Designing for the Environment: An Example of Multi-Criteria Analysis Used for Solar Hot Water System Selection

In the European Union, the building sector accounts for more than 40% of final energy consumption, contributing to the deterioration of the quality of the environment. Among the various solutions that aim to reduce the negative environmental impact caused by the operation of buildings, solar hot wat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energies (Basel) 2022-01, Vol.15 (1), p.65
Main Authors: Żelazna, Agnieszka, Gołębiowska, Justyna
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acidification
Air pollution
Alternative energy sources
Aluminum
Climate change
Copper
Design
Electricity
Energy consumption
Energy resources
Environmental impact
Environmental protection
EPBT
Heat
Hot water heating
multi-criteria analysis
Multiple criterion
Nonrenewable resources
Outdoor air quality
Payback periods
primary energy
Radiation
Renewable resources
SHW system
Software
Solar energy
solar thermal energy
SPBT
Sustainable yield
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Summary:In the European Union, the building sector accounts for more than 40% of final energy consumption, contributing to the deterioration of the quality of the environment. Among the various solutions that aim to reduce the negative environmental impact caused by the operation of buildings, solar hot water systems (SHW) are popular. The choice of a SHW system is associated with the comfort of use and the access to low-cost energy. The design guidelines include the technical parameters for system operation such as materials, dimensions, sizing and operation temperatures. However, the legitimacy of choosing a particular solution and the available technical parameters are key issues. In the presented study, a multi-criteria analysis was proposed as a basis for the proper selection of system parameters, e.g., collector type, solar tank volume. A model of the SHW system was used to calculate the possible solutions, ensuring the same comfort of usage for several design options. The analyzed model was then used for the calculation of three various indicators: Simple Payback Time (SPBT), Primary Energy consumption (PE) and IMPACT 2002+. The application of a multi-criteria analysis based on a Life Cycle Assessment allowed for beneficial solutions to be found from the point of view of economics, non-renewable resources and environmental protection.
ISSN:1996-1073
1996-1073
DOI:10.3390/en15010065