ASSESSMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF BUILDING PERFORMANCE
A CASE STUDY OF SOME SELECTED BUILDINGS IN KADUNA NORTH
Abstract
The quest for sustainable and efficient building environments has intensified in response to escalating global concerns over energy consumption, environmental degradation, and rising costs of living. This study critically assesses and explores strategies for optimizing the performance of residential buildings in Kaduna North, Nigeria, with the overarching goal of enhancing energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), occupant comfort, and water utilization. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, the research integrates quantitative and qualitative performance metrics to examine selected buildings' operational characteristics. The methodology incorporates detailed performance evaluation across five major domains: energy usage, water efficiency, IEQ (including thermal comfort, indoor air quality, lighting, and acoustics), and post-occupancy satisfaction. By deploying surveys, on-site measurements, and comparative benchmarking, the study quantifies inefficiencies in current building practices, identifies critical performance gaps, and outlines practical optimization pathways. The findings reveal that while many buildings meet basic occupancy standards, they fall short in energy conservation, water use optimization, and environmental adaptability—factors that significantly impact both economic sustainability and user wellbeing. Key drivers such as the removal of government subsidies, increasing utility tariffs, and the broader socioeconomic pressures in Nigeria underscore the urgency of rethinking residential building strategies. The study also underscores the role of Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) in aligning building design with user needs, promoting energy-saving technologies, and guiding stakeholders—designers, developers, policymakers—toward data-driven decision-making for future developments. The implications of this research are twofold. Practically, it offers actionable recommendations for retrofitting existing structures and integrating sustainable practices into new designs. Theoretically, it advances the discourse on building performance in Sub-Saharan Africa, providing a replicable framework for similar assessments across urbanizing contexts. In conclusion, optimizing building performance is not merely a technical pursuit but a socio-economic necessity for achieving resilience, reducing carbon footprints, and enhancing quality of life in emerging urban centers.
Keywords:
Water Efficiency, Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE), Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), Energy Efficiency, Building PerformancePublished
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Copyright (c) 2025 YUSUF MUHAMMAD WAZIRI

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.