Analysis of the Sustainable Driving Effect of Building Energy Consumption on Economic Development Based on the Sustainable Driving Force Model

Abstract

The environmental problems caused by building energy consumption (BEC) are becoming increasingly prominent. Reducing building energy consumption can not only effectively curb environmental pollution, but also continue to promote economic development. However, there are few reports on reducing building energy consumption to continuously promote economic development. Sustainable driving force (SDF) has been widely mentioned in past research as a common-sense concept, but few systematic studies have been carried out. The main research objectives of this article include two aspects: On the one hand, this study takes the lead in establishing an SDF model and conducting systematic research on SDF. On the other hand, based on the SDF model, an empirical study is conducted on the sustainable driving effect of reducing building energy consumption on economic development in China. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) Research on the SDF model: Based on common examples, the objective reality of SDF has been theoretically proven. Based on the relevant theories of econometrics, this article believes that the “Granger causality test” and the “distributed lag regression model” can be used as basic tools for quantitative research of SDF models. (2) Research on the application of SDF model: From the Granger causality test, it can be seen that the current BEC intensity is the Granger cause of China’s economic development in the first and eighth cycles of the future. According to the results of the distributed lag regression model, reducing BEC intensity has a sustainable driving effect on economic development. Specifically, in the lagged period 1~8, the sustainable driving effect (reverse effect) of BEC on economic development gradually increases at first (coefficient value from 3878.52 to 5163.87), and then gradually decreases (coefficient value from 5163.87 to 783.534). To sum up, the SDF model can provide a reference for the quantitative study of SDF; studying the sustainable driving effect of BEC on economic development can provide a macro reference for the government to formulate “energy conservation and emission reduction” measures.