Do cooking characteristics and household amenities matter for cooking fuel choice, clean fuel transition, and clean fuel consumption in India?

Abstract

This study examines the underexplored yet critical role of cooking characteristics and household amenities in shaping cooking fuel choices, transitions between fuels and LPG consumption in India. Cooking characteristics refers to aspects of cooking behaviour, practices, and conditions within a household including factors such as the presence of separate kitchen, kitchen ventilation, the person responsible for cooking, cooking duration, the number of meals prepared, and the availability of modern stoves. Together, these factors significantly influence fuel choice behaviour. The findings reveal that households with separate kitchens are more likely to adopt, rely, and consume LPG. Ventilated kitchens support transitions to cleaner fuels, while having a domestic help affects LPG expenditure but not the fuel choices. Shorter cooking durations encourage LPG adoption, while preparing more meals raises the risk of reverting to unclean fuels. Finally, modern stove strongly promotes LPG usage and consumption. Similarly, households with safe drinking water and toilet facilities are inclined to choose LPG, however, the effect of electricity access is moderated by electricity quality. These findings have important implications, especially for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In short-run policies should focus on improving kitchen ventilation and subsidising modern stoves. In long-run policies must enhance overall cooking environments to reduce the gendered burden of cooking, improve cooking efficiency, while promoting access to basic amenities having spillover effects on energy choices.