Analysis of Electricity Consumption Patterns and Conservation Opportunities in Government Office Buildings in Makurdi, Benue State

This study analyses electricity consumption patterns and identifies energy conservation opportunities in government office buildings in Makurdi, Benue State, North Central Nigeria. Government buildings are major consumers of public electricity and represent a significant opportunity for demand reduction and cost savings, yet systematic energy auditing of federal and state government offices in North Central Nigeria is largely absent. Energy audits were conducted in eight government office buildings in Makurdi Metropolis, covering ministries, departments, and agencies. The audit methodology included electricity billing analysis for 24 months, walk-through inspection of electrical systems, nameplate data collection of all installed equipment, occupancy profiling, and spot measurements of lighting levels and equipment power draw using calibrated instruments. Audit results show that lighting accounts for 38 percent of total electricity consumption, air conditioning for 41 percent, and office equipment for 21 percent. A large proportion of installed fluorescent lighting fixtures have not been converted to LED despite the significantly higher energy efficiency of LED technology. Air conditioning units in several buildings are oversized relative to room heat loads and are set to excessively low thermostat temperatures. Computer equipment is rarely switched off outside working hours. Cost-effective conservation measures identified include LED lighting retrofits, air conditioning right-sizing and thermostat policy enforcement, installation of occupancy sensors in intermittently used spaces, and a building energy management awareness campaign. Implementation of all identified measures is estimated to reduce electricity costs by 34 percent annually. Keywords: energy audit, government buildings, electricity conservation, Makurdi, Benue State.