DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.5.1.15-24

Evaluation of Energy Use in Public Housing in Lagos, Nigeria: Prospects for Renewable Energy Sources

1Covenant University Ota, Nigeria

2Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria

Published: 15 Feb 2016.
Editor(s): H Hadiyanto

Citation Format:
Abstract

Even though domestic energy can be from either renewable or non-renewable sources, the former is preferred because of its role in reducing both the operational energy intensity and carbon footprint. Given the positive role renewable energy plays in the energy mix, this paper examined the pattern of operational energy use with particular reference to the renewable and non-renewable energy content in medium and high density public residential buildings in Lagos, Nigeria. A survey research method was adopted for primary data collection while data analysis was by descriptive statistics. The study found that renewable energy use in the residential units is very low. In contrast, there was high dependence of the occupants on non-renewable direct fuel combustion through the use of fossil fuel-driven privately-owned electricity generators for electricity supply as a result of the inadequate supply from the national grid. In addition to the relatively high operational energy intensity observed in the studied buildings, the findings have implications for the safety, health and wellbeing of the building occupants as well as for carbon emissions from the buildings and for overall environmental sustainability. Recommendations to increase renewable energy use in new buildings and as retrofits in existing buildings were made.

Article History: Received Oct 18, 2015; Received in revised form January 14, 2016; Accepted January 30, 2016; Available online

How to Cite This Article: Ezema, I.C., Olotuah, A.O., and Fagbenle, O.I, S. (2016) Evaluation of Energy Use in Public Housing in Lagos, Nigeria: Prospects for Renewable Energy Sources. Int. Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 5(1),15-24.

http://dx.doi.org/10.14710/ijred.5.1.15-24

 

Fulltext View|Download
Keywords: Lagos, Nigeria, non-renewable energy, operational energy, public housing, renewable energy

Article Metrics:

Article Info
Section: Original Research Article
Language : EN
Recent articles
A New Method for Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) Blade Optimization Design, Analysis and Optimization of a Solar Dish/Stirling System Bioethanol Production from Iles-Iles (Amorphopallus campanulatus) Flour by Fermentation using Zymomonas mobilis More recent articles
Most cited articles
2D Numerical Simulation and Sensitive Analysis of H-Darrieus Wind Turbine Kinetic and Enhancement of Biogas Production For The Purpose of Renewable Fuel Generation by Co-digestion of Cow Manure and Corn Straw in A Pilot Scale CSTR System A Review on Solar PV Based Grid Connected Microinverter Control Schemes and Topologies Evaluating the potential energy of a heliostat field and solar receiver of solar tower power plants in the southern region of Turkey Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) Approach for Selecting Solar Plants Site and Technology: A Review More cited articles
  1. Afa, J. T.; & Anerih, V. I. E. (2013). Proper energy mix: A solution to stable power supply in Nigeria, Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2(13), 93 – 101
  2. Ajayi, O. O. (2013). Sustainable energy development and environmental protection: Implications for selected states in West Africa, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 26, 532 – 539
  3. Akinbami, J.; & Lawal, A. (2010). Opportunities and challenges to electrical energy conservation and CO2 emissions reduction in Nigeria’s building sector. Proceedings Cities and Climate Change Workshop, Midrand, South Africa, pp.345 – 365
  4. Akpan, U.; & Isihak, S. (2013). Electricity access in Nigeria: Is off-grid electrification using solar photovoltaic panels economically viable?, Proceedings IEEE African Conference, Mauritius, 9 – 11 September
  5. Barth, B.; Mayer, J.; Trennpohl, N.; & Bruckmann, R. (2015). Framework assessment for the photovoltaic business opportunities in Brazil 2014
  6. Elusakin, J.E.; Ajide, O. O.; & Diji, J. C. (2014). Challenges of sustaining off-grid power generation in Nigerian rural communities, African Journal of Engineering Research, 2(2), 51 – 57
  7. Emodi, N. V.; & Yusuf, S. D. (2014). Integrating renewable energy and smart grid technology into the Nigerian electricity grid system, Smart Grid and Renewable Energy, 5, 220 – 238
  8. Energy Commission of Nigeria (2003). National Energy Policy. Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abuja
  9. Energy Commission of Nigeria (2005). Renewable energy master plan, Final draft report, Energy Commission of Nigeria, Abuja
  10. Eronini, N. (2014). Tha adoption of photovoltaic systems among industries and residential houses in Southern Nigeria. Masters Thesis, Mid-Sweden University, Ostersund, Sweden
  11. Ezema, I. C. (2015). Profiling the environmental sustainability of residential buildings in Lagos, Nigeria using life cycle assessment, PhD Thesis, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
  12. Federal Government of Nigeria (2009). Report of the Vision 2020 National Technical Working Group, Abuja
  13. Federal Ministry of Power (2015), National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (NREEEP), Federal Republic of Nigeria
  14. Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) (2014). Global Wind Statistics 2013
  15. Gorini, R. (2014). Brazilian energy efficiency market: using energy efficiency indicators: Strategy Proposal. www.cepal.org/drni/noticias/1/54071/Brazil.pdf. (Accessed 12/09/2015)
  16. GREET (2010), The Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy Use in Transportation Model, GREET1.8d.1. http://greet.es.anl.gov/ (accessed 08/01/2016)
  17. Hofstrand, D. (2008), Energy Measurements and Conversions, File C6-86, University Extension, Iowa State University. www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm. (accessed 08/01/2016)
  18. IINAS (2015), Development of the Primary Energy Factor of Electricity Generation in the EU-28 from 2010 – 2013, International Institute for Sustainability Analysis and Strategy, Darmstadt, Germany
  19. Ilesanmi, A. O. (2010). Urban sustainability in the context of Lagos mega city, Journal of Geography and Regional Planning, 3(10), 240 -252
  20. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC (2007). Fourth assessment report: Climate change 2007. IPCC, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK
  21. IRENA (2011), Renewable Energy Country Profiles Africa, International Renewable Energy Agency
  22. Jeje, B. (2013). Green buildings and low energy houses as adaptation tools for climate change in Lagos State, Paper 5th Lagos State Climate Change Summit, Eko Hotel, Lagos, March 13 – 15
  23. KPMG (2013). A guide to the Nigerian power sector. KPMG Advisory Services, KPMG, Nigeria
  24. Lagos Bureau of Statistics (2013), Digest of Statistics 2013, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Lagos State Government, Nigeria, Ikeja, Lagos
  25. Lagos State Government , LASG (2012a). Consultation Document for the development of a renewable energy policy, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Lagos State Government, Nigeria, Lagos
  26. Lagos State Government LASG (2012b). Lagos State investor handbook: A guide to business and investment in Lagos State, Nigeria
  27. Luomi, M. (2014). Sustainable energy in Brazil: Reversing past achievements or realizing future potentials. OIES Paper SP34, The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, Oxford, UK
  28. Moula, M. M. E.; Maula, J.; Hamdy, M.; Fang, N.; & Lahdelma, R. (2013). Researching social acceptability of renewable energy technologies in Finland. International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment, 2, 89 – 98
  29. Nasirov, S.; Silva, C.; & Agostini, C. A. (2015). Investors’ perspective on barriers to the deployment of renewable energy sources in Chile. Energies, 8, 3794 – 3914
  30. National Bureau of Statistics (2010). Annual abstracts of statistics 2010, Federal Republic of Nigeria
  31. Newborne, P.; and Welham, B. (2014). Joining the grid: Sustainable energy in Brazil. Development Progress Case Study Report, Overseas Development Institute, UK
  32. Obodeh, O.; & Esabunor, T. (2011). Reliability assessment of WRPC gas turbine power station, Journal of Mechanical Engineering Research, 3(8), 286 – 292
  33. Ogunleye, I. O.; & Awogbemi, O. (2011). Constraints to the use of solar photovoltaic as a sustainable power source in Nigeria, American Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 2(1), 11 – 16
  34. Okedu, K. E.; Uhunmwangho, R.; & Promise, W. (2015). Renewable energy use in Nigeria: The challenges and opportunities in mountainous and riverine regions, International Journal of Renewable Energy Research, 5(1), 222 – 229
  35. Otegbulu, A. C. (2011). Economics of green design and environmental sustainability, Journal of Sustainable Development, 4, 240 – 248
  36. Oyedepo, S. O.; Fagbenle, R. O.; Adefila, S. S.; & Adavbiele, S. A. (2014). Performance evaluation and economic analysis of a gas turbine power plant in Nigeria, Energy Conservation and Management, 79, 431 – 440
  37. Paulsen, J. S.; & Sposto, R. M. (2013). A life cycle energy analysis of social housing in Brazil: Case study for the program “My house my life”, Energy and Buildings, 57, 95 – 102
  38. Ramesh, T.; Prakash, R.; & Shukla, K. K. (2013). Life cycle energy analysis of a multifamily residential house: A case in Indian context, Open Journal of Energy Efficiency, 2, 34 – 41
  39. Saidur, R.; Masjuki, H. H.; & Jamaluddin, M. Y. (2007). An application of energy and exergy analysis in residential sector of Malaysia, Energy Policy, 35(2), 1053 – 1063
  40. Sambo, A. S. (2010). Renewable energy development in Nigeria, Paper at the World Future Council Strategy Workshop on Renewable Energy, Accra, Ghana, 21 – 24 June
  41. Sangroya, D.; & Nayak, J. K. (2015). Development of wind energy in India, International Journal of Renewable Energy Research, 5(1), 1 – 13
  42. Shaaban, M.; & Petinrin, J. O. (2014). Renewable energy potentials in Nigeria: Meeting rural energy needs, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 29, 72 – 84
  43. Sood, R.; Aggarwal, R. K.; Mahajan, P. K.; Bhardwaj, S. K.; & Sharma, S. (2014). Estimation of domestic energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission in Mid Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh, India, Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, 3(1), 141 – 147
  44. Spors, F. (2011). Suppressed demand: Definition and consideration of different approaches to address it in CDM methodologies, UNFCCC Standardisation Workshop, Carbon Finance Unit, World Bank, June
  45. Sriwannawit, P.; & Laestadius, S. (2013). Diffusion of photovoltaic systems for rural electrification in Thailand, International Journal of Energy and Environment, 4(1), 49 – 58
  46. Surahman, U.; & Kubota, T. (2012a). Development of a simplified LCA model for residential buildings in Indonesia – A pilot survey in Bandung, AIJ Journal of Technical Design, 18(40), 1003 – 1008
  47. Surahman, U.; & Kubota, T. (2012b). Life cycle energy and CO2 emissions in unplanned residential buildings of Indonesia: A case study in Bandung, Proceedings 28th PLEA Conference, Lima, Peru, 7 -9 November
  48. Taylor, P.; Lavange d’ Ortigue, O.; Trudeau, N.; & Francoeur, M. (2008). Energy efficiency indicators for public electricity production from fossil fuel, IEA Information Paper, International Energy Agency
  49. UN Habitat (2008). State of the World’s Cities 2008/2009. London, Earthscan
  50. United Nations Development Programme UNDP (2010). Promoting energy efficiency in residential and public sector in Nigeria, Nigeria-EE Appliances Project Document, UNDP
  51. United Nations Environment Programme UNEP (2007). Buildings and Climate Change: Status, challenges and opportunities. UNEP
  52. US Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (2008). Energy efficiency trends in residential and commercial buildings, US Department of Energy, Washington DC
  53. USEIA (2015), Country Analysis Brief: Nigeria, US Energy Information Administration
  54. Vossenaar, R.; & Jha, V. (2010). Deploying energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in residential and commercial buildings: What are trading opportunities for developing countries. Global Platform on Climate Change Trade and Sustainable Energy, Issue Paper No. 11, Internation Centre for Sustainable Development
  55. World Bank (2013), Electric power Consumption (kWh per capita). The World Bank, Washington DC
  56. World Bank, (2014), Access to electricity (% of population). The World Bank Group, Washington DC
  57. World Resources Institute (2012). Green house gases calculation tools for stationary emission sources, World Resources Institute, Washington DC
  58. Yuan, X.; Wang, X. & Zuo, J. (2013). Renewable energy in buildings in China: A review, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 24 1 – 8

Last update:

  1. An Assessment of Potential Resources for Biomass Energy in Nigeria

    Simeon Olatayo Jekayinfa, Joseph Ifeolu Orisaleye, Ralf Pecenka. Resources, 9 (8), 2020. doi: 10.3390/resources9080092

  2. Electricity Generation from Municipal Solid Waste in Nigeria: A Prospective LCA Study

    Oluwaseun Nubi, Stephen Morse, Richard J. Murphy. Sustainability, 14 (15), 2022. doi: 10.3390/su14159252

  3. SWHEI: A New Approach to Measure Policy Effectiveness for Solar Water Heaters

    Bruno Luis-Badillo, Daniel Guerrero-Hoyos, Gerardo A. Escamilla, Luis Rojas-Solórzano. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 11 (3), 2022. doi: 10.14710/ijred.2022.44173

  4. Assessing the Technical Offshore Wind Energy Potential in Lagos, Nigeria

    A R Attah, J Abubakar, J Badejo. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 730 (1), 2021. doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/730/1/012036

  5. Resources-Blessed but Energy-Poor: A Critical Review of the Paradox of Energy Delivery in Nigeria

    Esang Lazarus Esitikot, Gerald Ndubuisi Okeke, Akaninyene Edet Ekong, Mary Ubong Umoh, Clement O. Obadimu, Anthony Akadi, Utibe Amos Ofon. International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering Management & Applied Science, 14 (1), 2025. doi: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2025.140102

  6. Electricity Generation Potential and Energy Cost of Wind Conversion Systems in Ikeja Southwest Nigeria

    Adetona Tayo Fatigun, Ebenezer Babatope Faweya, Funmilola Olusola Ogunlana, Taiwo Hassan Akande. Pertanika Journal of Science and Technology, 28 (4), 2020. doi: 10.47836/pjst.28.4.17

  7. A Prospective Social Life Cycle Assessment (sLCA) of Electricity Generation from Municipal Solid Waste in Nigeria

    Oluwaseun Nubi, Stephen Morse, Richard J. Murphy. Sustainability, 13 (18), 2021. doi: 10.3390/su131810177

  8. Future Housing [Working Title]

    Olubunmi Comfort Ade-Ojo, Ayotunde Anthony Babalola. 2023. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.108794

  9. Awareness of the LEED requirements for green housing development among built-environment professionals in Nigeria

    Olubunmi Comfort Ade-Ojo. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 12 (4), 2022. doi: 10.1108/BEPAM-02-2020-0032

  10. The application of renewable energy to social housing: A systematic review

    Annie McCabe, Dorina Pojani, Anthony Broese van Groenou. Energy Policy, 114 , 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.12.031

  11. An Investigation into the Utilisation of Energy Saving Lamps in Residential Buildings–A Case Study of Lagos Nigeria

    Zacchaeus Adetona, Joel Ogunyemi. 2020 IEEE PES/IAS PowerAfrica, 2020. doi: 10.1109/PowerAfrica49420.2020.9219873

  12. Developing a Business Case for a Renewable Energy Community in a Public Housing Settlement in Greece—The Case of a Student Housing and Its Challenges, Prospects and Barriers

    Pantelis N. Botsaris, Paraskevi Giourka, Adamantios Papatsounis, Paraskevi Dimitriadou, Nerea Goitia-Zabaleta, Christos Patsonakis. Sustainability, 13 (7), 2021. doi: 10.3390/su13073792

  13. Electricity Consumption and Efficiency Measures in Public Buildings: A Comprehensive Review

    Aarón Ortiz-Peña, Andrés Honrubia-Escribano, Emilio Gómez-Lázaro. Energies, 18 (3), 2025. doi: 10.3390/en18030609

  14. Household energy consumption within a low-income neighbourhood in Akure, Nigeria

    S D Olanrewaju, O B Adegun. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 1036 (1), 2021. doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/1036/1/012025

Last update: 2025-07-16 11:08:56

  1. An Assessment of Potential Resources for Biomass Energy in Nigeria

    Simeon Olatayo Jekayinfa, Joseph Ifeolu Orisaleye, Ralf Pecenka. Resources, 9 (8), 2020. doi: 10.3390/resources9080092

  2. Electricity Generation Potential and Energy Cost of Wind Conversion Systems in Ikeja Southwest Nigeria

    Adetona Tayo Fatigun, Ebenezer Babatope Faweya, Funmilola Olusola Ogunlana, Taiwo Hassan Akande. Pertanika Journal of Science and Technology, 28 (4), 2020. doi: 10.47836/pjst.28.4.17

  3. Modelling the impact of Nigeria household energy policies on energy consumption and CO2 emissions

    Dioha M.. Engineering Journal, 22 (6), 2018. doi: 10.4186/ej.2018.22.6.1

  4. The application of renewable energy to social housing: A systematic review

    Annie McCabe, Dorina Pojani, Anthony Broese van Groenou. Energy Policy, 114 , 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.12.031

  5. Household-Level Effects of Energy Insecurity on Welfare in Southern Africa: A Malawian Case Study

    Fydess Khundi Mkomba, Akshay Kumar Saha, Umaru Garba Wali. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 10 (1), 2021. doi: 10.14710/ijred.2021.33234

  6. An Investigation into the Utilisation of Energy Saving Lamps in Residential Buildings-A Case Study of Lagos Nigeria

    Adetona Z.. 2020 IEEE PES/IAS PowerAfrica, PowerAfrica 2020, 2020. doi: 10.1109/PowerAfrica49420.2020.9219873