Jose Cavaco*, Pedro Horta, Joao Farinha Mendes,

INETI, Department of Renewable Energies, Campus do Lumiar do INETI, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal

* Corresponding Author, iose. cavaco@ineti. pt

Abstract

Prior to recent building regulations enforcement, the use of Solar Thermal Systems (STS) in residential buildings was dependent on the proactive role of building promoters, as is the case of EPUL (Public Company of Urbanism of Lisbon), which has studied along the last decade, after a joint work with INETI, the possibility of using solar energy in new apartment buildings.

Such a STS was installed in a new multi-storey building just before the new building
regulations, making the use of solar energy in residential buildings mandatory, was enforced.

At the present, INETI is monitoring the STS over a two year period. The monitoring results, reported in the present article, make this system a good example for demonstration purposes, either from technical solutions and operation points of view, having in mind the need (because of solar obligation) and interest (for building certification) for the adoption of such systems in multi-owned buildings. [13]

According to the agreement between the two entities, INETI also assisted EPUL on choosing the solar thermal system (STS) supplier, on the detailed project approval and on the system monitoring for a period of 2 years, to have an idea of system efficiency in comparison with initial estimations and its follow-up for a period of time considered long enough to be sure about its behaviour in the future, giving also the opportunity to detect problems that can be solved in this initial period.

This paper presents a description of the solar thermal system configuration in point 2, and a description of the implemented monitoring scheme in point 3. The data already obtained will be shown and analyzed in point 4, as well as the actual dwelling owners’ degree of satisfaction. Present conclusions and remarks are presented in point 5.