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

Agnieszka Żelazna and Justyna Gołębiowska
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Agnieszka Żelazna: Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, 40B Nadbystrzycka Str., 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Justyna Gołębiowska: Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, 40B Nadbystrzycka Str., 20-618 Lublin, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: solar thermal energy; SHW system; multi-criteria analysis; SPBT; EPBT; primary energy; IMPACT 2002+; LCA; sustainable design (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: 2021
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