Energy switch: Letter to BS on electricity use needs transformation

The finding is significant in part because indoor air pollution is a major by-product of the use of biomass, which diminishes the quality of life, especially for women and young children

This is with reference to “Electricity use needs transformation” (January 15). The poor tend to rely on a significantly different set of energy carriers than the rich, consuming in traditional ways proportionately more wood, dung and other biomass, and less electricity and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This finding is significant in part because indoor air pollution is a major by-product of the use of biomass, which diminishes the quality of life, especially for women and young children. This finding also derives significance from the fact that biomass is significantly more expensive per unit of usable energy than other energy sources.