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Adaptive Thermal Comfort Evaluation Of Typical Public Primary School Classrooms In Imo State, Nigeria
Get PDFClimate change is causing high-temperature increase, which is affecting people’s health especially the vulnerable group such as children. Literature reviews revealed various complaints about health issues caused by heat stress as they relate to this group exposed to poor indoor thermal conditions while they are engaged in class activities. This problem necessitated a need to evaluate the thermal conditions of occupants of some selected public primary schools, used as case studies, in which 134 pupils, aged 7-12 years, participated in the survey. The main objective was to determine the indoor thermal conditions of the classrooms and to compare the occupant’s thermal sensations, thermal preference and thermal acceptability in these selected spaces. This paper presents the results of this field survey conducted in the months of October and early November 2017 in two categories of naturally ventilated spaces; the ‘’open plan’’ and the ‘’enclosed space’’ classrooms located in Imo State, Nigeria. The indoor and outdoor thermal variables were recorded together with the simultaneous administration of the questionnaire to evaluate how the pupils feel about the indoor thermal conditions in the classrooms. Results revealed that the mean thermal sensation vote in the combined ‘’open plan classrooms’’ was -0.04, while that of the ‘’enclosed space classrooms’’ was +0.32, adopting the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) scale. Though the two classrooms reported different thermal sensations votes, the indoor thermal conditions were generally accepted by the occupants probably attributed to their adaptive abilities and the season the survey was conducted. The results may not be generalized to apply to all seasons since this very study was conducted during the late part of the rainy season. This, however, provides useful information to architects and engineers who are keen on designing and constructing sustainable indoor spaces
Metal Scavenging As A Means Of Income Generation In Anambra State
Get PDFThe study evaluated the contribution of metal scavenging to income generation in Anambra State. The study design was a field survey consisting of observation, interviews and daily recording of scrap metals recovered and sold by scavengers in the study area for 10 months. The population of the study consisted of 483 scavengers and 53 dumpsite managers identified in the study area, while the sample size comprised of 220 scavengers and 30 dumpsites/managers, randomly chosen. Others were 30 Anambra State Waste Management Agency (ASWAMA) officials and 300 people living around dumpsites. Four sets of structured questions and questionnaire were used to obtain information from the respondents. Data analysis was done using percentages and averages, while analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for testing the hypothesis formulated. The findings of the study were (1) A total of 4845.23 metric tonnes of scrap metals was salvaged for 10 months by 220 scavengers in the state earned the operators a whooping sum of N11,735,147.10 in 10 months (into the economy of Anambra State.) (2)The average monthly income of scavengers studied ranged from N39359.50 to N62,704.80. (3) the result of ANOVA applied to analyze the perception of the respondents on scavenging as a means of income generation is statistically significant at an F-ratio of 4.545> Table F-ratio of 2.62 at 0.05 level of significance. (4) Over 76% of the respondents were of the view that scavenging is a veritable means of income generation in Anambra State. (5) That the least average monthly income (N39,359.50) realized is more than the gross pay (N38,823.00 minimum wage) of a grade level 10 step 1 public servant in Anambra State. An inference drawn from the study is that metal scavenging provides income not only to scavengers but to many others who find livelihood in the occupation, thus helping to alleviate poverty in the State. Scavengers should be integrated into formal waste management system in Anambra State to tap from their wealth of experience in waste sorting and handling