IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS FROM SOLAR HOT-WATER PRODUCTION

The environmental benefits associated with the utilization of solar en ergy for hot water production are estimated in this work. The case of a particular country, Greece, and its electricity production system is employed to show the direct consequences of substituting electricity with solar energy for hot water production. The amount of conventional fuel saved, i.e. lignite and oil, is estimated, and the reduction in air pollution is calculated. This allows the calculation of reduction emission factors for solar hot water production to be undertaken. Data , with respect to the materials and the amount of energy necessary for the construction of the solar heaters, are also presented. These can serve as inputs to an energy-environment policy framework in order td lead to reductions in the production of air pollutants like SO2, NOx a nd particulates, and the release of the greenhouse gas CO2 into the at mosphere. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.