Spatial and economic conditions of the solar energy use in single-family houses - a case study

Abstract

The provisions in the European and Polish law oblige to increase the use of energy obtained from renewable energy sources. In order to meet these demands, it is necessary to take into account the singlefamily housing sector that has a significant energy potential. Among the unconventional heat sources that have gained the highest popularity, it is worthy to note installations using solar energy for instance to prepare DHW (domestic hot water) or be used in buildings’ heating. It is also worth mentioning that this type of technical solutions can be successfully used as well in new as modernized old residential buildings. Our paper discusses the problems associated with planning of solar installations with flat and vacuum solar collectors mounted on the roofs of the single-family buildings. During the analysis we used GIS&T technology, multi-criteria decision support as well as detailed spatial data obtained by modern remote sensing techniques including airborne laser scanning. The proposed methodology and tools were used on the example of the selected part of a single-family housing estate located in Bialystok. The research focused on issues of the multi-criteria assessment of the assembly of use of roofs for solar collectors, including data on a solar potential, exposure, slope, surface and roofs’ shape. Additionally, we took into account roof zones on being in a shadow caused by roof elements, roof infrastructure and high vegetation. Based on the simulation results we analyzed possibility of plate and tube solar collectors’ application that would provide warm water for 1-4 habitants of houses. The results of our research showed high utility of the proposed methods in the field of spatial and economic assessment of the use of solar collectors in the single-family housing sector.