CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of Study
As shopping malls space becomes more multi-use, the spaces provided should adapt to the need of the users. This dissertation tends to evaluate the principles of passive design in the design of a shopping mall in order to reduce its annual energy demand especially in hothumid climate of Nigeria.
Twenty years ago, a historic meeting of governments, business organisations and civil society organisations laid down an obligation to achieve sustainable development, named the Rio Declaration. This phenomenal declaration by the United Nations General Assembly as cited in Miyazawa (2012) brought in its wings, as a fundamental paradigm that embraced the integration of economic growth, social equality and environmental sustainability. However, there still remains a gap between this declaration and fruitful action. While the landmark definition of Sustainable development presents it as a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Therefore the necessity for passive design in both developed and developing countries is fast assuming an important global stance.
