Creating better understanding between environmental quality and energy use, this paper collects 150 household energy use data sets, using questionnaires, from households in Lanzhou, China. Converted to kilograms of coal standardized energy equivalent, urban energy usage is calculated at a yearly rate of 490.37 kgce/a per capita and 1598.61 kgce/a per household. Types of emissions are also specified. Coal is the dominant energy source, and maximum environmental benefit is shown to be gained from substituting natural gas and solar energy for coal, and specific measures for substitution are identified. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.