The household sector accounts for 15 to 25 per cent of primary energy use in developed countries and a higher share in developing countries. A huge gap remains between household energy use in developed and developing countries. Increase in energy-based living standards and more efficient energy use are major opposing trends in developed countries that affect household energy consumption. Diffusion of energy efficient technologies for cooking, heating, lighting, electrical appliances, and building insulation in developing countries has been slow. Governmental policies to influence household energy consumption are often contradictory and have brought mixed results.

17 p. : graphs, tables

Includes bibliographical references.