Evaluating Water Security and Comprehensive Energy Feasibility in the Palestinian Schools
摘要
The study objective is to evaluate the water security and the comprehensive energy feasibility at the schools in the West Bank of Palestine. Ministry of Education and Higher Education provided data of 1887 government schools in the 2024–2025 scholastic year. Microsoft Excel and Geographic Information System were utilized to process data and analyze results using descriptive statistics. The results showed that the total drinking water supply and consumption were 308,521 and 339,432 m3/year, respectively, leaving 30,911 m3/year water deficit. The drinking water consumptions in the schools ranged from 13 to 1212 m3/year while the drinking water supplies varied between 30 and 3344 m3/year. To evaluate water security, the drinking water index (supply/consumption) ranged from 0.10 to 7.53, with an average value of 1.09. Almost 488 schools had a drinking water excess and could meet their water needs using renewable water sources. The feasibility of renewable energy sources was evaluated technically, economically, and environmentally. The average energy supply, consumption, and excess at schools were 158,159, 10,833, and 147,326 kWh/year, respectively. The payback period analysis proved the economic feasibility (4.1–7.0 years) at all schools. The carbon footprints of schools were calculated to evaluate the environmental feasibility, with an average value of 89,676 kg carbon dioxide equivalent emissions reduced. Schools play a vital role in integrating education with water and energy sectors. There are high potentials to utilizing renewable water and energy sources at schools and attaining the sustainable development goals in the Palestinian communities.