Adapting the European typology approach for building stock energy assessment (TABULA) concept for the developing world : the Nigerian case study

Although developing countries are rapidly urbanizing, many of their citizens still live in rural environments and the majority of the energy use is dominated by the built environment. This study aims to demonstrate the adaptation of the European typology approach for building stock energy Assessment (TABULA) project to the developing world to enable leapfrogging rural regions to sustainable energy-based societies. A case study is performed that considers ten locations across different geopolitical zones and the different climatic zones of the most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa: Nigeria. The objective is to analyse the energy performance of the low-cost building stock and assess the potential for energy and economic savings. Applying the reference building approach, building typologies were identified consisting residential and non-residential function buildings. Building simulation and composite scenario analyses were carried out and considered indoor environmental quality for adaptive comfort strategies, building retrofits by improving the building envelope and energy efficiency measures for equipment and building operation. The results for Nigeria are provided as examples of disaggregated energy characteristics of the built environment and low-cost building stock, and then a wider application to other developing countries is discussed with inherent policy implications for an effective policy mix such that takes cognisance of the tenets of Energy Modelling for Policy Support (EMoPS) and inform the design of de-factor green energy polices geared towards rehabilitating the local built environment.