Fire disaster preparedness (FDP) is of paramount importance in preventing the globe’s most prevalent disaster. This has been a big issue for developing nations. The study investigated FDP among residents in a high-income community of a part in Southwestern Nigeria. The aim of the study was to identify the preparedness of residents regarding fire disasters in residential buildings in Parakin, Ife Central Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. To achieve the objectives, a quantitative study was carried out, primary data was sourced from structured, self-administered questionnaires. 80 buildings was purposively selected for the study. Affiliated literature was reviewed. Descriptive statistical tools such as frequency distribution and percentage was used in analysing the data. Chi-square tests at a significance level of 0.05 was done. SPSS version 23.0 was used in analysing all the data. Findings revealed that FDP is very low in the study area as respondents have very little or no firefighting facilities or gadgets, awareness, training about FDP. Chi-square tests revealed that there was no statistical significance between age of respondents and preparedness, ownership of home and preparedness, education and preparedness and sex and preparedness. It was established that preparedness for fire is very low. The study, however, recommended the provision of active and passive fire protection facilities in buildings, proper training of building users on FDP, enabling laws are also needed to promote the installation of fire protection, prevention, detection and suppression.

The proliferation of generators used in urban settlements in Nigeria over the years has been a major source of concern to the health and comfort of building occupants. This study, therefore, assessed the impact of outdoor and indoor noise levels associated with the use of generators on the environment and building occupants. The study area, Ibadan Metropolis, was divided into core, transition and suburban zones. Five (5) residential buildings were purposively selected in each of the core, transition and suburban zones of the study area. Measurement of noise levels was taken with the use of a digital sound level meter with compliance to NESREA and OSHA standards. The outdoor noise levels before and during use of generators were taken at 0, 2 and 4m from external walls of the buildings sampled while the corresponding indoor noise levels were taken at the actively useable internal space; at a least distance of 1m from internal walls, 1.2-1.5m above floor level and 1.5m from windows. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected. The findings of the study revealed that the mean indoor noise levels of 79.97 dB, 87.4 dB during use of generators in residential buildings were highest in the core zone and above the permissible limits. The study concluded that there should be adoption of best housekeeping practices by positioning generators in properly built enclosure features; and efforts made to enforce sales and procurement of generators with noise abatement mechanisms that can conform to ISO 3744 and local codes so as to mitigate impact of its high noise levels on the health and comfort of building occupants.

The use of incandescent bulbs by the majority of building occupants in Nigeria has complemented high cost of electrical energy consumption and this has informed prevalence of different types of energy efficient lighting bulbs. The study, therefore, identified and examined types of lighting bulbs used, assessed the rate of use of energy efficient bulbs in selected residential buildings and examined factors influencing its use. The study was carried out in Ife Central Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. Residential settlements in core wards in the study area were considered and four wards in the core zone of the Local Government were randomly selected from the total of eleven while data collection was done with the use of primary and secondary data techniques. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 5% sample size from the entire population and systematic sampling procedure was further employed by selecting every 10th building in the direction of movement which indicated selection of 123 houses. A total of 123 structured questionnaires were administered on the respondents on issues associated with the use of lighting bulbs. Data collected were analysed by both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The study found that 90.53% and 72.63% of the respondents used incandescent and energy saving bulbs respectively; variation existed in the wattages of different brands of energy saving and non-energy saving bulbs used in the selected buildings: A major proportion of the respondents used an average number of 1-5 lighting bulbs in buildings and its spaces therein; while quality and cost-saving benefit, energy saving benefit and durability of bulb influenced the choice of fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent bulbs and light emitting diodes with a mean score value of 2.20, 2.29 and 2.85 respectively. In view of the need to enhance visual performance and comfort of buildings and its occupants respectively, efforts must be made by government to ensure that consumers awareness and enlightenment be increased on the types of lighting bulbs to procure and there is also need to strengthen mechanisms through the importation and sales of energy efficient bulbs only so as to enhance its cost-saving and environment–related benefits amongst others.

Over the years, visual comfort has been described as a major requirement needed to enhance optimal performance of occupants in any learning environment in tertiary institutions. This is reflected in the poor performance of the commonly used Fluorescent Lamps (FL) occasioned by its constant burn-off, high failure rate and reduced durability. Hence, there is a shift to the adoption of Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) and Light Emitting Diode (LED). This study therefore examined the pattern of electricity consumption involving the adoption of FL, CFL and LED in the purposively selected lecture theatres of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The study was carried out using energy monitor to obtain the consumption data of the lamps for periodic logging at intervals of 1 hr, 3 hrs, 6 hrs, 12 hrs, 1 day, 7 days, 1 month and 3 months respectively; and also to determine the payback period of each of the lamps. From the data collected, patterns of electricity used, electricity savings were calculated and compared to establish performance potentials of each of the lamps. The study found that there was a significant difference in the pattern of electricity consumption of FLs compared with that of CFLs and LEDs, but a reduced margin existed between CFLs and LED lamps. It showed that the FLs consumed 681.576 kWh, 1619.466 kWh and 5652.432 kWh, CFLs consumed 387.302 kWh, 692.479 kWh and 1936.600 kWh, while LED consumed 294.188 kWh, 426.608 kWh and 1499.015 kWh. There were significant differences in consumption with 43, 47 and 65% reduction in electricity consumption using CFLs while 57, 73 and 73% using LED fittings were obtained. The CFLs performed better in terms of return on investments by having a lower payback period when compared to LED. The study concluded that replacing FL with CFL and LED would be desirable option in order to enhance optimal performance of lecture theatres, but in terms of payback period, it would be beneficial to retrofit FLs with CFLs.

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