Direct and indirect energy consumption of rural households in China

Nowadays, energy consumption of rural household in China has been changing. Thus, it is necessary to explore the direct and indirect energy consumption of rural households, which may present an overview of rural households’ energy consumption. In this paper, the consumer lifestyle approach method is utilized to estimate the indirect energy consumption of rural household during 1998–2011. Over the study period, the direct energy consumption gradually increased, while the indirect energy consumption decreased. In 2008, the direct energy consumption exceeded the indirect one. In 2011, per capita indirect energy consumption of rural resident decreased 36 % compared to 1998. The reduction in per capita indirect energy consumption for high-income resident was the fastest. Per capita indirect energy consumption of eastern rural resident was higher than that of other regions. Per capita indirect energy consumption of Shanghai rural resident was the biggest in 1998. However, per capita indirect energy consumption of Beijing rural resident became the biggest in 2011. The center of gravity for per capita indirect energy consumption is an overall movement toward the northwest.