ENERGY-CONSUMING SYSTEMS AND ENERGY PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF THE BAYERO UNIVERSITY KANO SENATE BUILDING FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Institutional buildings in hot-climate regions are often categorised as high operational energy demanding, because cooling systems operate for extended periods with limited energy-efficiency measures. This study evaluates the energy-consuming systems and energy performance of the Senate Building at Bayero University Kano (BUK), which is located within the Sahel Savannah ecological zone of north-western Nigeria, in order to establish an empirical baseline for subsequent energy optimisation. Building energy audit was undertaken using systematic on-site inspection, inventory of equipment, load assessment, and analysis of operational characteristics. A total of 380 split-unit air-conditioning systems with a combined cooling capacity of 2,004.5 kW thermal was identified, 1,564 lighting fixtures with a total installed load of 39.03 kW, and a total measured electrical demand of 193.51 kW was recorded. The Energy Use Intensity (EUI) calculated  (1,020.7 kWh/m²/year) significantly exceeds the UNEP benchmark of 250 kWh/m²/year for institutional buildings in developing nations. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems were identified as the major energy consumers. Contributing factors to this high demand include extended daily operating hours (15 hours/day), absence of automated environmental controls, absence of Energy efficiency measures and exclusive reliance on decentralized split-unit air conditioners. This study establishes a foundation for empirical data necessary for formulating targeted energy optimization strategies and developing AI-based energy management frameworks for institutional buildings in Northern Nigeria, directly supporting Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).