Towards Energy Efficient Buildings in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities

The need to enhance people’s wellbeing by reducing CO2 emission has necessitated global efforts towards reducing energy consumption by buildings, which is responsible for nearly 45% of world’s energy consumption. Energy efficient design approaches have clear consequences on environmental protection and the wellbeing of urban populations. It is a viable means of reducing overdependence on electric generators and possible future retrofit of existing housing stock in Nigeria. Efforts towards achieving energy efficient buildings in this part of the world are not without challenges. Previous studies have revealed opportunities and possible challenges to energy efficiency in buildings in Nigeria. However, there seems to be scarce academic field data on this subject in the Nigerian context. Hence, this paper aims to identify benefits and possible hindrances to the realization of energy efficient buildings in Nigeria. This study adopted semi-structured interview involving 12 architects in Lokoja, Nigeria as the main approach for generating relevant data on this subject. Some of the limitations revealed by the interviewees include poverty, lack of awareness, lack of interest in local technologies and building materials, activities of non-professionals in the building industry and lack of effective regulatory bodies. This paper shows that there is enormous potential to improve people’s wellbeing and reduce carbon footprints if we can overcome the possible hindrances to achieving energy efficient buildings in Nigeria. The study concludes that energy efficiency in buildings can be achieved in Nigeria through strong awareness creation and collaboration among the stakeholders in the building industry.