HOUSEHOLD ENERGY CONSUMPTION STUDY OF SELECTED FAMILIES IN HYDERABAD

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Date
1991
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ACHARYA N.G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, RAJENDRANAGAR, HYDERABAD
Abstract
Energy has always been the key to man's greatest goals and his dreams of a better world. Due to the scarcity of energy reserves, unharnessing of alternative sources on a gigantic scale, rising oil bills and shrinking energy resources and traditional mode of utilization synchronised with growing population and surging demand both for commercial and non commercial resources, the energy crisis in India is. likely to aggravate to an incalculable dimension. All sectors of economy are eclipsed by this crisis. Hence the situation demands a careful re-evaluation of our present consumption pattern and awareness regarding the need for conservation. This understanding is as much important in commercial energy based urban household sector as in any other sector. The present study was undertaken to study the household energy consumption pattern of selected families based on the following objectives: 1.To account and audit the energy consumption pattern of selected urban households. 2.To establish the factors influencing energy consumption in the sample. 3. To know the homemakers' awareness and practices regarding energy conservation. The main findings of the study revealed that electricity was used for cooking and heating, use of motor driven devices, lighting, cooling, recreation and use of miscellaneous items. Cooking devices were possessed by only a few households. Among heating devices, immersion rod recorded longest hours of use and geyser accounted for maximum consumption of electricity. The motor driven devices were most widely used among households. Fans recorded greatest use and consumption followed by pumpset, blender and washing machine. Incandescent lighting was used in all households• The middle income group used incandescent lighting for longest hours. Fluorescent lighting was used by 98 per cent of households, and mostly for general illumination purpose. Refrigerator was the only cooling device used continuously throughout the day. Television was the most widely used recreational device and these consumed less electrical energy compared to other activities viz. Cooking and heating,use of motor driven devices, lighting and cooling. Mosquito repellent was the only miscellaneous item in use. Its power consumption was negligibly low. . The high income group accounted for the maximum consumption of electricity. Among the non-electrical cooking and heating devices L. P. gas stove was the most commonly used device (100%) for cooking while kerosene stove (44%) was used for heating. Vehicles were possessed by 73 per cent of households and among these 20 per cent possessed four wheelers. The middle income group accounted for the highest L.P.G. consumption whereas the low income group regarded maximum consumption of kerosene. The consumption of electricity progressed with increase in income, family size, educational level of homemakers and plinth area. This '~as supported by the statistical analysis carried out. A similar trend was observed in the case of total energy consumption also with respect to income, family size and plinth area. Among the different energy sources, electricity was most widely used while kerosene was used the least whereas expenditure wise, petrol ranked first and kerosine the last. study were due come The interesting revealation of the present was that majority of the homemakers were practicing energy conservation measures. Few homemakers not able to Adopt certain conservation measures to long accustomed practices. This can be everby proper motivation, education and orientation. The study highlights the fact that conservation of energy in the household sector could significantly contribute to the overall energy saving of the nation - and thereby help combat the socioeconomic problems of energy scarcity.
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Keywords
HOUSEHOLD, ENERGY, CONSUMPTION, STUDY, SELECTED, FAMILIES, HYDERABAD
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