Achieving energy efficient building through energy performance analysis of building envelope in student housing

Protecting the built environment through reasonable incorporation of sustainable principles into the design of buildings is a vital role of architects and other built environment professionals. By so doing, the increase observed in energy demand of buildings constitutes a major challenge to the protection of and reduction of greenhouse gases produced by buildings. This constitutes a critical element in the movement towards a more sustainable future. This study examines the indispensable relevance of carrying-out energy performance analysis on a building design blueprints prior to construction. The study employs the use of Autodesk Revit 2014 as a Building Information Modeling (BIM) tool and Autodesk Green Building Studio (GBS) for energy performance analysis of an existing student housing at Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria in order to recommend energy efficient strategies that could be implemented at the design phase of the student housing. The energy-saving effects of the different building envelope were investigated and results were analyzed. The annual energy use revealed approximately 60 percent of electricity consumed from the national grid with the left-over 40 percent expelled on fuel. This result was, however, based on an assumption of a 20 hours minimum daily power supply from the national grid. The monthly heating load chart shows that heat is lost from the walls of the building. The walling material has a considerable impact on energy consumption. The simulation results of the existing student housing were compared with eight alternative designs that alter the building envelope and incorporate shading devices to reduce the carbon footprint and energy use. The best alternative design runs reduced the energy consumed yearly from 402, 168 kWh/year to 385, 318kWh/year.