Design and Implementation of a Smart Campus Energy Monitoring System for ESUT

The rising cost of electricity and the inefficient use of energy resources in Nigerian university campuses have prompted the need for intelligent monitoring systems. This study presents the design and implementation of a smart campus energy monitoring system for Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). The system leverages Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, microcontrollers, and a cloud-based dashboard to collect, transmit, and visualize real-time energy consumption data across faculty buildings. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining hardware prototyping with software development using the Arduino platform, ESP8266 Wi-Fi module, and a web-based interface built on the LAMP stack. Baseline energy audits were first conducted across selected ESUT buildings to establish consumption benchmarks. The system was then deployed in two pilot buildings, where sensors monitored voltage, current, and power factor at 15-minute intervals over a period of eight weeks. Results indicate that the system successfully detected abnormal consumption patterns, leading to a projected reduction in energy waste by approximately 23 percent. Alerts were generated automatically when consumption thresholds were exceeded. The study concludes that IoT-driven energy monitoring systems are technically feasible and economically beneficial for Nigerian university environments. Broader deployment across the ESUT campus is recommended, with further integration of machine learning algorithms for predictive load management.