Empirical analysis of rural energy consumption in Changzhou city

The energy consumption in rural areas is an important component of sustainable development about the energy and the environment. And it is affected by many factors. In this paper, by statistical data from 2000 to 2009, the rural energy consumption in Changzhou city was analyzed by the methods of correlation analysis, principal components analysis and gray relational analysis. Meanwhile, by the evaluation about the importance of factors affecting the energy consumption, it was concluded that per capita income was the most important factor. Based on the comprehensive analysis, policy recommendations were proposed to improve the level and structure of the energy consumption in Changzhou rural areas, and to guide farmers to use rural energy rationally.