Comparative evaluation of domestic energy utilization between rural and urban dwellers in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined domestic energy utilization in rural and urban settlements in Ekiti state. Two hundred and forty copies of semi-structured questionnaire were administered through multi-stage sampling technique to collect data from respondents in selected towns and villages. Descriptive statistical technique in form of frequencies and percentages was used to analyze data collected. The study revealed that majority of the respondents in both rural and urban settlements are women (80 and 68.3 %) and married, while 65 % and 81.7 % had at least secondary education in rural and urban settlements, respectively. The results show that most of the respondents are farmers (41.7 %) and traders (32.5 %) in rural and urban settlements, respectively. The study revealed that all (100 %) the respondents in rural settlements use firewood while in the urban settlements, 99.2 % use of hydro-electric power (HEP). The study also revealed that availability and cost are the major determinant of energy type utilized by the respondents. The study further revealed that smoke from firewood in the case of rural settlement and inflammability of cooking gas in the case of urban settlement constitute major hazards associated with the use of energy. The use of wood wastes such as briquettes and sawdust is recommended to reduce demand for firewood and consequently reduce deforestation and environmental degradation.