Redeemer's University Policy on Energy Efficiency Standards for New Construction and Renovations

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Document on the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development).

Policy was updated in 2022

Policy was reviewed in 2024

Introduction and Policy Mandate

Purpose

To establish the mandatory energy efficiency standards, measurable performance metrics, and a robust compliance framework for all new construction, major renovation, and infrastructural development projects at Redeemer's University. This ensures physical growth aligns with the University’s vision of becoming a model of sustainable campus development and contributes tangibly to the target of a 40% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.



Scope and Definitions

This policy is mandatory for all projects overseen by the Directorate of Physical Planning and Works and the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), effective August 29, 2025.

  1. Scope: Applies to all new building projects, and all major renovations where the project cost exceeds 25% of the building's current appraised value or involves replacement of major energy-consuming systems (HVAC, electrical, envelope).
  2. Major Renovation: A project that replaces or significantly modifies a majority of a building system (e.g., HVAC, lighting, envelope) or replaces more than 50% of the building's envelope components.


Review and Revision

This Policy on Energy Efficiency Standards shall be formally reviewed by the Office of the DVC (Development) and the Directorate of Physical Planning and Works every two years to incorporate updates in national codes and international best practices.

  1. Initial Review Date: August 2027


Mandatory and Aspirational Energy Efficiency Standards

All construction and renovation projects must comply with the following national codes and must strive to meet the aspirational international standards to achieve the University's climate goals.



Mandatory National Compliance Standards (Nigeria)

All projects must comply with the most current edition of the following Nigerian standards.

Standard Authority Focus Area Mandate Creation/Review Date
Nigerian National Building Code (NNBC) General Building Safety and Design Ensure all designs and materials meet minimum requirements for fire safety, structural integrity, and environmental performance. Latest Revision
Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Materials Quality and Certification Use only construction materials (e.g., cement, steel, electrical fittings, lighting) certified by SON to ensure durability and specified performance. A formal SON Certification check is mandatory for all primary materials. Ongoing Certification
National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Environmental Permitting & Impact Assessment Obtain necessary Environmental Permits for all major projects, ensuring compliance with waste management and resource conservation guidelines. Latest Regulations


Core Energy Performance Standards (International & Best Practice)

The following standards define the minimum acceptable energy performance benchmark for all University facilities.

Standard Authority Focus Area Mandate Creation/Review Date
ASHRAE Standard 90.1 Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings Minimum Compliance Benchmark. All designs must be rigorously modeled and documented to demonstrate energy performance equivalent to or better than the most recent published edition of ASHRAE 90.1. Latest Revision
International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Energy Code Compliance Ensure compliance with the IECC for building envelope, mechanical systems, and lighting efficiency, referencing the latest available edition. Latest Revision


Aspirational Performance and Certification Standards

Projects are required to incorporate the design principles necessary to achieve the following, demonstrating global leadership in sustainability.

Standard Authority Focus Area Mandate Aspirational Target
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Integrated Sustainable Design New construction projects over 5,000 square meters shall be designed to be capable of achieving a minimum of LEED Certified status. LEED Certified
Energy Consumption Reduction Energy Use Intensity (EUI) New facilities must target an EUI that is at least 30% lower than the ASHRAE 90.1 baseline model (as verified by simulation). 30% Reduction vs. Baseline


Technical Requirements and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

To ensure energy efficiency, the Directorate of Physical Planning and Works must enforce the following precise design requirements.



Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) Systems

  1. Renewable Energy Integration: All new facilities must incorporate solar photovoltaic (PV) ready infrastructure, including conduit runs, space in electrical rooms, and structural capacity to host panels sufficient to offset at least 10% of the facility's peak demand. The University targets 30% of campus energy from renewable sources by 2028.
  2. HVAC Systems:
    • Mandatory specification of high-efficiency equipment (e.g., Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) or high-efficiency chillers) with minimum efficiency ratings (EER/COP) exceeding ASHRAE 90.1 minimums by 15%.
    • Installation of Demand-Controlled Ventilation (DCV) in densely occupied spaces (e.g., lecture halls, auditoriums).
  3. Lighting: Exclusive use of LED lighting fixtures with mandatory implementation of daylight harvesting controls and occupancy/vacancy sensors in all common areas, lecture halls, and offices. The Lighting Power Density (LPD) must be at least 25% below the IECC prescribed limit.
  4. Metering: Installation of Smart Energy Metering in 100% of all new builds, with sub-metering for major energy end-uses (lighting, HVAC, plug loads, and renewable generation) to allow granular performance tracking.


Post-Construction Verification

  1. Commissioning: Mandatory third-party commissioning of all energy-consuming systems and associated controls to verify system performance against design specifications and operational needs. The commissioning process must begin during the Schematic Design phase.
  2. Environmental Audit: The DVC (Development) shall commission a full environmental audit certification for all major projects every two years.


Compliance and Accountability

Design Phase Deliverables

Design teams must submit comprehensive documentation at the following milestones:

  1. Schematic Design (SD): Submission of the initial energy analysis report, project sustainability goals, and preliminary EUI target calculation.
  2. Design Development (DD): Submission of a Detailed Energy Model demonstrating compliance with the ASHRAE 90.1 baseline and the 30% energy reduction target. A list of primary materials with verified SON Certification numbers must be provided.
  3. Construction Documents (CD): Final energy model, verification of commissioning specifications, and final material specifications.

Monitoring and Reporting

  1. Responsibility: The Sustainability Office is responsible for the collection and benchmarking of post-occupancy energy consumption data for a minimum of five years.
  2. Corrective Action: Corrective action will be mandated if the building exceeds its projected EUI by more than 15% in its first two years of operation. The DVC (Development) must approve an action plan within 90 days of the performance gap identification.
  3. Public Reporting: Operational energy data for all new facilities will be included in the annual development and sustainability performance reports submitted to the Senate and Council (Section 8 of the DVC Development Policy).

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