Determinants of Sustainable (Solar) Energy Efficiency in Research Institutes in Kaduna State, Nigeria
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Description
Solar energy is a renewable form whose importance as a sustainable alternative solution to the
perennialenergy crisis in Nigeria, among others cannot be overemphasized. Of the three main classes of
renewable energy (hydropower; solar, geothermal, wind; and biomass/combustibles which includes firewood,
wastes,etc.)solar energy category is the least developed or utilized despite its inexhaustible potentiality as
longas the solar system continues to exist. This study investigated the solar energy efficiency of the research
institutes in Kaduna State Nigeria, as well as identified its determinants for beneficial harmonization of methods
of improvement. The research technique applied was cross-sectional survey based on randomlyselected sample
size of 60 respondents from the two Energy research institutes in the State(located at Kakuri/Kaduna and
Zaria). A total of 55 questionnaires were retrieved representing over 91% response rate. Data obtained from
the field survey by means of questionnaires were analyzed with descriptive(frequencies and proportions) and
inferential statistics (Pearson product-moment correlation and Standard multiple regression analyses) with the
aid of IBM SPSS 21 software. Results of data analyses revealed that thestudy population perceived Overall
Performance rating of the Solar System in the facilities (buildingsand their environments) or dependent variable
(d.v.)to be over 88%, a mean score of 9 on a 10 point scale which is very good. Three predictorswere identified
in the study area,with total Adjusted R Square of .744 that explained 74.4 per cent of the residual variation in
the d.v. The predictors and their standardized beta coefficients are ‘Dependency on Public power supply other
than Solar System in the facility (-3.094)’,‘energy subsidy through use of the active strategies- solar panel(-
2.582)’, and ‘Ages of Respondents (.322)’.The study recommended for improvement to the d.v. by reduction in
‘dependence on Public power supply in the facilities’ andreduction in ‘energy subsidy through the use of the
active strategies (solar panel)’with corresponding increase in passive strategies, among others for optimum
solar energydevelopment.
Keywords
T Technology (General), TH Building construction