Abstract:
The paper expands Logarithmic Mean Decomposition Index (LMDI) method through introducing variables of urbanization and urban-rural dualistic structure, and decomposes residential energy consumption into nine effects as urban population scale, rural population scale, urban residents' income level, rural residents' income level, energy intensity, energy supply rate, urban residents' energy consumption structure, rural residents' energy consumption structure and urbanization. The results show that: effect of urban residents' income level contributes most to the increase of energy consumption in residents' life in China, but effect of rural population scale contributes most to the reduction; and there is a significant "U" relationship between Chinese residents' living energy consumption and urbanization through analyzing the coupling relationship between them. Finally, some policy suggestions are given to slow down the increase of residents' living energy consumption such as improving the coverage rate of gas pipeline network, increasing the subsidy for the purchase of energy saving household appliances, formulating and perfecting the energy saving standards of residential buildings, and so on.