Evaluating University Building Performance in Northeast Nigeria through Sustainable Facilities Management

Abstract

The need for sustainability assessments in the built environment is growing due to the rapid changes in the environment as a result of global climate change, resource depletion, and environmental degradation. Therefore, the study aims to establish a comprehensive model that considers sustainability principles when evaluating the facilities performance of university buildings in the North-East region of Nigeria. The study adopted a quantitative approach, and the target population comprises 200 building users (staff of works and maintenance departments) across the federal universities in six states of Northeast, Nigeria. The analysis was conducted using multiple regression analysis. The result revealed that strategies' effectiveness significantly affects sustainable building facilities performance indicators, where maintenance management was identified as the most significant FM indicator in terms of performance with R2 value of 56.7%. Subsequently, the energy efficiency indicator with an R2 value of 55.6%, water management with R2 value of 51.9%, and indoor environmental quality performed least with R2 value of 43.7%. The study recommended that universities in the region should invest in sustainable technologies and infrastructure, such as energy-efficient lighting systems, renewable energy sources, water-saving fixtures, and advanced building management systems. These investments can significantly reduce operational costs and improve the overall sustainability performance of university buildings.