Household Energy Consumption Pattern in Rural Areas of Bangladesh

The availability of energy is an important determinant of the quality of life in human settlements. An exploratory study was carried out on household level to find out the energy consumption pattern and consumer's preference with its environmental impacts interrelating socio-demographic and geographic factors in the disregarded villages of Kabirhat Upazila under Noakhali District, Bangladesh. The study revealed that 95% of the households use biomass, 72% kerosene, 53% electricity, 23% LPG and 60% candle as fuel types. The study also revealed that rural households use fire wood, cow-dung, leaves & twigs, branches, straw and rice husk as biomass energy mainly for cooking (98.3%). It was found that rural households collect 42.6% of biomass from their own homestead and agricultural lands. Households mean expenditure for total energy was US$ 6.17 per month with total income US$ 148.11. The ratio of the total monthly energy expenditure to the total monthly income was 4.34%. It was also found that the per capita energy expenditure of households is US$ 1.29 with explicit and implicit costs. Seven fuel wood species were identified as the most preferred species used by households. The information of this study is helpful to formulate policies support tools to take into account the future challenges for demand of biomass fuel resources, their sustainable utilization, promotion, and development.