A statistical analysis of a residential energy consumption survey study in Hangzhou, China

Analysis of rural residential commercial energy consumption in China

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

Exploring the sensitivity of residential energy consumption in China: Implications from a micro-demographic analysis

This paper investigated the impact of urbanization on residential energy consumption (REC) in China by taking cognizance of the levels of income, urbanization and urban density. Threshold analyses were employed to investigate the nonlinear relationships based on the STIRPAT (Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology) framework using a balanced panel dataset of 29 provinces of China over the period of 1998-2014. The common correlated effects mean group estimator (CCEMG) was used to address time-series cross-section (TSCS) issues. The results confirmed the existence of the nonlinear relationship between urbanization and REC in China. The impact of urbanization on REC varied at different economic development levels and urbanization levels. Specifically, urbanization decreased REC at the stage that per capita disposable income of urban residents (PDI) less than 2615 USD, while it increased REC at the stage that PDI higher than 2615 USD. Similarly, urbanization decreased REC at the stage that urbanization rate lower than 55.31% and increased REC after urbanization rate exceeded 55.31%. This study did not find evidence to support the urban environmental transition theory, indicating there was still no region in China had stepped into the win-win stage of urbanization and energy consumption. Furthermore, the nonlinear impact of urban density on REC was estimated and the results indicated that urban density exerted a positive effect on REC when urban density was lower than 808 inhabitants per square kilometer, while it was no longer relevant to REC after that threshold point. Based on these results, the corresponding countermeasures and suggestions to achieve low-carbon urbanization were put forward.

Drivers of urban and rural residential energy consumption in China from the perspectives of climate and economic effects

Spatial-temporal variation and coupling analysis of residential energy consumption and economic growth in China

Contrastive analyses on annual energy consumption characteristics and the influence mechanism between new and old residential buildings in Shanghai, China, by the statistical methods

Contribution of price/expenditure factors of residential energy consumption in China from 1993 to 2011: A decomposition analysis

This chapter describes and analyzes the residential energy consumption in China in terms of amount and cost of energy and carbon footprint using energy balance and energy flow charts, and compares the residential energy consumption in different regions of China. The analysis and comparison of residential energy consumption in China aims to identify its patterns and influential factors, help decision-makers and the public understand the basic characteristics and geological distribution of residential energy consumption in China and find out the potential, obstacles and influential factors for energy conservation in daily life. The energy sources for household consumption covered in this survey included coal, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, LPG, pipeline natural gas and coal gas, electricity and heat (steam, hot water and hot air for district heating), firewood, straw, solar energy and biogas, etc. Residential energy-consuming activities included cooking, use of household electrical appliances, space heating, water heating and air conditioning. The coefficients for converting consumption of various energy sources to coal equivalent are from the China Energy Statistical Yearbook. In addition, except for the energy balance, energy flow charts and carbon emission tables, the analysis in other sections is based on the calculation results of electrothermal equivalent.

Index decomposition analysis of residential energy consumption in China: 2002–2010

Residential energy consumption is an important component of terminal energy consumption in China. The terminal energy consumption in the residential sector in China was 455 million tons of coal equivalent in 2013, accounting for 11.3% of the total. At present, the residential energy consumption in China is at a lower level in the world (about half of the residential energy consumption in OECD countries), but with further urbanization and improvement of people’s life, the energy demand in the residential sector will grow gradually. In the 1990s, China issued the Energy Conversation Law of the People’s Republic of China (Energy Conservation Law), which required lower energy consumption and waste reduction during the process of energy exploitation and utilization.

Exploring the factors and motivations influencing heating behavioral patterns and future energy use intentions in the hot summer and cold winter climate zone of China

Causal Effect of Time-Use Behavior on Residential Energy Consumption in China

Household pathway selection of energy consumption during urbanization process in China

Due to the rapid progress of urbanization in China, the percentage of residential energy consumption out of total energy consumption has increased. This paper uses statistical data from 30 Chinese provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) from 2000 to 2020 to analyze the impact of urbanization on residential energy consumption and construct an econometric model to test the mechanism. The empirical tests show that the consumption of direct energy (energy that exists in nature in its original form and has not been transformed) is positively U-shaped about the urbanization rate. Furthermore, the impact of economic development on direct and indirect energy consumption is significantly positive. In contrast, the effects of population agglomeration on immediate energy consumption are adverse, and the indirect energy consumption is positive.