The challenges of energy efficiency practice in the Nigerian households

• Main Authors: Abdul Majid, Noor Hanita, Hussaini, Ibrahim Udale
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: NA100 Architecture and the state
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/29100/1/The_Challenges_of_Energy_Efficiency.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/29100/; http://www.dcu.ie

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.