This study examines the energy consumption (EC) in higher education institutions (HEIs) through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), focusing on scientific trends and factors influencing EC. The research aims to provide a comprehensive and global perspective on the topic, addressing the lack of interdisciplinary studies and the need for more social sciences involvement. The study uses the Herfindahl–Hirschman index (HHI) to measure market concentration in bibliometric aspects, enhancing the understanding of the diversity and multidisciplinarity of the field. Key findings include: 1. **Scientific Papers and Disciplines**: The topic has been studied primarily through technical disciplines, with limited involvement from social sciences. The USA, China, and the UK are leading countries in scholarly output, and the University of Sheffield is the most prolific institution. Zhonghua Gou is the most productive author, while Mehreen S. Gul and Sandhya Patidar are the most cited. 2. **HHI Analysis**: The HHI for sources is 0.032, indicating an unconcentrated selection of sources. The HHI for subject areas is 0.176, suggesting a moderately concentrated pool of disciplines. The HHI for countries is 0.052, and for authors, it is 0.002, indicating a competitive and fragmented environment. 3. **Leading Countries, Universities, and Authors**: The USA, China, and the UK are leading countries, with some countries showing higher contributions to this topic compared to their overall academic output. The University of Sheffield is the most prolific institution, and Zhonghua Gou is the most productive author. Mehreen S. Gul and Sandhya Patidar are the most cited authors. 4. **Factors Driving EC**: Behavioral factors, such as occupant behavior and management, are crucial. Institutional factors, including policy and infrastructure, also play significant roles. Economic growth is not found to be a significant factor in EC in HEIs. The study contributes to academic research by mapping trends and providing insights for future studies, practical guidance for educational administrators, and policy recommendations for promoting social sciences-based investigations on EC in HEIs.This study examines the energy consumption (EC) in higher education institutions (HEIs) through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), focusing on scientific trends and factors influencing EC. The research aims to provide a comprehensive and global perspective on the topic, addressing the lack of interdisciplinary studies and the need for more social sciences involvement. The study uses the Herfindahl–Hirschman index (HHI) to measure market concentration in bibliometric aspects, enhancing the understanding of the diversity and multidisciplinarity of the field. Key findings include: 1. **Scientific Papers and Disciplines**: The topic has been studied primarily through technical disciplines, with limited involvement from social sciences. The USA, China, and the UK are leading countries in scholarly output, and the University of Sheffield is the most prolific institution. Zhonghua Gou is the most productive author, while Mehreen S. Gul and Sandhya Patidar are the most cited. 2. **HHI Analysis**: The HHI for sources is 0.032, indicating an unconcentrated selection of sources. The HHI for subject areas is 0.176, suggesting a moderately concentrated pool of disciplines. The HHI for countries is 0.052, and for authors, it is 0.002, indicating a competitive and fragmented environment. 3. **Leading Countries, Universities, and Authors**: The USA, China, and the UK are leading countries, with some countries showing higher contributions to this topic compared to their overall academic output. The University of Sheffield is the most prolific institution, and Zhonghua Gou is the most productive author. Mehreen S. Gul and Sandhya Patidar are the most cited authors. 4. **Factors Driving EC**: Behavioral factors, such as occupant behavior and management, are crucial. Institutional factors, including policy and infrastructure, also play significant roles. Economic growth is not found to be a significant factor in EC in HEIs. The study contributes to academic research by mapping trends and providing insights for future studies, practical guidance for educational administrators, and policy recommendations for promoting social sciences-based investigations on EC in HEIs.