Domestic energy consumption patterns in urban Bhutan

Abstract

A survey of urban household energy usage patterns, types of fuel used for various applications and their reasons for choice of certain type of fuels and appliances was conducted in 2008–2009. From the survey it was observed that electricity is the dominant fuel used for lighting, space heating and cooling and water heating. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is the principal fuel used for cooking, followed by electricity, firewood and kerosene. Most households service their cooking stove only when it breaks down. And electric heating system is the main room heating system used followed by bukhari (traditional firewood fed metal stove used for room heating and normally not used for cooking) and kerosene heating system. None of the households used room cooling system other than ceiling fans. Commercial water boiler is the prevalent water heating system used by the households, followed by immersion heater, geyser (storage water heater) and bukhari. Most households spent an average of Nu 100–200 per month in summer and Nu 200–300 per month in winter for electricity (Nu: Ngultrum; Bhutanese currency; 1 US $ ≅ 45 Nu).