ABSTRACT
The movement of people from the countryside to cities is a significant feature of the recent development process of many Asian, African, and Latin American countries. Urbanization brings with it changes in the ways resources are collected, distributed, and used. In rural areas, people are more directly involved in these activities. Urbanization has brought with it a transition from traditional energy sources to modern ("commercial") ones like petroleum fuels and electricity. The growth in income that has taken place in urban areas has also facilitated demand for new services, such as refrigeration, air-conditioning, and personal vehicle transportation, that require modern fuels. Recent surveys of energy use in Kenya found that fuelwood accounted for 60% of total energy consumption among the lowest income group of urban households. Ownership and use of more than one cooking device is common in urban areas.
