Theme One
Energy Technology and Development Issues
Topic 1.1: Planning household energy initiatives
Objective
• To identify and practice methodologies for identifying household energy needs and options
Time: 1 to 3 hours
Content and procedure
• Participants discuss, in groups, existing indigenous knowledge that can be used to identify
community needs and options. Guide participants to identify different ways through which these
methods can be used.
• Participants discuss in groups, the limitations and possibilities of using these methods in
identifying community energy needs.
• Let participants go through some exercises from the participatory Exploration of Options f or Local
Energy (PEOPLE) approach, one of the participatory methods which can be used to identify energy
needs and options
User’s notes
Definition of the ‘PEOPLE’ approach
The approach enables communities and grass root agencies to jointly identify their energy problems and
assess ways of addressing them. The aim is to maximise people’s participation in decision-making,
considering many options, not just one solution (particularly drawing on indigenous knowledge and local
adaptations).
Why PEOPLE Approach?
• Many organizations make assumptions about needs. An example is where they many receive a need
to save fuel, or impose a nee such as saving trees.
• Many do not look at different options, or at broader household energy needs other than fuel saving.
• Many assume that providing a list of options and assessing them is to be done by the agency, not
the community.
Maximisation of available options enables communities to choose the most appropriate solution
18