IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v314y2025ics0360544224040477.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Can household transitions to clean energy reduce health costs for middle-aged and older adults? Evidence from rural China

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Zixiao
  • Yang, Ruihua

Abstract

The serious issue of indoor air pollution caused by traditional energy combustion in rural areas is particularly hazardous to the health and economic wellbeing of middle-aged and older adults (MOA). Using panel data from 6745 participants over four waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS) from 2011 to 2018, this study explores how household transitions to clean energy (HTCE) can mitigate these health-related challenges for MOA. The findings reveal that HTCE markedly boost both the physical and mental health outcomes among MOA, while cutting down on health costs, including medical expenditures and work absenteeism due to illness. Additionally, the study identifies heterogeneity in the health effects of HTCE, influenced by factors such as agricultural employment, pre-existing health conditions, and regional variations. Further, a mediating mechanism is observed where HTCE impacts health costs by improving health outcomes. More detailed categorization of HTCE is required to explore their complex impacts on health and associated costs. The results underscore the need for policy adjustments to micro-level awareness-raising, tailoring HTCE initiatives to regional needs, and bolstering healthcare support to counteract detrimental effects of indoor air pollution, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for MOA.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Zixiao & Yang, Ruihua, 2025. "Can household transitions to clean energy reduce health costs for middle-aged and older adults? Evidence from rural China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:314:y:2025:i:c:s0360544224040477
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.134269
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544224040477
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2024.134269?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sascha O. Becker & Ludger Woessmann, 2009. "Was Weber Wrong? A Human Capital Theory of Protestant Economic History," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 124(2), pages 531-596.
    2. Guofeng Shen & Muye Ru & Wei Du & Xi Zhu & Qirui Zhong & Yilin Chen & Huizhong Shen & Xiao Yun & Wenjun Meng & Junfeng Liu & Hefa Cheng & Jianying Hu & Dabo Guan & Shu Tao, 2019. "Impacts of air pollutants from rural Chinese households under the rapid residential energy transition," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Liu, Pihui & Han, Chuanfeng & Liu, Xinghua & Teng, Minmin, 2023. "Assessing the effect of nonfarm income on the household cooking energy transition in rural China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    4. Muller, Christophe & Yan, Huijie, 2018. "Household fuel use in developing countries: Review of theory and evidence," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 429-439.
    5. Chen, Han & Chen, Wenying, 2021. "Status, trend, economic and environmental impacts of household solar photovoltaic development in China: Modelling from subnational perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 303(C).
    6. Liu, Yuan & Chen, Jiahui & Zhao, Lutao & Liao, Hua, 2023. "Rural photovoltaic projects substantially prompt household energy transition: Evidence from China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    7. Zhen Jia & Yongjie Wei & Xiaoqian Li & Lixin Yang & Huijie Liu & Chen Guo & Lulu Zhang & Nannan Li & Shaojuan Guo & Yan Qian & Zhigang Li, 2018. "Exposure to Ambient Air Particles Increases the Risk of Mental Disorder: Findings from a Natural Experiment in Beijing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, January.
    8. Babak Khavari & Camilo Ramirez & Marc Jeuland & Francesco Fuso Nerini, 2023. "A geospatial approach to understanding clean cooking challenges in sub-Saharan Africa," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(4), pages 447-457, April.
    9. Tao Xue & Tong Zhu & Yixuan Zheng & Qiang Zhang, 2019. "Author Correction: Declines in mental health associated with air pollution and temperature variability in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-1, December.
    10. Gao, Shuaizhi & Zhou, Peng & Zhang, Hongyan, 2023. "Does energy transition help narrow the urban-rural income gap? Evidence from China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    11. Christopher Barrington-Leigh & Jill Baumgartner & Ellison Carter & Brian E. Robinson & Shu Tao & Yuanxun Zhang, 2019. "An evaluation of air quality, home heating and well-being under Beijing’s programme to eliminate household coal use," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(5), pages 416-423, May.
    12. Sun, Dingqiang & Bai, Junfei & Qiu, Huanguang & Cai, Yaqing, 2014. "Impact of government subsidies on household biogas use in rural China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 748-756.
    13. Zhang, Xiaohong & Wu, Liqian & Zhang, Rong & Deng, Shihuai & Zhang, Yanzong & Wu, Jun & Li, Yuanwei & Lin, Lili & Li, Li & Wang, Yinjun & Wang, Lilin, 2013. "Evaluating the relationships among economic growth, energy consumption, air emissions and air environmental protection investment in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 259-270.
    14. Teng Ma & Silu Zhang & Yilong Xiao & Xiaorui Liu & Minghao Wang & Kai Wu & Guofeng Shen & Chen Huang & Yan Ru Fang & Yang Xie, 2023. "Costs and health benefits of the rural energy transition to carbon neutrality in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    15. Messie Pondie, Thierry & Engwali, FON Dorothy & Ongo Nkoa, Bruno Emmanuel & Noubissi Domguia, Edmond, 2024. "Energy poverty and respiratory health in Sub-Saharan Africa: Effects and transmission channels," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
    16. van der Kroon, Bianca & Brouwer, Roy & van Beukering, Pieter J.H., 2013. "The energy ladder: Theoretical myth or empirical truth? Results from a meta-analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 504-513.
    17. Qin, Jiangnan & Li, Wenjing & Zhang, Junbiao, 2024. "How can energy poverty affect farmers’ health? Evidence from mountainous areas in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    18. Qiang Wang & Jie Fan & Mei-Po Kwan & Kan Zhou & Guofeng Shen & Na Li & Bowei Wu & Jian Lin, 2023. "Examining energy inequality under the rapid residential energy transition in China through household surveys," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(3), pages 251-263, March.
    19. Ao, Chon-Kit & Dong, Yilin & Kuo, Pei-Fen, 2021. "Industrialization, indoor and ambient air quality, and elderly mental health," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    20. Jun Rentschler & Nadezda Leonova, 2023. "Global air pollution exposure and poverty," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    21. Masera, Omar R. & Saatkamp, Barbara D. & Kammen, Daniel M., 2000. "From Linear Fuel Switching to Multiple Cooking Strategies: A Critique and Alternative to the Energy Ladder Model," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 28(12), pages 2083-2103, December.
    22. Sanya Carley & David M. Konisky, 2020. "The justice and equity implications of the clean energy transition," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 5(8), pages 569-577, August.
    23. Chen, Fanglin & Zhang, Xin & Chen, Zhongfei, 2023. "Air pollution and mental health: Evidence from China Health and Nutrition Survey," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    24. Chang, Huayi & Heerink, Nico & Zhang, Junbiao & He, Ke, 2024. "Off-farm employment and household clean energy transition in rural China: A study based on a gender perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    25. Christian Dippel & Andreas Ferrara & Stephan Heblich, 2020. "Causal mediation analysis in instrumental-variables regressions," Stata Journal, StataCorp LLC, vol. 20(3), pages 613-626, September.
    26. Qiu, Huanguang & Yan, Jianbiao & Lei, Zhen & Sun, Dingqiang, 2018. "Rising wages and energy consumption transition in rural China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 545-553.
    27. Tao Xue & Tong Zhu & Yixuan Zheng & Qiang Zhang, 2019. "Declines in mental health associated with air pollution and temperature variability in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Xinheng & Zhong, Yixuan & Fu, Tao, 2024. "Financial support from children and older household cooking energy use in rural China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    2. Shuaizhi Gao & Peng Zhou & Hongyan Zhang & Shuo Yang, 2025. "Evaluating socio-economic and subjective well-being impacts of coal power phaseout in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Li, Meng & Jin, Tianyu & Liu, Shenglong & Zhou, Shaojie, 2021. "The cost of clean energy transition in rural China: Evidence based on marginal treatment effects," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    4. Fan, Liwen & Dong, Hongwei & Xiao, Chiwei & Feng, Zhiming & Yan, Jianzhong, 2024. "Energy consumption, structural transformation and related carbon dioxide emissions of rural households on the Tibetan plateau," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    5. Shittu, Ibrahim & Abdul Latiff, Abdul Rais Bin & Baharudin, Siti 'Aisyah, 2024. "Closing the clean cooking gap: Which policies and institutional qualities matter?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    6. Liu, Yuan & Chen, Jiahui & Zhao, Lutao & Liao, Hua, 2023. "Rural photovoltaic projects substantially prompt household energy transition: Evidence from China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    7. Harrington, Elise & Athavankar, Ameya & Hsu, David, 2020. "Variation in rural household energy transitions for basic lighting in India," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    8. Kojo Sarfo Gyamfi & Elena Gaura & James Brusey & Alessandro Bezerra Trindade & Nandor Verba, 2020. "Understanding Household Fuel Choice Behaviour in the Amazonas State, Brazil: Effects of Validation and Feature Selection," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-21, July.
    9. Xuefeng Li & Han Yang & Jin Jia, 2022. "Impact of energy poverty on cognitive and mental health among middle-aged and older adults in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-13, December.
    10. Wassie, Yibeltal T. & Rannestad, Meley M. & Adaramola, Muyiwa S., 2021. "Determinants of household energy choices in rural sub-Saharan Africa: An example from southern Ethiopia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    11. Muller, Christophe & Yan, Huijie, 2018. "Household fuel use in developing countries: Review of theory and evidence," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 429-439.
    12. Zi, Cao & Qian, Meng & Baozhong, Gao, 2021. "The consumption patterns and determining factors of rural household energy: A case study of Henan Province in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    13. Choumert-Nkolo, Johanna & Combes Motel, Pascale & Le Roux, Leonard, 2019. "Stacking up the ladder: A panel data analysis of Tanzanian household energy choices," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 222-235.
    14. Nawaz, Saima & Iqbal, Nasir, 2020. "The impact of unconditional cash transfer on fuel choices among ultra-poor in Pakistan: Quasi-experimental evidence from the Benazir Income Support Program," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    15. Ai, Xian-Neng & Du, Yun-Fei & Li, Wei-Ming & Li, Hui & Liao, Hua, 2021. "The pattern of household energy transition," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    16. An, Chao & Zhou, Peng, 2024. "Energy transition affordability in China: Disparities and determinants," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    17. Choumert-Nkolo, Johanna & le Roux, Leonard, 2024. "Leaving the hearth you know: Internal migration and energy poverty," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    18. Gozgor, Giray & Paramati, Sudharshan Reddy, 2022. "Does energy diversification cause an economic slowdown? Evidence from a newly constructed energy diversification index," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    19. Yang, Zhaofu & Liu, Hong & Yuan, Yongna & Li, Muhua, 2024. "Can renewable energy development facilitate China's sustainable energy transition? Perspective from Energy Trilemma," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    20. Xu, Shang & Zhang, Jun, 2023. "The welfare impacts of removing coal subsidies in rural China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:314:y:2025:i:c:s0360544224040477. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.