The study was carried out to determine the density and mechanical properties of Al-7%Si alloy-Bagasse Ash (BA) composite produced at 800 o C. BA obtained at 700 o C and having high silica and alumina contents of up to 77.29% and 10.95%, respectively was used as reinforcement and varied from 0vol% to 30vol%. The density and some mechanical properties of the produced composites were determined. The results showed that the density decreases with percentage increase in reinforcement from 2840.242kgm-3 to 2292.208kgm-3 with the minimum value at 30vol% BA. The results of the mechanical properties tests showed that, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) varies from 139.677MNm-2 to 176.683MNm-2 with maximum value at 10vol% BA, Young modulus varies from 1429.890MNm-2 to 1725.425MNm-2 with maximum value at 10vol% BA, impact strength varies from 75.401kJm-2 to 128.262kJm-2 with maximum value at 10vol% BA and hardness varies from 70.467RHV to 90.767HRV with maximum value at 20vol% BA and with all the hardness values better than that of the control sample. The results also showed that, the fatigue strength varies from 0.066x10 6 cycles to 1.797x10 6 cycles with maximum value at 15vol% BA and the percentage elongation having approximately the same value.The results of the statistical analysis showed that there are significant differences among the means of each property of the composites at various levels of BA replacement (P<0.05).It was concluded that bagasse ash can be used as reinforcement in aluminium composites and the produced composites could be used in automobile industry for the production of engine blocks, pistons, among others.

This study was carried out to determine silica and alumina potential of ash of sugarcane bagasse obtained from Savannah Sugar Company Numan, Adamawa state of Nigeria. Sugarcane bagasse samples were burnt in a metallurgical furnace at three different temperatures of 500 o C, 600 o C and 700 o C. The percentages of ashes that remained after burning were found to be 12.65%, 10.89% and 9.95%, respectively. The ashes were ground to powder and using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) machine, the samples of the ashes were analysed to determine their percentage chemical oxide composition. The XRF results show that the silica contents are 76.168%, 76.292% and 77.286% while alumina contents are 11.079%, 11.410% and 10.951% for 500 o C, 600 o C and 700 o C respectively. It was concluded that the sugarcane bagasse ash has high silica and alumina total content both of which are the most commonly used reinforcing materials in aluminium matrix composites. It was recommended that to enhance the application of the ash as reinforcement, the ash should be further heated at 1100 o C and above for a period of 2-3hours.

The present study aims to provide insight on energy profiling of a residential college in public university. The study involves electrical energy monitoring for six months from the month of March until August 2017. The data utilized to derive the average monthly consumption for both semester period and semester break. The consumption during semester break has been recorded to increase as much as 88% from the consumption during the semester break. The building energy index of the residential college has been recorded to be at 22.90 kWh/m2/year meanwhile the energy intensity was recorded to be at 1,932.08 kWh/occupant/year.

This study was carried out to determine the potential of Girei Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as reinforcement in metal matrix composite. Rice husk from local millers in Girei market in Adamawa state was collected, prepared and burned in metallurgical furnace at temperatures of 500 o C, 600 o C, 700 o C, 800 o C and 900 o C and the percentage ash yields determined. The resulting ashes were analysed using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) machine to determine their chemical oxide composition. The result shows that the resulting ash yield based on mass basis were 19.

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The study aims at developing an analytical assessment model for use in assessing building energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emission characteristics. The methodology includes selecting appropriate indicators, tool development and description, indicators description, energy and carbon characteristics assessment, and performance evaluation. The characteristics measured are renewable energy adoption (REA), overall and roof thermal transfer values (OTTV), (RTTV) and (U-value), natural ventilation and daylighting access (NVA) and (NDA), thermal comfort index (TCI) and daylighting access factor (DAF). Operational characteristics indexes are building energy and carbon indexes (BEIx) and (BECIx), energy and carbon reduction indexes (BERI) and (BECRI), energy and carbon intensities (BEIy) and (BECIy), and billing cost reduction (BCR). Four faculty buildings and a library building were assessed and tagged as case studies A, B, C, D, and E. The case studies assessed have BEI of 79.85, 131.37, 60.21, 161.47, and 63.86 kWh/m2/year and BECI of 55, 91, 42, 112, and 44 kg.CO2e/m2/year respectively. These values lead to BERI and BECRI of 22, 16, 27, 16, and 36% respectively. From these results it can be seen that case studies A, C and E have the lowest BEI of 80, 60, and 64 kWh/m2/year and the highest BERI and BECRI of 22, 27, and 36% respectively. These give them a higher billing cost reduction of 36%, greater than 80 points, and excellent practice performance. The tool provides all the project-level design and operational considerations, emission reduction strategy, and estimation. The ability of the tool to assess the case study buildings makes it suitable for adoption by organizations and governments for accounting and monitoring energy usage and GHG emission associated with building life cycle activities. The study shows that utilizing appropriate strategies and practice on building design and operation respectively improves building energy usage.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop a set of parameters universally acceptable for assessing design and construction strategies for reducing operational energy usage and its associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. Also, the parameters are intended to estimate the quantity of energy and its associated GHG emission reduction over the assessment period. Design/methodology/approach This study used five steps framework comprising definition of purpose, selecting the candidate parameters, criteria selection and description, selecting proposed parameters and defining the proposed parameters. The criteria used were the parameter’s prevalence, measurability, preference and feasibility toward adaptability to the relevant stakeholders. Findings This study consolidated 11 parameters. Seven cover designs and construction strategies comprising energy monitoring, natural lighting and ventilation design. Others are building thermal performance, efficient equipments, renewable energy and energy policy. The remaining four consider operational energy consumption, GHG emission quantification and their reduction over time. Practical implications Providing suitable indicators for assessing direct and indirect GHG emission with easily accessible data is essential for assessing built environment. The consolidated parameters can be used in developing rating systems, monitoring GHG inventories and activities of building related industries. Originality/value This study was conducted at the CEIES UTHM and used 11 existing rating systems open for research purposes, International Panel for Climate Change reports and GHG protocol report and guides and several other standards.