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The household energy system

Perhaps some pictures


The main purpose of the household energy system is to meet the energy needs of the household. In general, these needs may be classed in 6 categories: warmth, heat, light, mechanical power, communication and comfort. It is in the combustion of fuel to meet these needs that source emissions? are generated, and the chain from emissions to eventual health effects begins.

Household energy system, uses natural gas, heating oil, gasoline and grid electricity, biomass based fuels (wood, agricultural residues, and charcoal), renewable energy like solar energy and wind energy etc.

Household energy use should be considered broadly, heating demand, electricity demand, demand for biofuels and demand for motor fuels. In an effort to analyse the consumption patterns in the past and the changes in household consumption patterns in future three phases can be outlined.
  1. A review of the consumption patterns of the past and the environmental consequences thereof.
  2. Present consumption levels are compared with the consumption levels desirable with respect to sustainability objectives.
  3. The consumption patterns of the future this phase should generate options, able to lead consumption patterns in a sustainable direction.
Household energy demand is related to various household functions. Taking these functions as a starting point, direct energy demand can be appropriately distinguished into heating demand (related to the functions of heating, hot water production, and cooking), electricity demand (mainly related to lighting), and motor fuels (related to mobility). The last decades have shown remarkable developments both in amount of energy consumed directly by households and in the type of energy carriers used to fulfil their various functions. Although in the developed countries natural gas and electricity has replaced coal as the most important energy carrier , in the developing countries, in the rural areas biomass fuels and coal etc are still the major sources of energy.

The hindrance to sustainable development in this countries in direct household energy use are explained by various factors: the most important of which are population size, increase in households, unavailability of natural gas , low purchasing power and energy prices, characteristics of the dwelling stock, penetration and energy efficiency of household appliances, and consumer behaviour.

Deciding about the sustainability of present-day household energy use and considering options to bring household energy use within the bounds of sustainability implies at least some definite notions on the longer term sustainability objectives at various scales.

Short- and long-term objectives are presented with regard to the amount of energy that can be used on a global scale and on a national scale. Furthermore, the role of fossil energy sources and renewable energy sources and acceptable CO emission levels are considered. In the long run, the available amount of energy per capita is limited by the ultimate supply of renewable resources. The estimated reserves in 1990 of coal, oil and natural gas are compared with the 1996 rates sufficient for 209, 45 and 52 years, respectively (World Resource Institute, 1994). However, since CO emissions are strongly related to fossil fuels and biomass based fuels and the emissions of CO significantly contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect, environmentally acceptable CO emission levels are even stronger driving forces underlying the reduction of fossil fuel use at present. The supply from renewable resources, however, is limited.Wind energy is restricted to wind-endowed areas, and can have negative consequences for the intrinsic value of a landscape and can disturb the local fauna. Use of water power, whether or not sustainable with regard to certain ecosystems, is limited by the presence of enough water and storage capacity. Biomass production is mainly restricted by a deficiency of agricultural land, which has to be used for food supply. Furthermore, large land surfaces are insufficient for biomass production because of a lack of water and minerals. Solar energy (heat and electricity) is seen as the most promising renewable energy source.Besides, using solar or wind energy in a more than marginal role requires transformation and storage capacity for, e.g. hydrogen.

To assess the sustainability of household energy consumption in future, quantitative directives are required stating the levels of energy use and CO emissions that are acceptable. Two issues are important for this goal. First, what amount of renewable energy can be delivered (in the long term) to the global population? Second, over what period should the fossil energy sources be (almost) phased out to avoid non-acceptable climate change?



It would be good to have here a discussion of how these energy needs are met: eg. warmth and heat are met with open fires or improved cookstoves, light by kerosene lamps, candles and batteries, etc.

We then need to make the pages for each of those.

User:Grant Ballard-Tremeer 25 August 2003





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Page created: 21 August 2003; Last edited: 15 October 2003; Version: 7
Knowledge Bank text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

Pagename: HouseholdEnergySystem @HEDON: VBAA