Encyclopedia of Environmental Health, v 3, pp. 62-75 Burlington: Elsevier, 2011.
Household Energy Solutions in Developing Countries
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Bruce NG, Rehfuess EA and Smith KR
Poverty is a key underlying issue in any consideration of household energy solution for developing countries. However, since improving access tocleaner and more efficient household energy will make direct contributions to both health improvement and poverty reduction, it is important not to rely on economic growth and other poverty reduction measures as the primary means of improving energy choices for poor households. This is similar to household interventions for clean water and sanitation, which serve to assist poor families’ health and their prospects for improving their condition in other ways. This article considers the range of interventions and policies available to achieve this transition, and reviews their effectiveness and efficiency, along with experience from projects and programs over the past 30 years.
