Determinants of Energy Consumption in Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Sectors: A Systematic Literature Review

Energy is fundamental to economic development and human well-being, yet its consumption patterns remain highly complex and influenced by a wide range of factors. This systematic literature review aims to comprehensively examine the determinants of energy consumption in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors to promote sustainable use and support efforts to alleviate energy poverty. A structured search was conducted across three major databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, for peer-reviewed articles published in English between January 2014 and July 2025. Seventy-three eligible studies were identified. The results reveal a significant research imbalance: 72 eligible studies were identified over the 11-year period, of which approximately 77% focused on the residential sector, while the commercial and industrial sectors, despite accounting for more than half of the global energy use and CO2 emissions, remain underexplored. Moreover, existing studies are largely concentrated in developed and major emerging economies such as the United States (U.S.) and China, with minimal attention given to the Global South, where energy poverty is most severe. This review highlights the critical need for more inclusive and sectorally balanced research to uncover inefficiencies, inform effective policy interventions, and guide equitable energy transitions. Understanding the full spectrum of factors influencing energy use across all sectors and geographic contexts is essential to achieving global energy sustainability and addressing disparities in energy access.