Energy Consumption and Usage Reduction in Lecture Halls, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

All over the world energy is used for different purposes and hence its continuous high demand which has brought about an increase in crisis and prices of energy. Ghana has faced a lot of supply and high electricity consumption challenges over a period of time. The Energy Commission of Ghana has developed regulations and guidelines to help reduce high consumption challenges among users, these included the replacement of incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs, ban of importation of low energy efficient appliances. In spite of the effort to reduce electricity wastage, there is still a high increase in electricity consumption. The research investigated what contributed to electricity consumption in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with the lecture halls as the main focus, the research also analyzed the current occupant behavior characterized by the electrical energy consumption practices. And investigated how the contemporary theories for reducing energy consumption was used in the lecture halls. A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate occupants on their energy use practices in lecture halls that causes wastages, observation was made to establish relevant data on the use of contemporary theories for energy reduction in lecture halls. In a total of 110 occupants that responded to the questionnaire, 79 occupants almost always turn off electrical fitting and fixtures when not in use. From the responses, a majority of the occupants claimed to comply to best practices of energy use. The research concluded that some contemporary theories to reduce energy consumptions was not used and considered in the lecture halls.


Introduction
All over the world energy is used in performing different kinds of activities hence its high demand. In Ghana, the energy crisis has caused so much damage to industries, businesses, and some institutions and has also prevented the efficient productivity of goods and services [1]. According to the World Energy Council (2010) [2], energy consumption will be directly proportional to the increasing population and economic growth of a country in some years to come. Ghana has faced a lot of supply and transmission challenges and high electricity consumption levels over a period of time. In 2006, the Energy Commission was established to set guidelines and requirements for entities desiring to operate electricity supply to reduce transmission and supply challenges [3].
Also, the commission developed some code of regulations to tackle electricity wastage among users. These included the replacement of incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs in households, and educational institutions, the ban of importation of low energy efficient appliances and making energy efficient appliances affordable for every citizen [4]. In spite of the effort to reduce electricity wastage, there is still a high increase in electricity consumption and wastage. Many schools are challenged by poor usage of energy and energy efficiency practices [5]. Is there any relationship between teaching and learning and high energy consumption? How can these relationships be understood? In response to the emerging gap in knowledge, this study investigates what contribute to electricity consumption in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) lecture halls. The main focus of this report is to contribute to the improvement of energy efficiency of lecture halls at KNUST.
An observational study on students has shown that students turn out to be reluctant in regulating electrical fixtures and appliances when not in use. And thus, most electrical fixtures are left on for a very longtime. Energy efficiency in buildings depends on the important degree to which the specific energies have been utilized [6]. Project at early stage design, key decisions normally made by the architect may have a significant effect on the subsequent possibilities of the energy usage of a building [7]. Improved systems in buildings minimize its need for mechanical cooling and thus maintain the building significantly reduces energy consumption.
Literature on energy savings that can be achieved by optimized building forms and designs, improved efficiencies of individual energy-using systems in buildings, and educated occupant behavior and the function of building systems are also some of the contemporary theories that are not regularly implemented in the lecture halls to enhance energy efficiency [8]. But these contemporary theories proposed by researchers are mostly overlooked.
The main objectives of this study are to  Investigate the energy consumption practices and occupant behavior in the lecture halls.
 Identify contemporary theories for reducing electric energy wastage in lecture halls.
 Develop a tool that will be used to improve the energy efficiency in lecture halls. This paper is organized in six sections. Section 2 shows an overview of electricity consumption practices in lecture halls, the relevance of the proper design of lecture halls, theories for reducing electric energy wastage and energy efficiency tools for design of lecture halls. Section 3 describes the quantitative approach in gathering data for the study.
In Section 4, the documentation of results from occupants of lecture halls and management are presented. Section 5 analysis the results and compares them with data obtained from section 2. Conclusion and recommendation are drawn based on findings of the study in Section 6.

Literature Review
The broad area of energy consumption pattern can be narrowed to it wastage in lecture halls. The idea of this is to unveil all the variables in the subject to enable discussion of the situation in the study area.
2.1. Electric energy consumption practices and occupant behavior 2.1.1. Electricity Wastage Educational institutions in America use an average of 18.9 kilowatt hours (kwh) and spend an average of $ 1.10 per square foot yearly on electricity, contributing to an estimated 279 billion kwh of lighting use in the university sector [9]. Wasteful usage of electric energy in university buildings can be prevented because research rooms, lecture halls and offices still stay lit even though unoccupied, but this misuse can be reduced by incorporating effective behavioral improvement and mindset [10].
Although occupancy sensors can save 20 percent of the electricity required for illumination relative to manual switches alone, behavioral rewards provide a less costly and ultimately more viable and internationally available solution that can lead to rapid and free-standing decreases in annual energy bills [11]. During the construction or post-occupancy management process, the effect of building occupant activity on energy usage is normally not considered [12].

Occupancy behavioral impact on energy use
Total electric energy use of buildings showed major variations even in similar climates between buildings with the same purpose and located [13]. Occupant behavior is also one of the most significant sources of uncertainty in the prediction of building energy use. This is due to the complexity and inherent uncertainty of occupant behavior [14]. With the trend towards low energy buildings that reduce fossil fuel use and carbon emissions, getting occupants actively involved during the design and operation of buildings is a key to achieving high energy performance without threatening occupant comfort [15]. The occupancy behavior is categorized in three workstyles, and they are as follows; the austerity workstyle, the standard workstyle, and the wasteful workstyle.  Amongst the building structures in university campuses, the lecture halls hold all academic activities which is usually segregated from all other buildings to facilitate a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning. Unlike conventional classrooms, with a capacity of twenty to forty, [18] describes academic lecture halls as being a large space where students acquire knowledge. Research shows that the capacity of lecture halls is usually measured in the hundreds.

Basic consideration in lecture hall design
If facilities are built in compliance with standards, they establish an energy efficient building, provide an environment that promotes and encourages effective teaching and learning [19]. The concept of standard considerations for the design of the lecture hall were revealed by U. Isoa, 2013. These are: 2.3.2.1. General lighting system in lecture hall M. Rachmawati [20] in his research pointed out that the amount of lighting received in a space is one of the most obvious indicators for the adequacy of an illumination system. He further defines illumination as the amount of light falling on the working plane or the object of attention. To achieve visual comfort (IES, CIBSE and DIN EN 12464), the general lighting system recommends a minimum of 500 lux for reading halls and a demonstration desk area of up to 750 lux in relation to the classroom area.

Ventilation systems in lecture hall
Ventilation is the substitution of used existing air with the outside air. It does have three major purposes which are, structural cooling, supply of fresh air and body cooling [21].
Wind pressure or mechanical means like fans, Stack effect, evaporative coolers and air conditioners can contribute to the moving of air through the building. Research shows that the shape, height, orientation and planning of buildings ventilation determines its air flow around buildings. Furthermore, external features and factors, as well as the number and size of openings also constitute to factors that affect air flow through buildings. This require significant increase in the proportion of renewable energy in the international energy mix and doubling the worldwide speed of advance in energy efficiency. Gielen [22] stated that there are numerous benefits societies and countries can gain from energy efficiency, yet the major blockade to effective implantation is the change of behavior and mindset. Behavior change is of central importance in bringing about the significant reductions in energy end-use. In this study, it is intended to review some of the mechanisms that could contribute to sustainable behavioral change.

Increasing awareness in public spaces for behavioral change
Although education is vital in this regard, putting in place technical strategies to make the energy visible and tangible to prevent wastage becomes very important [23]. An evaluation of studies in the workplace proved that pro-environmental behaviors in this setting is dependent on both individual factors such as attitudes and organization specific influences, but shows that the interaction between individual and organizational factors lack proper understanding. It is recommended that intervening to promote proenvironmental behavior in the workplace should focus not only on physical facilitation, but also tailored persuasive communication and the active engagement of middle management (Staddon). The groups were permitted to assist in the auditing activity by using various measuring instruments such as Power Demand Analyzers and Lux meters. The Electrical Maintenance Section also sought cooperation to collect past data and to take measurements.

Sampling Size Determination
Kotler and Roland [25] explains a sample as a part of a population selected as a proxy in the research. With a smaller population the resources are able to reach out to everyone.
And with a sample, it makes everybody who matters to the survey accurately represented. In drawing the inference, the main interest is to understand that the sample can infer and apply across the entire population. Probability stratified random sampling technique is used in selecting respondents who will part of the sample. Stratified sampling is when an important characteristic of your research is divided and this creates a statistical feature.
The population is then sampled randomly within each category [26].
Snowball sampling is a sampling technique which the odds of respondents being selected for the sample cannot be for. This sample is usually used in hidden populations. With the aid of virtual social network to allow respondents recruit colleagues into the sample is known as virtual snowball sampling [27].
With the aid of the virtual snowball sampling technique, data was collected from those who were readily available (students and lecturers) without a projected sampling size.

Data Collection Methods
Based on the objectives of the research, the areas of interest include: Forms where a link was forwarded to occupants via WhatsApp and E-mail.

Data Analysis
The data was critically analyzed based on the research question in order to satisfy the purpose of the research. The raw data of the respondents was analyzed using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings from the survey are tabulated and it explains the results to the questions. This section documents the responses obtained from users of lecture halls (students) on their energy usage behaviors. Students were questioned to find out how they engaged in energy consumption practices in their daily activities in the lecture halls.

Demographic characteristics of users of the lecture halls
In all, 150 questionnaires were administered through Google Forms links. A total of 110 responses were received. This number consisted of males who recorded a total of 68 respondents and females who recorded a total of 42 respondents. Figure 3 below represents the gender distribution of the student respondents. The respondents were asked about their colleges of affiliation. A graphical representation of the respondents in according to their colleges is show in Figure 3.

Electrical Appliances Used
The survey revealed that users of lecture halls (students) possessing a number of electrical appliances. The personal appliances were laptop computers, mobile phones, tablets and the general or shared appliances were projectors, public address system, electric bulbs, ceiling fans and air condition system. The shared appliances are supplied by the lecture halls management and the lecturers. Figure 4 show the distribution of students' personal appliances in the lecture hall.   Table 1 below Distribution of students' personal appliances in the lecture hall.

Laptops Mobile Phones Tablets
Students' Responses on Energy usage Behaviours   Figure 6 below. Leave appliance plugged when fully charged Almost always Very Often Not very Often Not at all Figure 6 above also shows that students professed to engage in energy conserving behaviors as most responded to have not been leaving appliances plugged in when not in use very often (37%).
Lastly, the category of whether students switch of appliances when leaving the lecture hall is made up of response to questions such as: Turn off fans when leaving the lecture hall, turn off air condition when leaving the lecture hall. Figure 6 also shows the summary of the responses.

Management response
Management, comprising users of lecturers and heads of department other than students, were also involved in the data collection and analysis process. Questionnaires were administered to 30 members of the management in total. This number comprised one head of department and 4 lecturers from each of the six colleges in the institution. Leave appliances plugged in when not in use. Figure 5, Figure 6 and Table 1 show the distribution of these categories.

Responses of management on energy wastage behaviors by management
Turn off appliance when not in use  However, most management respondents asserted in the study that they do report electrical faults to school electricians. Figure 9 below shows the levels of agreement of the management respondents in the category of reporting electrical faults to school electricians. 5. Discussion

Summary of findings
This chapter of the research presented the results obtained from the field study and went on further to discuss what they possibly implied. Prime among these findings were the fact that quite contrary to what run across in some previous research reviewed in literature, users of lecture halls (students) engage in inefficient resource use practices and therefore excessive consumption. The findings also revealed that management (comprising lecturers and head of departments) engage in some energy wastage practices that could contribute to the overall energy wastage in the lecture halls. There may certainly be other factors that could cause energy wastage in the lecture halls but were not the focus of this study. The next and final chapter of the research will document a summary of the findings; relating them to how they have met the research objectives and suggest recommendations in response to curbing energy in the KNUST lecture halls.

Lecture Hall Users and Electric Energy Consumption
From the literature survey, it was identified that electric energy consumption by lecture hall users (students) were their use of electrical gadgets and appliances. Prime among the electric consumption were: Leaving cables plugged in after using sockets (which drains energy by the phenomenon called phantom power).
Leaving appliances on when they were not really in use or not needed Literature also identified wastage caused by management. Electric energy losses were primarily due to: Failure to provide efficient appliances in lecture halls

Identify contemporary theories for reducing electric energy wastage in lecture halls
Based on the responses acquired from investigations made during the field survey, it can be realized that occupants on one hand already engage in energy efficient behavior. From the responses, a majority of the occupants claimed to comply to best practices of energy use in their daily activities. However, it was realized that management on the other hand had some retrofitting to do in terms of the provision of efficient appliances. Management was also found lacking in the area of sensitizing the occupants on electric energy. Regular maintenance of the electrical systems of the lecture hall must also be prioritized by the management.

Discussion
Based on the findings of the study, the following are the recommendations made in response to curbing the state of energy wastage in the lecture hall.

Energy Conservation Measures to be Employed by Management
The study revealed that lecturers mostly engage in energy wastage practices, maybe due to busyness in the lecture hall when they are lecturing. As result of this, the researcher recommends that lecturers assign their teaching assistants or class representatives to take care of their electronic gadgets and therefore keep in track of their energy usage so that they may turn off or unplug appliances when they are not being used in the time of lecture by the lecturer. Nevertheless, it is also recommended that lecturers be mindful of their practices as they cost the university in terms of bills and therefore should try their best to monitor their energy usage and hence conserve energy.
6.2. Policy Interventions to be Introduced by University Management to Curb Electric Energy Wastage.
The researcher recommends that the management of the university introduce policies that would allow for regular large-scale maintenance of electric gadgets and appliances used by lecturers in order rectify faults that can result in supply losses. It is also recommended that sockets have some devices that could check faulty appliances when they are plugged in. Again, management of the university may also strengthen the prompt repairs of electrical faults when they are reported as the study shows that both students and lecturers almost always report electrical faults.