Optimization of cooking energy mix, an alternative strategy to reduce deforestation: An example of households and restaurants in the Bauchi Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Cooking is a major energy consuming activity in households and restaurants. Over dependence on fuel wood and charcoal for cooking has been identified as a major cause of deforestation, a major environmental problem in Africa and Asia. This paper presents the results of a study which attempted to make households’ and restaurants’ cooking energy mix more efficient by reducing the share of wood and charcoal in their energy mix. A genetic algorithm (MATLAB) was used to optimize the cooking energy mix of an average household and restaurant in the Bauchi Metropolis, Nigeria. The result shows remarkable savings in the quantities of wood and charcoal required by the household, with an associated savings in cooking energy expenditure. It is recommended that policies should be made to increase access to modern energy types in order to discourage dependence on wood. More so, energy education should be included in the nation’s educational curriculum to enhance enlightenment on the benefits of a careful combination of cooking fuels.