ASSESSMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN SOME SELECTED TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS IN NIGER STATE

Abstract

ABSTRACT

High electrical energy consumption in public buildings and institutions is a major challenge to many nations over the world, particularly in developing countries. Meanwhile, inadequate empirical studies on building energy use had resulted into paucity of electrical energy data most especially buildings in tertiary institutions in Nigeria where bulk metering is the usual practice; thereby making energy consumption of individual building remains unknown. This study sought to assess the electrical energy consumption in some selected tertiary institutions administrative buildings in Niger State with a view to reducing electrical consumption and improving energy efficiency. An experimental data collection was conducted where direct field measurements were carried-out with a real-time Efergy wireless energy (EW4500) monitoring device. Where the current transformer sensors were clipped to the main panel distribution board of the administrative buildings of the Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State Polytechnic Zungeru and the Niger State College of Education Minna respectively. In order to achieve the aforementioned aim, the set objectives are to; evaluation of electrical energy consumption of selected administrative buildings, compare the total consumption of the three different buildings studied, and compare also the energy consumption pattern of the three different buildings. The mean electrical energy consumed at the administrative blocks of the Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State Polytechnic Zungeru, and Niger State College of Education Minna was collected on hourly pattern (1 hour) for the period of three (3) months and the results were as follow; for FUT Minna 2034 KWh/m2, 1579.1 KWh/m2, 2379.8 KWh/m2, 2604.7 KWh/m2, for Zungeru Polytechnic were 1579.1 KWh/m2, 1636.2 KWh/m2, 1637.7 KWh/m2, 1581.9 KWh/m2, and for COE Minna were 1579.1 KWh/m2, 41636.2 KWh/m2, 1637.7 KWh/m2, and 1581.9 KWh/m2 respectively. The hourly consumption patterns showed a distinct significant seasonal variation, indicating peak of electrical energy consumed at the early working hours at the studied administrative buildings during when the buildings were occupied by staff. The amount of energy consumed in the studied administrative buildings depends on many factors. The results showed that the administrative building of the Federal University of Technology Minna and the Niger State Polytechnic Zungeru were above the global best practices of 128KWh/m2 and 130KWh/m2 according to the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Building Energy Efficiency Guideline for Nigeria (BEEGN) benchmarks when compared, while the energy consumed at the Niger State College of Education Minna administrative block was within the benchmarks. In conclusion, the results depicted that the significant levels of the mean electrical energy consumed in the senate building of the Federal University of Technology Minna, and the administrative block of the Niger State Polytechnic were high which inplied that these institutions administrative buildings were energy inefficient while that of the administrative block of Niger State Collecge of Education Minna was within the benchmarks. Therefore, the study recommends the need for dedicated and effective monitoring of energy consumption through audit of the administrative buildings of FUT Minna and Zungeru Polytechnic.