Firewood Heating in Rural Hungary: Survey Evidence on the Challenges and Controversies of Household Energy Transition

This study examines the drivers, practices, and challenges associated with firewood use through a survey of 603 rural households in Hungary. The results reveal that 97% of respondents use firewood exclusively for heating, primarily through mixed-fuel boilers and room heating systems, while advanced technologies such as wood gasification boilers are rare. A significant proportion (71%) of rural households that utilise firewood have access to alternative heating options, with natural gas being the most prevalent. In 27% of households in the survey, despite the availability of alternative heating options, firewood remains the primary heating energy source, while the same share uses it only as a secondary option. The vast majority (95%) of the households that use firewood, but no alternative energy sources are available, do not plan to change to alternative fuels, mostly because of the high costs entailed. It is anticipated that firewood will persist as a stable component of the rural energy landscape. The survey results indicate that household waste combustion is a current practice and remains an option in the future. Educational attainment has been demonstrated to correlate with heating choices, with lower education levels correlating with a greater propensity for the use of firewood.