Overview of the Building Energy Efficiency Guideline (BEEG) for Nigeria

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 is currently being 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.

Figure 8 in the BEEG

Energy Objectives in the Building Sector of Nigeria

 

Nigeria's Energy Objectives in the Building Sector

Key Findings
Building sector: Building Design Objectives	Energy efficiency in buildings is the main target, which goes hand-in-hand with the following objectives: Liveable buildings, more comfortable and healthy Resilient buildings and with reduced dependence on energy supply Economically viable and affordable buildings with lower capital, operation and maintenance costs 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: Minimise energy demand: Through climate adaptive design (passive design)  taking into account local conditions and microclimates Increase efficiency of systems: Improving mechanical systems, appliances and lighting efficiency Cover remaining energy demand with renewable energy: Given the large renewable energy capacity of the country, use renewable energy sources to substiitute fossil fuel energy whenever possible.

 

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

Summary of Key Strategies for Hot & Dry and Hot & Humid Climates

Key passive strategies	Hot & dry	Hot & humid
Climatic conditions	High ambient temperatuure and solar radiation levels High glare from direct and reflected sunlight Dust storms	High ambient temperature, humidity and solar radiation Thermal discomfort due to high humidity levels Flood hazards
Microclimate design	Compact forms Shade and shelter for public spaces Glare control: roughness and low reflective colours Evaporative cooling: by strategic inclusion of vegetation Windward location close to water bodies if feasible Protected urban edges from hot winds Narrow winding roads and alleys, and mixed building heights	Provide good airflow conditions around buildings Wide open streets and dispersed forms provide good ventilation A variation in building heights encourages more ventilation Wide open spaces with tree zones providing shading Design for effective rainwater runoff Rain shelters in public areas
Building design	Orientation: Windows facing mainly north and south with overhangs or external shading Building form: Compact geometry reducing skin area Buffer zones and thermal zoning Daylighting zones Night cooled mass systems Evaporative cooling towers Materials: Roof with High SRI High thermal mass Exterior insulation for reducing heat gains during the day Windows. VLT > 60% for good daylighting	Orientation: Windows facing mainly north and south with overhangs or external shading Opening windows towards prevailing breezes Building form: Open and permeable geometry allowing air movement Courtyards Buffer zones and thermal zoning Daylighting zones Materials: Roof with High SRI Low thermal mass Windows. VLT > 60% for good daylighting

 

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.

 

Tables 11 & 12 (on pages 61 & 62) in the BEEG

 

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.

 

[[File:|607x89px|alt=Text Box: 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

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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