Applying consumption time analysis to measure fundamental energy needs: A method to quantify households’ energy services

Abstract This research utilizes “ time use ” analysis, rather than the “ power ” side of energy consumption, to measure households’ fundamental energy needs (FENs) that is helpful for energy poverty alleviation. Households’ FENs contain energy for cooking, cooling, heating, and lighting/entertainment services, which vary in terms of the family size, their lifestyle, weather parameters, and so on. This research monitors and records time usage of FENs activities for a low-income couple family lived in a triplex kind of house in Japan. After fitting statistical distribution for time usage data, simulation model is used to calculate robust results for household energy consumption. The results indicate that the average daily FENs of this family is around 63 Mega Joule. The results also emphasize that for energy poverty reduction, the investment cost should be prioritized for cooking with the highest share of energy service, followed by heating, cooling, and lighting/entertainment service. Graphical abstract Highlights The results of this study showed that investment on cooking and heating services reduced energy poverty up to 75%. While, the cooling and lighting/entertainment services share was around 25%. Discussion Many studies have analyzed the impact of renewable energies in energy poverty reduction in pre-developing countries. However, the cost of supplying 100% of energy demand through renewable energies to reduce energy poverty, is higher than hybrid power system option. Applying diesel generator along with renewable energies is a viable option with lower cost, while the existence of diesel generator is mostly ignored due to its trivial CO_2 emissions compared with significant amount of CO_2 emissions in developed countries.