Evolvability

This objective sought to examine the perceptions of the respondents on the impacts of climate change on energy needs.

The result is presented in table 5.6 and discussed afterwards.

From table 5.5, it will be observed that a total of 167 and 158 of these respondents strongly agreed and agreed that the materials used for building and construction has changed and that they believed that the newly evolving building materials are climate compliant respectively.

In the same vein, while the respondents acknowledged that the evolving new building materials are expensive and requires new technologies, it was also clearly shown that these are only beautiful

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without the consideration of climate impacts. As depicted in table 5.5, a good number of the respondents agreed and strongly agreed that the transition from zinc roofing system to aluminum, metro tiles and stone coated roofing system are part of climate change adaptation. Also, majority of the respondents agreed that the adaptation and adoption of green roofing is to contain the impacts of climate change on structures while about 67 of the respondents strongly disagreed to this as another 67 remained neutral to the inquiry. Similarly, a good majority, about 137 and 158, of the respondents believed that the adoption of hydra foam and natural bricks are part of the adaptation mechanisms in the building industry to contain the supposed impacts of a changing climate to buildings.

In other words, the responses from the respondents revealed that they are quite knowledgeable about the effects of climate change and its parameters on buildings and perceived that the nature of changing construction materials were targeted at adapting buildings the possible impacts of a changing climate. They acknowledged that though these materials are changing and sometimes expensive but that they are not good enough if climate is not considered in their development. The result also shows that though the newly evolving building materials and technologies are good and are very functional, they would fail the aim of their invention and as such still become dysfunctional despite their expensive nature if they are not tailored to adapt to the tropical environment which is characterized by excessive rainfall impacts, high temperatures and humidity etc.; they may be easily waterlogged or penetrated during rainfall.

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Table 5.6: Perceptions on Climate impacts on Energy Needs

Question Items SA=5,A=4,UD=3,D=2,SD=1 SA A UD D SD Statistics Mean STD Energy need in buildings in Enugu metropolis varied over

the last three decades.

83 150 58 25 9 3.8 0.56 The variation in energy needs of buildings in Enugu is a

product of climate variations

20 120 86 79 20 3.1 0.44 Does temperature change/increase affect the energy need

of a building?

142 92 33 33 25 3.9 0.51 Does amount and intensity of rainfall affect the energy

need of a building?

111 128 51 26 9 3.9 0.52 Does wind direction affect the energy need of a building? 63 108 72 45 37 3.4 0.28 Does Humidity and Cloud Cover affect the energy need of

a building?

83 133 75 17 17 3.8 0.49 Does sunshine intensity affect the energy need of a

building?

137 120 51 17 0 4.2 0.61 Heating up of the building increases the energy need in

building

108 125 42 42 8 3.9 0.49 Cooling down of the building increases the energy need in

building

94 111 60 43 17 3.7 0.38

Cluster Means and Standard Deviation 3.7 0.48

Source: researcher field survey 2017

Table 5.6 shows the response of the respondents on what they perceived as constraints by climate variability and change on energy needs in buildings. Most of the respondents agreed that the changes in energy needs of buildings are a product of climate variations whereas about 86 of them were indifferent about this assertion while 79 disagreed strongly that changes in energy needs has no relationship with climate variations or change. In addition, the respondents agreed, as about 142 and 92 agreed strongly that temperature is a determinant factor in energy needs in buildings by occupants of these structures. In the same vein, they agreed that wind also determines the level of energy need and rates of energy consumption by buildings in Enugu metropolis. Another effect of climate variations on level of energy needs in buildings that received strong agreement from the respondents is the humidity levels in these buildings and the challenge of maintaining the humidity levels to ensure comfort especially on days with overcast cloud cover. They also agreed that amount of sunshine and sunshine intensity entering buildings determines the level of energy need.

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More so, 108 and 125 of the respondents agreed at various degrees that the need to heat up of buildings or the reverse of it increases energy cost and consumption.

Cost in energy consumption could be reduced greatly if changing or varying climatic conditions of the concerned sites are put into proper consideration. For instance, when buildings are properly oriented in relation the sunrise and direction of sunrise and sunset, this may lead to energy savings as the sunlight while continuously illuminate the inside of buildings especially throughout the day such that there may not be any need to use electric bulbs to illuminate buildings during the day.

Objective 6: develop a model for predicting the effects of climate variability on building design,