SOLAR THERMAL COLLECTORS PERCEPTION AND APPLICATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

摘要

While renewable energy use is quickly catching up in developed countries, its use in developing countries has been relatively limited. In this paper, a study on the energy consumption patterns of 251 households has been conducted. Only 3.6 % were found to have a solar thermal collector (STC) for water heating. A comparative overall analysis of electric consumption shows, rather surprisingly, that STC users generally consume more electricity. This is in line with the fact that the average apartment area for STC users is 278 sq.m. vs. 181 sq.m. for non STC users, the average house value for STC users is $164,000 compared to $92,000 for non STC users, and average house age for STC users is 20 years compared to 36 years for non STC users. This readily identifies the STC group as an upper class with a higher standard of living on average. Further analysis of the sample indicated that the two highest electricity consumers were STC users. Despite the proven energy saving potential of solar water heaters, only the wealthier portion of the population is taking advantage of these savings and not the needy lower class. Renewable energy education and government subsidies for such systems, which is currently non-existent, are highly recommended as they could readily motivate more and poorer people to install such systems.