Assessing the Relationship Between Quality of Life and Household Energy Consumption Among Low-Income Groups in India: A Comparative Study of Delhi and Kharagpur

This study examines whether improvements in quality of life (QOL) require increased household energy consumption (HEC) among low-income households in India by using a comparative analysis of Delhi and Kharagpur. A survey of 879 households (Delhi: n = 539; Kharagpur: n = 340) was conducted, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was applied to analyse the relationships between HEC and key QOL constructs, including residential satisfaction, economic satisfaction, and place attachment. The results indicate that QOL is primarily influenced by socio-psychological and housing-related factors rather than energy consumption alone. In Delhi, QOL is significantly associated with place attachment (β = 0.49, p < 0.001), economic satisfaction (β = 0.33, p < 0.001), and residential satisfaction (β = 0.13, p < 0.05), with the model explaining 42% of the variance (R2 = 0.42; RMSEA = 0.048; CFI = 0.94). In Kharagpur, economic (β = 0.61) and residential satisfaction (β = 0.52, p < 0.001) show comparatively stronger effects. Although HEC is strongly associated with appliance ownership and cooling-related practices, it does not show a corresponding relationship with perceived QOL. Descriptive results further show higher well-being in Delhi (M = 3.85 vs. 3.42; d = 0.54). Overall, the findings suggest that differences in QOL between the two cities are more closely linked to socio-economic and residential conditions than to variations in household energy use, highlighting the importance of contextual factors in shaping well-being outcomes.