Household Survey on Air Conditioner Use and Energy Consumption in Vietnam

摘要

Demand for electricity is rapidly increasing in Vietnam due to increased use of air conditioners (ACs) and other electrical appliances. Therefore, effective measures are needed for reducing Vietnamese electricity consumption to reduce potential future demand. In 2016, we conducted a survey of 30 households in urban and rural areas of Hanoi and Long An in northern and southern Vietnam, respectively, to examine differences in electricity consumption and the use of ACs and other electrical appliances between different locations and socioeconomic classes. We found that ACs were mainly used in the summer (May–October in Hanoi; March–August in Long An). Households with higher incomes tended to use ACs for most or all of the year. Many households tended to use ACs while sleeping. Younger respondents tended to use ACs for a longer period of time compared with their parents. Respondents in Long An seemed less dependent on ACs compared with those in Hanoi because of regional characteristics and their custom of cold-water bathing. Although increased income is a major factor underlying the use of ACs, other factors such as the structure of modern housing, health awareness, the inability to open windows and local customs were also found. Together, the present results suggest that both hard-type (e.g., improving the thermal performance of residential buildings) and soft-type (e.g., publication of basic tips for energy-saving AC use) policy approaches will be important for reducing future energy consumption in Vietnam.