Factors influencing household energy choices in the Kumasi Metropolitan area of Ghana

Reforms in the energy sector are expected to bring about essential efciency gains, which could result in energy diversifcation and welfare improvements among households. However, there are other unintended social and environmental consequences associated with the process. One signifcant social concern is the likely impact on how low-income families access new energy. The study used a cross-sectional design to undertake a comparative analysis of domestic energy choices. Data was collected from 405 households’ decision makers. An interview schedule and a guide were used for the data collection. The results showed that modern fuels are by far the most predominant source of energy for high and medium class residential households in Kumasi. However, residents in low-class areas preferred to use biomass fuel as their primary energy choice. Contextual variations revealed that general factors such as afordability and accessibility of energy source were exogenous determinants of energy choice. The fndings of the study also lend support to the energy ladder hypothesis that household income is a signifcant determinant of household energy choice. Further, social and demographic factors are critical determinants of cooking fuel type in residential zones. The study recommends the promotion of modern fuels through developing dependable energy distribution systems, and public education campaigns by the Energy Commission of Ghana.

Determinants of Variation in Household Energy Choice and Consumption: Case from Mahabad City, Iran

This study seeks to find a method to identify the dominant pattern of energy choice and consumption in households, centering on demographic factors affecting the use of home appliances. To this aim, this study dealt with a variety of energy sources widely used by households, namely, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), electricity, and kerosene for cooking, heating and cooling, lighting, and home appliances. Additionally, significant associations for the household energy choice and consumption were identified for demographic variables including household size, gender, head-of-household age, educational level, and income group. A logistic regression analysis was performed to obtain quantitative data provided by a survey from 821 households across residential districts of urban and rural areas in Mahabad city, northwest Iran. Obtained data were analyzed within a proposed three-energy dimension model (3-ED). The results showed that, in the case of other variables remaining constant, income may lead to variation in LPG and electricity consumption. Unlike other independent variables, the head-of-household age failed to have a significant impact. The findings can contribute to a better understanding of effective factors got household energy choice and consumption in other cities, and they can be useful for the support of policy-makers in their consumption patterns.

Determinants of Lighting Energy Transitions in Rural Ethiopia: Lessons from Mida Oromo and Wonisho Districts of Ethiopia

Modern renewable energy is an important tool to achieve socio-economic transformation, particularly in rural areas of developing countries like Ethiopia. However, most people do not access modern energy and thus providing it is one of the daunting tasks that the government has faced. Knowing energy choice of households is one of the important factors to bring energy transition. However, limited studies are undertaken in the Country on this area. Thus, this paper tried to address the gap by investigating factors affecting households lighting energy choice by taking sample of 442 households in Mida Oromo and Wonisho Districts of Ethiopia. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for analyzing the data. The result shows that households consume a range of traditional, transitional and modern lighting energy sources available in their areas. Wealthy households prefer lighting energy sources that are clean and relatively expensive including, grid electricity and solar energy unlike households in lower income category who opt to cheap and easily available energy sources. The study further highlighted that income is not the only factor affecting household energy transitions. Family size, access to market and road infrastructure, asset of the household and the district of the households, mobile and radio ownership and education attainment of the head or family members are found to be an important determinants affecting energy transition of rural households. The study concluded that any program that aim to provide modern lighting energy sources need to consider all these diverse factors and local contexts.