For low-income communities, access to energy is still a basic problem. The economic means of a household, what is on offer, the social milieu and environmental consciousness will all have a bearing on the choices made over cooking fuels, electricity use or the taking up of renewables. In spite of an international shift towards more sustainable and cleaner technologies as part of the global energy transition, one finds that vulnerable households are often left with no option but to make do with traditional sources; affordability, a lack of infrastructure and doubts as to the viability of other solutions stand in the way. We look at the determinants of household energy consumption in these communities in this study and how policy, awareness, economics and the like come to bear on such decisions.
To assess the behaviour of households and chart a course for a sustainable energy transition, the research is conducted using mixed methods. On the quantitative side there is a survey of 850 from among local policymakers, community energy workers, sustainability practitioners and low-income households; qualitative data is drawn from semi-structured interviews with 60 representatives and experts who work on rural development and energy access. Thematic analysis is applied to the latter to put a finger on the institutional, social and economic drivers of energy decisions, while the numbers are put through hierarchical regression, confirmatory factor and reliability testing.
A Household Energy Transition Equity Framework (HETEF) is put forward by the study, one which makes room for community participation, clean technology, awareness building and accessibility as well as cost. What the results show is that it is not merely a matter of environmental preference when a household makes its energy choice; income, the state of the infrastructure, cultural mores and the trust placed in a technology are far more decisive. Any strategy for an energy transition has to be attuned to socioeconomic realities as much as to what is technologically possible.
In so doing the research adds to the body of knowledge on sustainable energy with an evidence-based framework for the decision-making of the disadvantaged. It is intended as a guide for the authorities, development agencies and energy bodies in formulating inclusive policies that can underpin an equitable move to sustainable household systems, lessen reliance on polluting fuels and enhance energy security.