Determination of effects of plants on the residential buildings in the central area of Lokoja as substitute for artificial cooling and ventilation in Nigeria

Abstract

The hotness of Lokoja affects the comfort of people especially during the heat season, and this is a problem. To reduce the problem, the effects of plants on the residential buildings in the central area of Lokoja were evaluated, in order to generate a framework to reduce the costs of the use of electric power generators for artificial cooling and ventilation in Nigeria. Random sampling method of data collection was adopted and this brought about the selection of 100 residential buildings for the study. The primary research data were obtained from the direct observations of the selected buildings with respect to the use of plants in buildings. Moreover, they were obtained from the questionnaires administered to the occupants of the selected buildings, and the focus group discussions with them. Among other results are: the majority of the buildings that were studied have no use of plants for landscape architecture; it has been very difficult for the building occupants such that the prices of purchasing, maintaining and fueling of electric power generators have skyrocketed and the commensurate income to cope with the life style is dwindling and thereby negatively affecting the standard of living or hindering an average life style from being maintained. Among other recommendations are: the architects and owners of residential buildings should emphasise on the use of plants for landscape architecture, in order to reduce the costs of making use of electric power generators to power appliances for cooling and ventilation in Nigeria; the government of Nigeria should embark on the education of the general public through media and other means with regards to the importance of natural cooling and ventilation from the use of plants around the buildings.

Keywords: Buildings, Cooling, Nigeria, Plants, Ventilation.