Spatiotemporal Patterns and Influencing Mechanism of Urban Residential Energy Consumption in China

The residential sector has become the second largest energy consumer in China. Urban consumption (URE) China is growing rapidly process of urbanization. This paper aims to reveal spatiotemporal dynamic evolution and influencing mechanism URE heterogeneity during 2007–2018 explored through Kernel density estimation inequality measures (i.e., Gini coefficient, Theil index, mean logarithmic deviation). Then, with several advantages over traditional index decomposition analysis approaches, Generalized Divisia Index Method (GDIM) employed investigate impacts eight driving factors on URE. Furthermore, national provincial decoupling relationships between income increase are studied. It found that different provinces’ present a significant agglomeration effect; interprovincial increases then decreases study period. GDIM results indicate effect main positive factor Besides, urban population, area, per capita use, unit area positively influence By contrast, income, intensity, have negative effects There evidence only three states, i.e., weak decoupling, strong expansive appear 2007–2018. Specifically, dominant state among regions. Finally, some suggestions given speed up construction energy-saving cities promote fills research gaps important for China’s policymakers.