URBAN LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN LAGOS METROPOLIS

Abstract

Lagos is highly populated city with 60% of land use area for residential purposes and average of 25kw hours electricity weekly energy consumption of households. Over 65percent typical residential permitted air space of concrete, Heating Ventilation and Air condition (HAVC) energy consumption might continue to be on increase and unabated despite inadequate energy supply and heat irradiation from hard landscaping household surroundings. The aim of this paper is to examine and exploit the energy conservation of soft landscaping element necessary to ameliorate the situation for energy efficiency and comfort of residential building household occupants in Lagos metropolis. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative approach, involving extensive review of literature and case studies of selected residential buildings neighborhoods in sixteen local government areas in Lagos state. The survey was carried out through photographs of case study buildings and physical measurement of building envelope elements, as well as energy audit through daily readings of installed pre-paid smart meters for minimum of two weeks. While data analysis involved Chi-square test for numeric and non-numeric variables were conducted to establish the significance of energy consumption relationship with weekly energy consumption. Findings reveals that environmental factors of temperature and relative humidity is responsible for the highest percentage of energy consumption due to irradiation from concrete air spaces around buildings. Hence, recommended a policy of 60% softscapes to attenuate the condition for the reduction of energy use for attainments of indoor cooling and comfort towards energy conservation.