Renewable Energy Utilization in Rural Residential Housing: Economic and Environmental Facets

Aleksandra Siudek, Anna M. Klepacka, Wojciech J. Florkowski and Piotr Gradziuk
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Aleksandra Siudek: Department of Economics and Organisation of Enterprises, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Anna M. Klepacka: Department of Economics and Organisation of Enterprises, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Wojciech J. Florkowski: Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223-1797, USA

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-18

Abstract: Energy and climate policies benefit from modernized construction technology and energy supply source choices. Energy-efficiency improvement and CO 2 emission reduction will result from renewable energy (RE) utilization in new and retrofit single-family houses in rural Poland. Several house construction scenarios and heating energy sources comparing building costs and potential emission reduction are based on already existing structures calculated for a 100 m 2 dwelling corresponding to the average rural home. With the addition of thermal insulation and RE-generating equipment, construction costs increase, but the energy costs of operating the home dramatically shrink between a conventional and energy-neutral house. The latter scenario includes thermal solar panels and a heat pump as heating energy sources as well as electricity-generating PV panels. Replacing coal with environmentally-friendly RE reduces CO 2 emissions by about 90% annually. Additionally, lower dependence on coal lessens other GHG emissions leading to immediate air quality improvement. New house building regulations guide homeowner construction and heating energy choice, but even larger gains could result from retrofitting existing rural houses, expanding environmental benefits and generating energy bill savings to households. However, the varying climate throughout Poland will require the purchase of energy in winter to assure residents’ comfort.

Keywords: renewable energy; rural residential housing; emission reduction; construction regulations; Poland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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