ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF AUTONOMOUS RESIDENTIAL HEATING SYSTEMS ON AIR POLLUTION IN MUNICIPALITIES (CASE STUDY OF THE BAIKAL REGION)

Abstract

The article suggests a method for calculating emissions from the autonomous heating systems (AHS) of individual residential buildings based on the assessment of the number and area of farmsteads using remote sensing data, the volume and type of fuel and the type of combustion according to population surveys data and data provided by the administrations of municipal districts and settlements. The importance of AHS as a source of atmospheric pollution was evaluated at three spatial levels: the regions of Russia, where the AHS are of the greatest importance, were identified according to the structure of fuel consumption; the emissions from the combustion of residential heating fuel were calculated for the municipalities of the Baikal natural territory (BNT) and the types of territories were identified according to the structure of emission sources; and the role of AHS in air pollution of the residential areas was assessed for settlements. AHS are the dominant air pollution source (over 90%) for most of the BNT territory. Unlike CHPPs and boiler facilities, emissions from individual residential buildings using coal and firewood in most cases significantly affect air quality (up to 4,9 MPC of particulate matter and sulfur dioxide), and the areas of such impact are limited to the residential area of settle-ments. Strategies to reduce pollution depend on the location of a territory, type of settlement, income levels, the current structure of fuel consumption, the presence of exploited coal deposits and other factors