Concept Evolution and Multi-Dimensional Measurement Comparison of Urban Energy Performance from the Perspective of System Correlation: Empirical Analysis of 142 Prefecture Level Cities in China.

Lei Wang,Guomin Li,Guozhen Zhang,Wei Li

doi:10.3390/ijerph182413046

Abstract

In order to clarify the evolution characteristics and direction of urban energy performance concepts, reveal the research dimensions, determine the performance results and differences, and clarify the reference benchmark, this study depicts the main systems involved in the process of urban energy utilization, demonstrates their relevance guided by the system view, and proposes the measurement indicators in the economic, environmental, and well-being dimensions. The measurement model of each dimension is constructed using the corresponding models of Data Envelopment Analysis. Taking 142 prefecture level cities in China as examples, the energy performance in different dimensions is measured and compared. The energy performance levels are close in the economic and environmental dimensions. However, the results of the well-being dimension are different from these first two dimensions, and the performance levels among cities differ more. In the economic, environmental, and well-being dimension, 22, 28 and 16 cities have reached the effective frontier, respectively, and the performance benchmark cities of 15, 15 and 5 provinces are non-provincial capital cities, respectively. Based on the above analysis, the “chain” framework evolution direction of concept and measurement is proposed, and this study provides benchmarks and policy suggestions to improve energy performance.

Highlights

As the mainstay of urban development, energy provides great power for urban production and societal activity
After the descriptive statistical analysis of the measurement results of urban energy performance in different dimensions, it was found that the average energy performance of prefecture level cities in China in the economic dimension is close to that in the environmental dimension, but there is still a gap between them, with difference of 0.0197
The reason is that the energy performance measurement indicator difference between the economic dimension and the environmental dimension is relatively small, and the environmental pollution is further considered in the urban energy performance measurement in the environmental dimension

Summary

Introduction

As the mainstay of urban development, energy provides great power for urban production and societal activity. In terms of urban energy performance measurement, the measurement indicators in the economic dimension mainly include energy consumption [44], fixed capital investment [45], labor input [46], and economic output [27] This is a measurement indicator system based on the basic production function relationship and the total factor analysis framework. The measurement of urban energy performance in the environmental dimension is based on the total factor analysis framework, but it aims to achieve the optimal output. That is, it maximizes economic output, and minimizes environmental impact. Multi-Dimensional Measurement Results and Discussion of Energy Performance of Prefecture Level Cities in China

The Range of Study Sample and the Variables of Indicators

The Measurement Results of Urban Energy Performance in the Economic Dimension

Conclusions

Policy Recommendations