Household consumption at the crossroads: A bibliometric decoding of global sustainability trends, research gaps, and collaborative networks (2015-2025)

This bibliometric study analyzes global research trends in household consumption from 2015 to 2025, leveraging 939 peer-reviewed articles indexed in Scopus. The dataset reveals an exponential growth in publications, with Sustainability (Switzerland), Energies and Energy and Buildings as leading journals. The China, the USA, and the UK dominate both productivity and citation impact, reflecting their central roles in advancing research on energy efficiency, socio-demographic dynamics, and behavioral interventions. Key themes include household energy consumption, gender disparities (male/female), and policy frameworks for sustainable transitions. Notable contributions highlight the efficacy of social normative cues in reducing energy use by 7–9% and the critical role of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing energy poverty and climate challenges. Bibliometric tools like Biblioshiny unveil co-occurrence networks and thematic clusters, emphasizing the interplay between technological innovations and socio-economic factors. Authors such as Dubois G (2019) and Schultz PW (2015) underscore the urgency of behavioral framing in conservation strategies. However, disparities persist, with developing regions underrepresented in both publications and collaborations. This study identifies gaps in integrating local contexts into global frameworks and advocates for equitable knowledge-sharing.