Technical, economic, social, and cultural perspectives on energy demand

This chapter provides a critical overview of technical, economic, social, and cultural aspects of energy demand. Comparative data from different countries show upward trends in both the efficiency and consumption of energy. These trends are dynamic and heterogeneous, both across and within nations, suggesting that the role energy plays in society is complex and multifaceted. The literature offers several explanations for differences in energy use, as well as the drivers of demand. The chapter briefly explores explanations for energy demand from four different viewpoints, including a physical, technical and economic model (PTEM), an energy services approach, social practice theories, and sociotechnical transitions theory. Each approach provides a window onto a complex landscape, but none provide a complete explanation for historical trends, nor a comprehensive basis for predicting the future. Together, however, the evidence shows that understanding energy demand is a socio-technical problem rather than one that is either social or technical