Optimising Window Performance for Natural Lighting and Ventilation in Bauchi State Lecture Theatres

Lecture theatres are contributors of high energy consumption and the emission of greenhouse gases in Nigeria’s public institution. This consumption of this excess energy came as a result of lightening and ventilating the lecture theatres through conventional means. Therefore, the need to optimise window performance for natural lighting and ventilation in the lecture theatres has become necessary in order to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gases emission in the environment. The study is aimed at assessing window performance towards the provision of natural lighting and ventilation in lecture theatres within Bauchi state public institutions of learning. Lecture theatres in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), Federal Polytechnic Bauchi (FPTB), and Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU) were sampled out of the numerous learning institutions in the state. The purpose of the study is to reduce the excessive use of non-green energy and the CO<sub>2</sub> emissions associated to the building energy consumption in the lecture theatres. The window performance was assessed through accessing the occupants’ perception in the provision of natural lighting and ventilation. Interviews, observation and questionnaires were used to assess their comfort level with natural ventilation and their satisfaction with natural lighting. The results from the study area identified that, the more occupants of the lecture theatres gets comfortable with window performance in the provision of natural ventilation, the more satisfied they become with the window performance in the provision of natural lighting. In conclusion the study recommends the integration of occupants’ perception in the design of lecture theatres and a design model for building professionals that will effectively optimise energy efficiency in lecture theatres.