Assessment of Energy Consumption and Associated Carbon Footprint of Households in Bauchi Metropolis, Nigeria

ABSTRACT: The escalating impacts of global warming have raised concerns at local and global levels, necessitating urgent mitigation efforts, particularly among households in urban settings. However, limited information on household energy consumption and its associated carbon footprint may constrain effective climate mitigation and policy development in Bauchi metropolis. This study assessed household energy consumption in Bauchi metropolis to establish its carbon footprint and inform policy development amid evident climate change. The study adopted a descriptive survey approach involving questionnaires and observational field measurements using a weighing scale to establish the average unit weight of energy sources across six wards. A two stage sampling technique involving cluster and purposive sampling was adopted. Descriptive statistics and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines were used to analyse the data and estimate the related carbon footprint. The result of 403 analysed responses revealed that the average annual carbon footprint from firewood, charcoal, grid electricity, LPG, petrol, diesel, kerosene, and sawdust was 6.61 tCO₂ per household, with firewood and charcoal identified as priority areas for emission reduction. The study concluded that household energy consumption contributes to carbon emissions in the Bauchi metropolis and therefore recommends targeted interventions should reduce dependence on firewood and charcoal and promote cleaner household energy sources.