Abstract
This research evaluates which is the most cost-efficient rainwater harvesting (RWH) system in a new commercial building located in the north of Portugal, in Braga. Based on the economic analysis, the cost-efficiency of the presented RWH strategies may be considered for the case studied.
The results of this research indicate that RWH scenarios proposed are cost-efficient. Considering a 10 % discount rate, the water price charge in the municipally of Braga and the cost of the infrastructures would be enough to make RWH cost-efficient for this option. At this discount rate, the payback period ranges from 2 to 6 years and the internal rate of return would range from 23 to 76 %. If a discount rate of 5 % were considered, the payback periods would be reduced by approximately 1 year.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Eng. Helder Ferreira, an ex-student from University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro and to Dolce Vita Braga shopping centre for all the support in many aspects of this research.
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Matos, C., Bentes, I., Santos, C. et al. Economic Analysis of a Rainwater Harvesting System in a Commercial Building. Water Resour Manage 29, 3971–3986 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-015-1040-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-015-1040-9