The presence of particulate matter (PM) affects air quality and poses potential health risks. Burning of wood biomass for heating of buildings significantly contributes to poorer air quality, with PM10 emissions being the most problematic. Wood biomass remains a very common heating source in Slovenia, especially in rural areas. The use of outdated heating
devices in energy-inefficient buildings and low-quality fuels substantially increases pollutant emissions, thereby deteriorating local air quality. In this master’s thesis, we addressed the issue of particulate matter generated by biomass combustion in buildings and reviewed various technologies for building heating. Based on emission data, we developed
databases for wood biomass heating devices. To model particulate matter exposure, we used the ENVI-met software and compared it with an empirical (Gaussian) model. Using a custom software tool developed in MS Excel, we applied the Gaussian dispersion model to predict annual PM exposure at selected points within a settlement. We found that the ENVI-met tool is not well-suited for modeling longer time periods and larger geographic areas given the available computational resources. While the Gaussian dispersion model proved to be slightly less accurate compared to ENVI-met simulations, it was more suitable for conducting analyses over longer time periods. Based on the modeled annual PM10 concentrations, we demonstrated the importance of replacing outdated heating devices with modern ones and integrating solar energy systems.
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