%0 Journal Article
%T Energy use strategies and implications for fire risk amongst low-income households
%J Jàmbá
%D 2021
%A Francioli, Alberto P. M.
%V 12
%N 1
%P e890-e890
%X Despite near universal access to electricity in Cape Town, usage of informal electrical connections and nonelectric energy sources remains high and pose  significant fire risk to such households. This research set out to examine the  energy sources being utilised by low-income households in Lwandle, Nomzamo and  Asanda Village to understand the factors that influence these energy use choices and  what implications these energy choices have for fire risk. This research utilised a  mixture of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods including focus  group sessions with residents and a household survey to collect information on  household energy use strategies, perceptions of safety and accessibility of energy  sources and experiences of energy-related fires from residents residing in different  types of dwellings. The research observed that despite high access to electricity,  household utilisation is constrained by economic and physical factors. Consequently,  they are forced to resort to employing an energy stacking approach, alternating  between electric and nonelectric energy sources, which include usage of cheaper yet  potentially hazardous energy sources such as paraffin (kerosene), candles, firewood,  coal and gas to meet their daily energy needs. A potential consequence of this  energy stacking approach employed by households to meet their energy needs is that  the majority of households continue to face the risk of a dwelling fire caused by  nonelectric energy sources. Whereas nonelectric energy sources were both perceived  and experienced by residents as the main cause of dwelling fires in the study site,  electricity was found to contribute to a number of dwelling fires, with a slight  increase in the number of fires caused by electric sources observed over the last  few years.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I African Centre for Disaster Studies, North-West University
%@ 2072-845X
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v12i1.890