Onyenokporo, N C and Ochedi, E T (2019) Low-cost retrofit packages for residential buildings in hot-humid Lagos, Nigeria. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 37(3), pp. 250-272. ISSN 23984708
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop a set of affordable retrofit packages that can be applied to existing residential buildings in hot-humid regions to improve occupants' thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption. Design/methodology/approach: A critical review of relevant literature to identify passive design strategies for improving thermal comfort and reducing energy consumption in hot-humid climates with focus on the building envelope was conducted in addition to a simulation study of an existing building typology in study area. Findings: There is enormous potential to reduce energy costs and improve thermal comfort through building retrofit packages which is a recent concept in developing countries, such as Nigeria. Analysing the results of the retrofit interventions using building energy simulation helped in developing affordable retrofit packages which had optimum effect in improving indoor comfort temperature to the neutral temperature specified for hot humid Nigeria and further down to 3°C less than that of the reference building used. The use of passive design strategies to retrofit the building might help homeowners reduce their annual energy consumption by up to 46.3 per cent just by improving the indoor thermal comfort. Originality/value: In addition to improving thermal comfort and reducing energy consumption, this research identified affordable retrofit packages and considered its cost implications especially to low-income earners who form a larger population of Lagos, Nigeria, as this was not considered by many previous researchers.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | energy perfomance; low-cost; Nigeria; retrofit; thermal comfort |
| Index terms: | Nigeria, residential building, package, building envelope, humid climate, Lagos, building energy simulation, energy consumption, income, building typology, thermal comfort, comfort, strategy, homeowner, passive design, developing country, energy cost, methodology, population |
| Subjects: | architectural elements, management, research methods, Geography, development economics, occupational health and safety management, demography, sociology, environmental engineering, cost management, construction type, climate science, sustainability and energy, contractual arrangements, energy systems, economic analysis |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Sustainability, Procurement, Construction Technology, Stakeholder Management, International Construction, Urban Studies, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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