This paper looks at the transition to clean energy in low-income countries, focusing on financial constraints, awareness of the health impacts of indoor smoke, and gender roles. Specifically, it discusses three studies that evaluate the effects of a clean fuel subsidy and a health awareness intervention and examine the relationship between clean fuel adoption and women’s use of time in India. First, despite subsidies for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), poor households remain sensitive to LPG prices because of liquidity constraints. The timing of subsidy disbursements therefore plays a crucial role in encouraging LPG adoption among poorer populations. Second, while health information can bring about behavioral changes, its impact is insufficient to drive a meaningful shift to clean energy usage as long as financial barriers remain. Finally, although using clean fuels saves women time, this is not necessarily enough to allow them to take up employment outside the home. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research.