Title:
Social, Economic and Environmental Impacts of the Wood Biomass Use in Cyprus Households
Author(s):
Charalambous, A., Kordatos, H., Tsoutsos, T.D., Tournaki, S., Charalambides, A.G., Nisiforou, O.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
In many island communities of Europe, wood biomass is considered one of the most important sources of energy for heating and cooking, especially for the mountainous and rural ones. The aim of this paper is to determine comprehensively the wood biomass quantities consumed in the mountain areas of Cyprus; additionally the origin of biomass, the implications of the uncontrolled use and overexploitation of wood biomass as well as the evaluation of the social and economic impacts. The planned actions involve the identification of the quantities and the origin of wood biomass consumed in the mountainous communities of Cyprus (more than 40) with the analysis of data collected through a structured questionnaire and a dedicated field research. Also, measurements of the variation of air quality (CO2, CO, NOX, PM2.5, PM10, TPM) was carried out, between winter and summer months for both indoor and outdoor air quality in mountain households. Comparable measurements were performed in houses that use energy efficient fireplaces in order to record any changes/improvement in air quality. This study is financed by the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation.
Keywords:
biomass, emissions, environmental impact, socio-economic impact, wood biomass
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Sustainability assessment and criteria
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
5AV.1.39
Pages:
2274 - 2278
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-5AV.1.39
Price:
FREE
