂ and other greenhouse gasses. As a building services engineer, controlling the amount of energy in the built environment and the efficiency of this energy should be an essential point of attention in both the design and construction of the building.

An energy audit helps to determine where, when and how much energy is being used. Identifying the circumstances where energy is being wasted unnecessarily and providing the basic information with which the opportune for energy savings can be reviewed. Energy audits help in determining alternative energy efficiency measures and also To reduce the operating costs and the environmental impacts associated with the utilization of conventional energy resources, energy conservation and energy efficiency offer attractive solutions.”

1.2       Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the research is to assess the rate of energy consumption in the school of environmental technology complex. The specific objectives of the research include:

1. To evaluate the current electric energy consumption rate of the school of environmental technology complex.
2. To assess the availability of energy efficiency plans in the complex.

• To determine the efficiency of energy consumption in the University.

1.3       Statement of Problem

Electric energy is vastly is one of the widest form of energy used, but it would seem unfortunately due to ignorance on the matter electric energy is misused every day in our economy causing unnecessary wastages and costs.It is therefore necessary to assess the energy use or consumption pattern of any building if significant changes are to be made for a cost effective and more efficient energy consumption

1.4 Significance of the Study

Looking in to the energy consumption patterns of our economy will give us the data necessary for improvement and development to take place furthermore it shines a light on the current state of the institution and helps determine areas of wastage and where there is need for improvement and also whether or not changes that should be made for better energy management and efficiency.

1.5  Methodology

The methods which will be used during the study includes, carrying out of interviews, physical surveys, audits and observations, and review of existing documents from relevant authorized agencies and academic institutions and also a qualitative and quantitative analysis of collected data

1.6       Scope and limitations of the Study

This study is carried out basically to assess energy consumption in an institutional building. It focuses on energy consumption in the school of environmental technology, Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger state. The limitations of the research include:

1. This research will only coverelectrical energy consumption and efficiency in an institutional building.
2. There are no utility cost data on electric energy consumption available for reference for just the SET complex as the school uses a single meter to access the energy consumed.
3. The school usually operates, Mondays to Fridays (8:00 – 5:30pm) but operations still go on for some unspecific amount of time causing a need for estimating of operation time.

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