Bioclimatic Design Principle a Solution to Thermal Discomfort in Minna Residences, Niger State Nigeria

Abstract

Residential buildings are places where people find themselves to be for a better part of their day. For a lot of individuals, this should serve as a comfort zone but is being defeated by a number of factors that range from construction materials choices, inappropriate design concept to suite building location, lack of consideration of existing site features, micro climate of the building location and improper orientation of building. From the simple random sampling in Niger State Nigeria drawn from Dutsen Kura, Tunga and Chanchaga in Minna, it was deduced from the study by administering 25 questionnaires in Dutsen Kura, 14 in Chanchaga and 15 in Tunga that 49% of residents are uncomfortable in their homes during the day, while the rest 26% find it to be fair while 24% say it is good. The aim of this paper is to determine ways in which thermal comfort can be achieved in houses within Minna. The methodology adopted was both structured survey and observation. It was deduced that bioclimatic design through the use of readily available materials can reduce the effect of heat gain into the building, incorporation of natural landscape, and micro climate of the environment will be considered. It is recommended that individuals in their various capacities adopt such design principles in order to have a serene, energy efficient and less polluted environment.

Keywords: Bioclimatic Design, Local Materials, Thermal Comfort.