Differences in Rural Household Energy Consumption Across the Loess Hilly Region of Gansu
陇中黄土丘陵区农村生活能源消费的村落差异研究

Rural household energy consumption shows geographic variation. Studying differences in rural household energy consumption across different villages allows local governments to strengthen rural energy policy and adjust measures to local conditions. We selected typical villages and used questionnaires and household interviews to investigate differences in rural household energy consumption in mountainous areas, semi-mountainous areas and plains across the Loess Hilly Region of Gansu province. Results indicate obvious differences among village types. In mountainous areas households mainly depend on straw, and coal, animal manure, solar energy, fuel wood and biogas to a lesser extent. In semi-mountainous areas they mainly depend on coal, and straw, fuel wood and solar to a lesser extent. On plains they mainly depend on coal, and firewood, straw, solar and fuel wood to a lesser extent. These energy combinations prove that farmers tend to make full use of their own resources to achieve maximum utility. Villages on plains have the highest average consumption of coal at 1354.6kgce; villages in mountainous areas use the lowest at 655.27kgce; and semi-mountainous areas are in the middle at 1007.41kgce. The average consumption of straw is highest in mountainous areas (833.18kgce), and least on the plains (162.48kgce). Energy for cooking and heating accounts for most of the energy consumed. Villages in mountainous areas rely on a kang to warm them in winter and in semi-mountainous areas heat is supplied by a combination of kang and stove. Water loss and soil erosion are very serious problems across this part of Gansu and environmental and economic problems should be considered as a whole and resolved together when developing rural energy programs. Based on the differences in energy use described here, we propose a‘Four-in-One’ecological model for energy use on plains, the‘One Pool with Three Improvements’biogas courtyard model for semi-mountainous areas and the‘Five Combined Components’orchard ecological homestead model for villages in moun- tainous areas. These programs are discussed.