Construction and evaluation of a low-cost collector in Palmas - TO

Brazil is currently facing a problem between energy availability and demand, partly due to the improvement in the standard of living of some classes and the high consumption of the population. This unbridled consumption has led to constant concern about large-scale energy production. According to the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL, 2010), around 77% of the electricity generated in the country is supplied by hydroelectric plants, due to government policy and Brazil's great hydroelectric potential. The electric shower is one of the items among household appliances that accounts for the largest share of residential consumption, from 25 to 35% of total expenditure according to EPE (2012). It is estimated that the shower consumes between 6.2 and 8.7% of the energy produced in the country, and is also responsible for 18% of the peak demand of the electricity system (Rodrigues and Matajs, 2004). The applicability of the ecological solar heater as a social technology makes it viable for implementation in low-income households, as it simultaneously saves electricity and improves quality of life. The results showed that it is possible to save up to 33.27% when replacing the electric shower.