Domestic energy consumption, theories, and policies: a systematic review

This article examines the evolution of residential energy usage over time. This objective was accomplished by conducting a systematic review of 75 studies spanning three decades. First, the theoretical foundation of household energy consumption models, household sources, energy measurement tools, and energy policies across three continents was examined. The results demonstrated that both top-down and bottom-up strategies have significant utility in estimating residential energy consumption, but the combination of the two approaches plays a crucial role. The article also revealed that the Niche-breath tool for analysing fuelwood consumption is a novel instrument whose use has yet to be fully explored. Additionally, various energy policies enacted across three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa, were examined. The research revealed that household energy consumption policies in the UK, China, Thailand, and Ghana have, to some extent, been implemented, in contrast to Nigeria and Cameroon, which have yet to realize a significant aspect of their renewable energy potentials due to poor implementation of their respective strategies. Furthermore, Cameroon lacks a proper up-to-date renewable energy policy document as of the time of this study. It is evident that energy transformation and climate change are global issues, underscoring the critical importance of increasing research activities and policy efforts in developing nations. The study concludes by recommending that evolving and innovative studies on social treatments, energy management, and energy poverty, as well as those concerning climate and energy ingestion, may represent the frontier of research.