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Reducing Heat-Load in Buildings through the Use of Solar Screens: Case Study of Bookshop House, Lagos



Author(s)

Adebamowo Michael, Godwin John and Oginni Adeyemi

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DOI:10.17265/1934-7359/2012.10.013

Department of Architecture, University of Lagos, Lagos 23401, Nigeria

Technology advancement has ensured a better means of livelihood essentially in certain parts of West Africa, specifically Nigeria, where the climate is predominantly hot in most parts throughout the year. Air-conditioning has reduced the harshness of indoor discomforts to the barest minimum. It is no more uncommon to find it regularly in use in most homes and offices. Currently, the economy has the centrality of its power supply hinged on generator plants. The enigma of the current situation is how this alternative problem has catastrophic after effects on the environment. This and many more add up to the greatest of all the threats now evading our environment and the world — Global warming. The threat of Global warming is real and the need to find less environmentally destructive sources of energy cannot be overemphasized. This paper is a contribution towards energy saving in buildings through the reduction of solar radiation incident on buildings. Sustainable Building calls for an integrated planning approach for operating buildings economically, substantially reducing their impact on the environment by reducing energy/power consumption, amongst others, and enhancing the well-being of their inhabitants. Only buildings that reconcile all of the above factors are fit for the future. A case study of the CMS (Catholic Mission School) Book Shop house in Lagos was carried out. The methodology involved the use of a solar chart and shadow angle protractor to determine the overheated periods represented by the shading masks and data collected. From this analysis, it was decided to accept the use of external sun shading and preliminary designs and specifications were prepared by the architects. The use of external solar screens made a saving of up to 75% of the energy input which would otherwise have been required by air-conditioning.

Heat load, buildings, solar screens, energy savings, shading masks.