Most Cape Verdeans Not Reducing Electricity Use Despite Cost Concerns
A recent report from Cape Verde's National Statistics Institute (INE) reveals that over half of the population has not adopted measures to reduce electricity consumption. Only 45.8% of households reported implementing energy-saving practices. The primary driver for those who did make changes was economic, with 95.6% citing cost reduction as their motivation. Environmental or health concerns played a minimal role, accounting for only 4.4% of responses.
The most common energy-saving action was turning off electrical devices when not in use, reported by 79.2% of those who took steps to conserve. Other frequent measures included reducing equipment usage time (56.6%), switching to low-consumption light bulbs (41.3%), and minimizing refrigerator door openings (40.8%). Less common practices involved avoiding ironing small laundry loads (36.7%), using washing machines only when full (32.3%), and performing equipment maintenance (18.3%). Notably, only 13.1% purchased more energy-efficient appliances.
Geographically, Boa Vista island showed the highest adoption rate at 74.4%, while Brava and São Vicente islands lagged with only 36.1% implementing savings measures. Urban areas also demonstrated higher adoption rates than rural areas, and women slightly more than men. Despite widespread electricity access, with 92.9% of homes connected to the grid in 2024, the adoption of energy transition technologies like solar panels remains very low, with only 0.4% using them as a primary source. Gas is the dominant cooking fuel (85.1%), followed by firewood (11%), especially in rural areas. The average monthly household electricity expenditure is 3,640 Cape Verdean escudos, with the island of Sal having the highest average spending.
This report highlights a significant gap between the awareness of rising electricity costs and the adoption of energy-saving behaviors in Cape Verde. While economic incentives are a strong motivator for a vast majority of households, the low uptake of energy efficiency measures suggests potential barriers. These could include a lack of accessible information on effective conservation techniques, the upfront cost of energy-efficient appliances, or a perception that individual actions have a negligible impact on overall expenditure. The data also points to a broader challenge in transitioning to sustainable energy sources, with minimal use of solar power despite grid access. Future policy interventions might consider targeted educational campaigns, financial incentives for energy-efficient upgrades, and infrastructure development to promote renewable energy adoption, thereby aligning household behavior with national energy transition goals and potentially mitigating future cost pressures.
AI-generated to prompt reflection — not editorial opinion, not advice, not a statement of fact. How this works.