Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Use of Local Building Materials has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with energy efficiency of buildings. This growing interest reflects the recognition that use of local building materials does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within Kaduna State.

Kaduna State presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on use of local building materials, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with energy efficiency of buildings, particularly within Kaduna State. Many organizations continue to make decisions about use of local building materials without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect energy efficiency of buildings. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Use of Local Building Materials on energy efficiency of buildings in Kaduna State.
2. To assess the extent to which use of local building materials influences energy efficiency of buildings within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with use of local building materials in relation to energy efficiency of buildings.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing use of local building materials in order to improve energy efficiency of buildings.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of use of local building materials on energy efficiency of buildings in Kaduna State?
2. To what extent does use of local building materials influence energy efficiency of buildings within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with use of local building materials in relation to energy efficiency of buildings?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize use of local building materials in order to improve energy efficiency of buildings?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of architecture, this study has practical value for management teams within Kaduna State seeking to understand how use of local building materials translates into measurable outcomes around energy efficiency of buildings. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Kaduna State, focusing specifically on how use of local building materials relates to energy efficiency of buildings within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.