--- title: "Energy needs in Maslow's hierarchy" subject: "Energy Environment and Society" chapter: 1 key: "semester_7/energy_environment_and_society:maslow-energy-needs" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/maslow-energy-needs site: BCT Engineering --- # Energy needs in Maslow's hierarchy Energy Environment and Society · Chapter 1: Technology and Development - Asked in: 2071 Chaitra, 4 marks; 2074 Asoj, 3 marks (asked 2 times) - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/maslow-energy-needs - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/chapter-1 ## Question Discuss the need of energy in each step of Maslow's hierarchy of needs (relate energy with Maslow's hierarchy of needs in the Nepalese context). ## Short answer Energy supports every level of Maslow's hierarchy: physiological needs like cooking and heating, safety like lighting and health posts, belonging through communication and transport, esteem through education and employment, and self-actualization through research and ICT. In Nepal, rural areas still use biomass for lower levels, while urban areas have electricity and internet for higher levels. Energy access is the base for moving up the hierarchy. ## Answer **Maslow's hierarchy of needs** arranges human needs in five levels: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem and self-actualisation. A lower level must be mostly satisfied before the next one becomes important. Energy supports every level. ```text +----------------------+ | Self-actualisation | +---+----------------------+---+ | Esteem | +---+------------------------------+---+ | Love / Belonging | +---+--------------------------------------+---+ | Safety | +---+----------------------------------------------+---+ | Physiological | +------------------------------------------------------+ ``` | Level | Need for energy | Nepalese context | |---|---|---| | Physiological | Cooking, heating, drinking-water supply | Firewood, LPG, biogas for cooking; about two-thirds of Nepal's energy still comes from biomass | | Safety | Lighting, security, safe shelter, healthcare | Street lights, solar lamps and electricity in health posts; cooling vaccines | | Love / belonging | Communication, transport, social gathering | Mobile networks, TV, roads and buses linking villages; electricity for community halls | | Esteem | Education, employment, status | Light for study, school computers, electricity for small industry and enterprises | | Self-actualisation | Research, creativity, advanced technology | Internet, labs, ICT, universities, engineering and creative work | Rural Nepal (many households in Karnali and Sudurpashchim) is still at the lower levels, using firewood and kerosene or solar lamps. Urban households are already at the upper levels, with electricity, internet and vehicles. Energy access is therefore the base for moving people up the hierarchy. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which is the correct order of Maslow's needs from lowest to highest? A. Safety, physiological, esteem, love/belonging, self-actualisation B. Physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, self-actualisation C. Self-actualisation, esteem, belonging, safety, physiological D. Physiological, esteem, safety, belonging, self-actualisation Answer: B. A lower level must be mostly satisfied before the next one becomes important. (Key point: Maslow's levels) 2. In the Nepalese context, energy at the physiological level is mainly used for: A. running internet and research labs B. street lighting and vaccine cooling C. cooking, heating and drinking-water supply using firewood, LPG or biogas D. university computing Answer: C. Physiological needs relate to food and warmth, so cooking fuel is the key energy need; about two-thirds of Nepal's energy is still biomass. (Key point: Energy at physiological level) 3. Which energy use belongs to the safety level? A. Internet and ICT research B. Mobile networks and TV C. Cooking with biogas D. Lighting, security and electricity in health posts for cooling vaccines Answer: D. Safety needs include shelter, security and healthcare, supported by lighting and health-post electricity. (Key point: Energy at safety level) 4. What does the answer say about rural Nepal on the hierarchy? A. Many households (e.g. Karnali, Sudurpashchim) are still at the lower levels using firewood and kerosene or solar lamps B. All rural households are at self-actualisation C. Rural Nepal needs no energy D. Urban and rural households are at the same level Answer: A. Rural households use firewood and kerosene, while urban households with electricity, internet and vehicles are at upper levels; energy access moves people up. (Key point: Rural vs urban Nepal) ## Related in Energy Environment and Society - [Maslow's hierarchy of needs](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Amaslow-hierarchy-describe) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 1 ## Related in other subjects - [Motivation/needs and Maslow's hierarchy](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Amaslow-hierarchy) — Organization and Management, chapter 8, asked 2× - [Motivation: Maslow's hierarchy and Herzberg's theory](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Amotivation-maslow-herzberg) — Construction Management, chapter 10 - [Maslow's hierarchy vs Alderfer's ERG](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Amaslow-alderfer-erg) — Organization and Management, chapter 8 - [Maslow's theory and Laxmi Prasad Devkota](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Amaslow-devkota) — Organization and Management, chapter 8