Cost-effectiveness analysis of alternative water heater systems operating with unreliable water supplies

Abstract

This paper reports on a cost-effectiveness analysis of four types of water heating systems operating in a situation where there is an unreliable water supply. These systems are electric water heating, a solar water heating system (SWHS) with electricity back-up, the SWHS with an LPG water heater, and an LPG water heater alone. It is found that in the conditions of North Cyprus, an SWHS with an LPG heater backup is the most cost-effective, most convenient and most environmentally friendly system. The last two systems all have a cost per m(3) of hot water that is approximately 50% of the cost of heating water by electricity. This study finds that in situations where there is a winter or cloudy season, the choice of the source of energy for SWHS's back-up during this period is critical for its overall cost-effectiveness. When a pressurized supply of water is available, the cost of heating water is reduced by 20% for the SWHS with LPG back-up and for the heating of water by the LPG heater alone. (c) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.