The structure of household energy consumption and related CO2 emissions by income group in Mexico

In this study we differentiate the penetration of appliances in Mexican households according to income, and study its implications on commercial energy use and CO2 emissions in 1996 and 2006. We found that inequity in energy and CO2 emissions among income groups resulted to be higher in 2006 than in 1996. The share of household energy consumption for the first six income deciles decreased (from 45.5 to 38.9%), and differences in CO2 emissions among income groups resulted even higher. The study also shows an important reduction of commercial energy used for cooking due to decrease in unit energy consumption, and increase in the share of water heating and electric appliances in household commercial energy consumption due to increase in appliance ownership especially in higher income groups. From 1996 to 2006 CO2 emissions per household was reduced due to higher gas appliance efficiency and reduction of electricity emission factor.