Overview of the Building Energy Efficiency Guideline (BEEG) for Nigeria
Overview
The Building Energy Efficiency Guideline (BEEG) for Nigeria was launched in 2016 as part of efforts by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (FMPWH) and the German Agency of International Cooperation (GIZ) through its Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) to promote sustainable behaviours of practitioners and users in avoiding profligate usage and wastage of energy in the building sector.
The Guideline analyses the current energy efficiency practices in the building sector, presents a design methodology and appropriate solutions for achieving more energy efficient residential and office buildings in Nigeria. The Guideline therefore advocates that limiting the growth of electricity consumption will result not only in environmental and economic benefits, but also support energy security, reduce black outs, improve the accessibility to electricity for all, and boost the economic development of the country.
This article provides an overview of the BEEG with specific references to relevant areas contained in the Guideline and in general seeks to promote further awareness and application of the Guideline.
Introduction
Energy efficient buildings are those which consume less energy while maintaining or even improving the comfort conditions for their occupants compared to standard buildings that lack energy efficient considerations. Energy efficient buildings result not only in less environmental impact but are also economically sustainable and resilient. The building sector accounts for the majority of electricity consumption in Nigeria and will inevitably increase significantly in absolute terms in the coming years driven by a rapidly increasing population, migration from low energy consuming rural dwellings to urban centres, and improvements in living standards. Set against a chronic shortage of electrical generation and transmission capacity, energy efficiency measures represent the cheapest way of improving the state of energy supply in Nigeria now and in the future as the grid improves with increasing demand.
In Nigeria, energy consumed by the buildings targeted in the Guideline (medium-high cost residential and commercial) is mainly due to cooling systems (e.g. air conditioning) and lighting. Energy consumed by residential buildings accounts for more than 50% of the total energy consumed in the country (Energy Commission of Nigeria, 2014). By using bioclimatic design techniques with highly efficient active systems, it is possible to greatly reduce the energy required to cool and light a building, or even in some cases eliminate the need for cooling entirely. This in turn reduces dependency on the grid electricity supply and helps improve energy security in the country.
Improving energy efficiency requires a different approach to the design and operation of buildings. It starts from the design methodology and goes through to the implementation of regulatory frameworks to allow and enforce EE targets. Education, dissemination and validation of the achievements of EE buildings could be provided by energy efficiency and sustainability certification schemes in conjunction with the Green Building Council of Nigeria (GBCN) and other relevant bodies. The resulting buildings will not only benefit from reduced energy consumption but will also provide a more comfortable internal environment for occupants, reduce the negative environmental impact, and be more economically sustainable and resilient.
Energy Efficiency in the Nigerian Building Sector
In the past, the Federal Government of Nigeria made several policies in the energy sector that aimed to encourage uptake of renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE). However, these were limited in their scope and only mentioned general issues without giving a detailed framework. It is hoped that the recent approval of the first ever RE and EE policy for Nigeria (Nigeria Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy [NREEEP], 2015) provides better guidance to the industry. Within the building sector, this policy proposed developing energy efficiency building codes so that buildings are designed in line with bio-climatic design concepts and incorporate other energy saving measures.
A National Energy Efficiency Action Plan has been developed by stakeholders with the aim of promoting energy efficiency in Nigeria. This action plan supports the implementation of the NREEEP, sets its own targets for energy savings in the building sector amongst others and proposes concrete measures and actions that would contribute to meeting the targets.
The ECOWAS Directive on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (2013) also requires action from national governments to promote the improvement of energy efficiency of buildings.
The Nigeria National Building Code (2006) does not currently include detailed energy efficiency requirements, but is under revision to include those energy efficiency aspects that are easy to implement, cost-effective, and would lead to energy savings.
This Nigerian Building Energy Efficiency Guideline responds to the Nigeria RE and EE policy target of producing guidelines on all the key components of energy efficiency by 2020. The guideline provides practical information on the design and construction of energy efficient buildings.
The Process of Planning an Energy Efficient Building in Nigeria
Currently in Nigeria, building designs are usually developed using a linear and conventional design process.
- Recommended framework: Integrated Design Process (IDP)
The IDP requires the integration of multi-disciplinary and collaborative teams whose members, from different perspectives, establish a common vision for the project, make decisions together and have a holistic understanding of the project. While the IDP addresses the entire project life, the major weight is set at the early stages of the project, when the vision and goals are defined, and when main barriers and constraints should be identified and integrated in the project.
Energy Objectives in the Building Sector of Nigeria
| Key Findings | |
|---|---|
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Building sector: Building Design Objectives |
Energy efficiency in buildings is the main target, which goes hand-in-hand with the following objectives:
In addition, there is the objective to encourage the development of the renewable energy sector, in a country with very high renewable energy resources such as solar energy. |
| Energy Efficiency Strategy Steps |
The following hierarchy of steps is recommended:
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Bioclimatic Architecture in Nigeria
This chapter aims to give practitioners advice on how to apply the principles of bioclimatic design to buildings in Nigeria. It starts with a description of the Nigerian climate and comments on relevant vernacular architecture and what can be learnt from Nigerian architecture past and present.
Compact buildings with small windows and high thermal mass are preferred in the hot & dry climate, while in the hot & humid climate, more open, permeable buildings are found.
The two main objectives which inform the design are:
- to minimise heat gains into the building
- to promote heat loss where possible
| Hot & dry: Vernacular architecture characteristics | |
| Building form |
Volume: compact to minimise heat gains |
| Building envelope |
Openings: narrow and long to minimise solar gains and maximise daylight, small to avoid dust during harmattan |
| High thermal mass: to balance indoor temperatures during the day | |
| Roof: doomed roof, with light colours, to control heat gains, shaped to capture and channel rain water | |
| Hot &humid: Vernacular architecture characteristics | |
| Building form |
Volume: expanded to maximise airflow |
| Building envelope |
Openings: wide and shaded to minimise solar gains while maximising ventilation |
| High thermal mass: to avoid heat storage in the envelope | |
| Roof: pitched roof, covered by palm leaves to allow air infiltration while also able to shed very high intensity rainfall | |
| Key passive strategies |
Hot & dry |
Hot & humid |
| Climatic conditions |
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| Microclimate design |
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| Building design |
Orientation: Windows facing mainly north and south with overhangs or external shading Building form:
Materials:
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Orientation:
Building form:
Materials:
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Regional Hazards Affecting Building and Systems Design
Nigeria is affected by various natural hazards across the country. Heavy rains, dust storms, the Harmattan, insects and termites etc. pose some additional challenges in the implementation of the strategies outlined above.
Tools for Designing Energy Efficient Buildings
Numerous tools have been developed across the world to help the decision making process, guiding design teams and future occupants. This section includes a preliminary shortlist of tools that can contribute to green building design.
| Tool |
Strengths |
Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Athena |
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| ECO-BAT |
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| Green Building Studio |
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| IES-Virtual Environment |
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| Tool |
Strengths |
Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| eQuest |
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| Energy Plus |
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| DesignBuilder |
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| Passive House Planning Package |
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Regulatory Framework
This section provides an overview of the current regulatory framework on energy efficiency in Nigeria. It identifies the current regulations, barriers and opportunities for improvement and the mechanisms needed for setting the groundwork for the implementation of energy efficiency measures in the design and construction standards in the building sector.
The energy and cost saving potential of energy efficiency standards can only be attained in practice if certain framework conditions are established.
The core element is an effective compliance and enforcement framework. However, there are other equally important aspects because they enable compliance and thus are paramount for the transformation of energy efficiency standards into actual practice. To summarise, the most important elements are:
- Legislation: Compliance and enforcement framework
- Availability of appropriate and cost-effective materials for construction and operation
- Qualified workforce for energy efficient building design, construction and operation
- Quality assurance
- Market demand for energy efficient buildings
- Access to finance
- Stakeholder involvement and acceptance – Moving forward together
- International Experience: Network and benefit
The guideline reviews international experience in developing countries. Their efforts and successful strategies have allowed them to improve the building sector energy efficiency and reduce the demand, while increasing accessibility and resiliency of their energy sector.
Sustainability Certification
Certification schemes aim to assess buildings in a quantitative and unbiased way, producing a simple score or rating. This can be used either to demonstrate the building’s environmental credentials, or a client can specify a desired rating as part of their brief to ensure that they obtain a building with sustainable features.
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Key Findings It is hoped that the residential tools being introduced by the GBCN will gain traction and become popular in the residential market. For other projects, until a local rating is available, Green Star and LEED would seem best suited for building certification in Nigeria, although the challenges of using international rating schemes should not be underestimated |
Green Building Council of Nigeria (GBCN)
The GBCN is planning to operate a building evaluation system developed in Nigeria and targets residential buildings such as bungalows and apartment buildings. It has based its principles on the experience gained worldwide with existing green building assessment schemes, adapting and complementing them with essential technical, social and economic criteria to be considered for a successful implementation in Nigeria.
The goal is to generate a profile of a building’s strengths and weaknesses from a detailed analysis during the design or planning stage, in order to improve the building’s quality and reduce pollution over its entire life cycle. As the life cycle of buildings is extremely long compared to that of most other products, the consequences of any decisions made will be felt for a long time.
GBCN suggests a number of criteria to optimise the planning, construction and utilisation of buildings. Everyone involved stands to benefit: comprehensive planning assistance and execution monitoring play an important role for the team of planners and the local building supervisors. The future tenants or buyers receive the key data of their apartment in the form of a building pass and can therefore quickly get information about the building quality and maintainability performance, especially with regard to aspects relevant to the users. At the same time optimum climate protection, resource efficiency and eco-friendliness when erecting the building play an important role. The sustainable building certificates are ideally suited for public relations and product marketing purposes to present outstanding project characteristics.
Organisations Represented in the Workshops Organized for the Development of the BEEG
AMAC – Abuja Municipal Area Council
Anglia Ruskin University, UK
ARCON – Architects Registration Council of Nigeria
Blue Camel Energy
Cappa and D’Alberto Plc
CORBON – Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria
COREN – Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria
Daily Trust Newspapers of Nigeria
ECN – Energy Commission of Nigeria
FCDA – Federal Capital Development Authority
FHA – Federal Housing Authority
FMBN – Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria
FUT Minna – Federal University of Technology, Minna Niger State
FMPWH – Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (Housing)
GBCN – Green Building Council of Nigeria
GIZ – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Agency for International Cooperation)
NBRRI – Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute
NCECC – National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation
NIA – Nigeria Institute of Architects
NESP – Nigerian Energy Support Programme
NSE – Nigerian Society of Engineers
NUC _ Nigerian Universities Commission (Energy Department)
Ove Arup & Partners
PHCN – Power Holding Company of Nigeria
Population Council of Nigeria
SON – Standards Organisation of Nigeria
UN-HAPSO – United Nations Habitat Programme Support Office, Nigeria
YSEMA- Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA, Yobe State)
Access to the BEEG
Please click here to access the BEEG
Further Information
Reference
- Please contact the author for any questions regarding the article.
