Impact Of Materials Used In Construction Of Shading Devices On Quantity Of Indoor Heat Gain In Residential Buildings In Owerri, Nigeria

Abstract

The control of indoor temperature of buildings, amongst other tools, has emerged as an important strategy for indoor air climate management. This strategy has become particularly important for stakeholders in the built environment in their efforts towards environmental sustainability. The study sought to investigate the relationship between the material used in constructing shading devices and the quantity of indoor heat gain in residential buildings with a view to developing design strategies for reducing heat gain in residential buildings in Owerri. The research was designed as a field survey. Out of the 13 housing layouts in Owerri, 5 homogenous layouts were chosen by random sampling. Out of a total population size of 1570 housing units, a 5% rule of thumb was applied to select a sample of 79 for the survey. Data was collected using observation schedule and data loggers. The variables in focus were interval variables, hence, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Analysis tool was used to examine the significance of the relationship at 95% compliance. It was found that there was no significant relationship between the 'Thickness of reinforced concrete overhang' and 'Average heat gain in residential buildings' in Owerri, Nigeria. It was recommended that stakeholders in the built environment be sensitized about the necessity for tackling the problem of heat gain in buildings and the imperative of adopting sun shading devices as a viable tool for achieving this goal. It was equally recommended that further research be conducted on viable, alternative suitable materials that could be used for the construction of shading devices in the study area.