ASSESSMENT AND IMPACT OF SOLAR WATER HEATERS AFTER MORE THAN 15 YEARS OF OPERATION

摘要

It is well known that water heaters account for a significant percentage of the electricity consumption of residential homes. This paper analyzes two different types of systems after they have been operational between 15 and 25 years. Both systems were installed between 1978 and 1993 in two different cities in Colombia, South America. They serve about 13 thousand apartments. Each water heater serves 10 apartments with the first system, while the other system serves only one. This paper addresses issues such as user satisfaction with the systems, impact on the household, problems with service, usability and reliability, costs and efficiencies related to the systems, and their impact on users and energy companies. The research data comes primarily from a survey of the users and secondarily from the administrators of the residential complexes and the electric utility company.