Ann Arbor : University of Massachusetts Lowell, 2004.
Pages:
123
Language:
English
Abstract:
The feasibility of a bio-solar house was investigated for a hill tribe (Hmong) in the mountains in the rural areas of the north of Thailand that has no electric power for lighting or clean fuel for cooking or space heating/cooling. There are two design parts in this study; the solar house with passive solar features and a photovoltaic system, and a biogas system. The insulation for house in this study is straw available in that area and the thermal mass is a stone floor. The PV system is expected to produce enough electricity for two fluorescent lights, one lantern light and one radio with an loss-of-load probability of 5%. The biogas system will produce 2 m3 of methane gas per day, enough for cooking for five people. The initial estimated cost of the bio-solar house is low, so it's expected to pay for itself in 5 years. The biogas system by itself has a predicted payback time of one year based on gas prices in a nearby city and appears worthy of continued development.