Role of Solar Energy in Reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State

Abstract

The study investigated role of solar energy in reducing GHG emission in Makurdi LGA. Three research questions were framed and three null hypotheses formulated and tested. Descriptive survey research design was adopted using a sample size of 306 from a population of 1,500 respondents (500 motorcycle and car owners, 400 business owners and 600 households from Fiidi, Wailomayo and Baa council wards in Makurdi LGA). A structured questionnaire was validated by three experts to test for internal consistency. Cronbach’s alpha reliability technique was used to ascertain reliability of the instrument with a coefficient index of .87 Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions while one way ANOVA was employed  to test the null hypotheses. Findings revealed a positive impact of the role of solar energy towards reducing GHG emission. It was recommended that: Government through relevant stakeholders should increase awareness so that citizens will know and increase the use of solar because it produces clean energy devoid of GHG, government at all levels should subsidize solar energy equipment for more citizens to afford since it reduces the emission of GHG into the atmosphere and government should enforce a barn of fossil fuel driven cars so as to reduce environmental pollution.