Gashaw, Worku (2004) Situational Analysis of Urban Household Cooking Energy Consumption Pattern: The Case of Woldia Town, North Wollo Administrative Zone. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.
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Abstract
This study was conducted in Woldia town of the North Wollo Zone in the Amhara National Regional State. It deals with urban household energy consumption patterns for domestic cooking. In this endeavor, a comparative analysis of the patterns and extent of utilization of different traditional biomass energy sources and the conventional modern energy sources and types was made. An analysis was also made to understand the major factors that contributed to the persistent use of biomass fuels as the dominant energy source by households in small rural towns like Woldia. Several methods like household survey; focus group discussion and key informant interviews were employed to collect data at household and individual levels. The methods involved queries on several aspects of household energy consumption. The findings of the study highlight the dominance of biomass fuel sources for domestic cooking and its inefficient mode of utilization. The growing populations, static or even decreasing overall family income coupled with a disproportionate rise in the total household budget for fuel were observed to be the most important factors that exert a rising demand for biomass fuel sources. The simultaneous interaction of these factors also entail that biomass fuel consumption will continue dominating the household energy consumption for quite a long time to come unless there is a switchover to alternative energy sources. An important factor, which hinders the promotion of alternative energy sources, is however, the low-income level of households, which prevent many households from using modern appliances and switching to the use of higher-grade fuels. The types of food items households prepare and the method of cooking that the households are used to also force them to opt for traditional fuels, as there are no appropriate and affordable alternatives provided for these purposes. The study also shows that in general households in Woldia depend on inefficient traditional open fire stove, “Injera Mitad”. The effective functioning of the ‘Mirt Injera Mitad’ demands proper kitchen place that many households in the study area do not have. Some families were even found to be unable to afford for this facility. In general, the observed household level challenges and the overall poor level of extension of alternative and efficient energy sources and appliances for the urban households further explain the greater demand and preference for fuel wood and other forms of biomass energy in the study area. The limitations observedof the traditional and the modern energy sources call for appropriate measures that energy sector policy and strategies should consider. This study reconfirmed that biomass fuels are the staple source of household energy for the majority of the population in small towns like Woldia. The study also noted that dependence on diminishing fuel wood imposes a lot of hardships not only to the environment but also to the overall household livelihood. Therefore, given the inaccessibility and un-affordability of the modern energy sources for many poor urban dwellers, and the increasing environmental pressure posed by high level of biomass energy consumption, this study suggests that increasing end use efficiency should be given greater emphasis as an important prerequisite and cost effective solution to tackle household level energy problem. To this effect introduction of alternative fuel technologies to reduce demand for firewood and to improve efficiency of energy use is vital.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Geoffrey Obatsa |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Jun 2019 11:32 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Jun 2019 11:32 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/9240 |
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