The structure of residential energy use on a North Aegean island: the town of Mytilene

The focus of this work is to investigate the structure of residential energy consumption in the capital of a relatively large Aegean island and to propose remedial actions in order to reduce consumption and avoid environmental pressures. It was realized that unless policies to curtail electricity use are enacted (e.g., more efficient appliances, more high-efficiency lighting, curtailment of electricity-based heating, restructuring of tariffs), a great deal of money would be spent inefficiently on increasing electricity supply. Since the island has high solar radiation levels and a high biomass potential due to the extensive cultivation of olive trees, the use of these two renewable resources should be encouraged. It was also realized that the enactment of a heating insulation law has had substantial results.