Energy Consumption Research Articles

Fiscal support and the impacts of tumbling oil prices from COVID-19 on MENA’s economy, energy consumption and environment

Purpose This study aims to investigate the impact of the oil crash during the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, energy and the environment in MENA countries, with and without fiscal policy, in a global context. Design/methodology/approach This study applies a Global Vector Autoregressive (GVAR) model for 47 countries from 2006Q1 to 2021Q3. The sign restriction method is used to identify the oil shocks originating from the COVID-19 crisis. Findings Empirical evidence shows that without fiscal interventions, MENA countries experienced a decline in output growth, energy consumption and CO2 emissions due to lower oil prices caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the oil price shock on inflation varied across the region. Economic growth and inflation rates in MENA countries turn positive when the member states implement expansionary fiscal measures to stimulate economic activities during the pandemic. Hence, fiscal policy played a crucial role in supporting the economy and preventing a severe recession during COVID-19 in the MENA region. However, expansionary fiscal measures increased energy consumption and air pollution. Practical implications The findings help policymakers better cope with the outbreak of deadly pandemics in the coming years. It improves our understanding of the role of fiscal policy in boosting economic efforts and reducing the adverse environmental impact of increased government spending. Originality/value This paper enhances the current body of literature by investigating how fiscal policies implemented by the MENA countries help mitigate the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 crisis. Moreover, it enables us to analyze the impact of fiscal support on energy consumption and the environment during an oil shock influenced by global uncertainty, lockdowns, and supply chain disruptions.

Sustainable energy consumption in African higher institutions of learning: the nexus of top management commitment and institutional pressures

PurposeThis study investigates the nexus of top management commitment and institutional pressures towards enhancing sustainable energy consumption in African Higher Institutions of Learning.Design/methodology/approachUsing a structured questionnaire survey, cross-sectional data collected from 64 higher institutions of learning registered with the Uganda National Council for Higher Education were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).FindingsThe findings revealed that top management commitment and institutional pressures individually associate with sustainable energy consumption. Top management commitment does not cause variations in sustainable energy consumption. However, when top management commitment coalesces with institutional pressures, they significantly predict sustainable energy consumption.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study focuses on Higher Institutions of Learning in Uganda. Hence caution should be taken before generalization of findings. This study therefore sets ground for future studies to investigate sustainable energy consumption in other institutions.Originality/valueThis study tests the efficacy of top management commitment and institutional pressures on sustainable energy consumption using evidence from African Higher Institutions of Learning. It provides new directions for study in such a nascent area of critical national dimension as sustainability and climate change issues top the global agenda.

Do geopolitical uncertainty and inflation transmit opportunities or threats to green energy consumption?

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of geopolitical uncertainty and inflation on green energy consumption. In addition, it aims to reveal the cause-and-effect relationship among these variables. Design/methodology/approach The authors exert the panel dynamic ordinary least squares (OLS) approach of Kao and Chiang (2000) and the Granger non-causality method of Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2011). On the other hand, current study relies on the annual time series data of 29 countries from 1985 to 2022. Findings The panel dynamic OLS results confirm a long-run relationship between geopolitical uncertainty, inflation and green energy consumption. On the other hand, inflation negatively impacts green energy consumption, with high inflation levels potentially halting the transition. Conversely, geopolitical uncertainty shows no significant effect on green energy use, indicating a reliance on traditional energy sources. Moreover, the current investigation reveals the unidirectional causality from green energy consumption to inflation, while no short-run causality exists from inflation as well as geopolitical uncertainty to green energy consumption in the selected countries. Research limitations/implications The authors drew conclusions about the potential impact of geopolitical uncertainty and inflation on green energy uses by considering the macro-level data. However, this investigation further be enhanced by looking at such issues through the micro perspective by understating the thought and perspective of public on the implication of geopolitical uncertainty and inflation on green energy uses. Such micro-level, country-specific study would definitely help us to generate more concrete ideas about such themes. Practical implications The empirical findings have important implications for policymakers. Results suggest that high inflation negatively impacts green energy use, so policymakers must consider implementing measures to control the inflation while promoting green energy uses for economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. In the short run, green energy use leads to inflation. Therefore, macroeconomic policymakers can implement various subsidy policies for the general public to mitigate the short-term inflationary impact of green energy use. Originality/value This investigation is novel in three ways. First, it explores the impact of geopolitical uncertainty and inflation on green energy use, using Caldara and Iacoviello’s (2022) geopolitical risk index as a proxy of geopolitical uncertainty. Second, it uses panel data econometric analysis, a method that most previous studies have not contemplated for this type of investigation. Finally, by including both advanced and emerging economies, it provides valuable insights for policymakers to develop effective strategies related to green energy consumption for achieving sustainable economic development.

Cardiorespiratory system of massage therapists when performing a dosed massage procedure

The article tells about the presentation of a number of studies on the effect of massage procedures on the physiological, biochemical and psychological status of a person, while work on evaluating the functional indicators of massage therapists during the procedure is rare. The study aims to determine the functional state of the cardiorespiratory system (CRS) of massage specialists in the dynamics of performing a 30-minute back massage session. The object of the study was 10 male massage therapists (age 36.0 (29.0;42.0); BMI 24.7(23.3;31.3). The study consisted in performing a classical back massage procedure for 30 minutes according to a generally accepted technique using six massage techniques. To determine the functional state during the work of specialists, an ergospirometric system and measurement of blood pressure (BP) by the Korotkiy method were used. During the massage procedure, specialists noted an increase in metabolic parameters, oxygen consumption (OC), respiratory coefficient (RC) and energy consumption, as well as blood pressure by the 30th minute of the procedure. When performing a 30-minute back massage, massage specialists significantly mobilize the links of the cardiorespiratory system. At the end of the procedure, there is an increase in blood pressure. However, the maximum increase in the parameters of the cardiorespiratory system occurs when performing a shock vibration reception. Limitations. Due to the small sample of the group, it is not possible to statistically reliably assess the significance of changes in some indicators. Ethics. The protocol of the experiment corresponded to the Helsinki Declaration. The study was developed and conducted in accordance with the methodological guidelines of the Local Scientific Research Committee on Bioethics of the Institute of Physiology of the Komi Scientific Center of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Passive energy saving through thermal retrofitting of existing government office building envelopes - Case study for office-research building in Cairo, Egypt

Egypt used several million kilowatts per hour of electrical power in 2023. According to 2022 data, public utilities and agencies used 15% of Egypt's power. Most of Cairo’s government buildings built in the 50th and the 60th of the last century are composed of reinforced concrete structure skeletons, flat concrete roofs, and burnt brick exterior and interior walls. At that time, building energy efficiency was not a priority. Thus, uninsulated building envelopes were built. Nowadays, renovating buildings requires increasing energy efficiency. Previous research showed that lack of thermal insulation in roofs, walls, window solar heat gain, and window frames thermal bridging increases heating and cooling costs. The current research aims to enhance existing buildings energy saving by improving thermal insulation of its envelope components. The existing research building in Cairo was assessed for environmental factors to accomplish the research goal. The research used a three-dimensional (3D) terrestrial laser scanner to assess building facades for creating an environmental study model. The research used the building office top floor construction as a comparative environmental simulation using (Design builder® version6 software) as a base case for yearly energy consumption due to heating and cooling loads, followed by improving the thermal insulation of each building element individually in the base environmental model and comparing its effect on annual energy saving percentage, then applying all of the best annual energy saving building envelope element thermal insulation retrofitting techniques to the improved building model. The research results showed that improving roof thermal insulation saves 33.5% of the yearly top floor total electrical energy, 12% for exterior walls, 0.75% for window glazing, and 1.56 % by retrofitting window frames. Applying all of the best energy-saving thermal insulation retrofit techniques to the whole structure saved 31% of annual energy consumption.

Feed-in tariffs in scaling up solar and wind energy to shield nations from fossil fuel dependence

PurposeThe study attempts to understand how feed-in-tariffs (FITs), government expenditures and environmental quality can impact solar and wind energy consumption (SWC) of nations and can act as a shield against global energy tensions by reducing fossil fuel dependence.Design/methodology/approachOrganization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and non-OECD countries are compared based on the effectiveness of total governmental expenditures, mean FITs and carbon emissions in influencing SWC and fossil fuel dependence over the period 2000–2019. Fixed-effects panel data regression and bootstrapped panel quantile regression are used in estimations.FindingsFITs and government expenditures boosted SWC in OECD countries, while they were not very effective in non-OECD. Unlike OECD nations, total government expenditures were also not influential in reducing fossil fuel dependence in non-OECD countries. Countries with higher carbon emissions had lower SWC and higher fossil fuel dependence, showing lesser environmental concerns and energy crisis vulnerabilities.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a need for more renewable energy financing programs and governmental expenditures to promote SWC in non-OECD nations. The detrimental effect of carbon emissions on SWC and the positive effect on fossil fuel dependence show the lack of efforts in high carbon-emitting countries in adopting cleaner technologies.Originality/valueThe unique contribution of the study lies in the comparative analysis of the effectiveness of renewable energy financing for country groups and exploring the effects on renewables and fossil fuels simultaneously. An analysis of higher carbon emissions leading to an emission loop by increasing fossil fuel dependence also provides novelty to the study.

Bufferless NoC router design for optical networks-on-chip

Abstract In large-scale tiled chip multiprocessors (TCMPs), network-on-chip (NoC) is a prevalent interconnect solution. The NoC router plays a crucial role in NoC architecture, and two primary types exist: buffered and bufferless. The latter offers a promising solution due to its streamlined design, reduced energy consumption, and hardware efficiency. This paper proposes a 2D 4 × 4 mesh NoC architecture with a novel bufferless NoC router design using XY routing algorithm. The proposed mesh network consists of routers and processing elements, with each router connected to its four adjacent peers (North, South, East, and West) and a single processing element. The proposed router design eliminates the input buffers, output buffers and crossbar switch. The novel bufferless NoC router architecture comprises of various functional blocks, including ejection and injection controllers and Data ranking based on port prioritization, and age incrementor which efficiently solves long critical path issues by dynamically changing the port priority and hence solves the deadlock issue. By leveraging efficient routing and prioritization mechanisms, the novel architecture facilitates the seamless flow of flits through the network. Optical NoCs are based on optical interconnects and optical routers, and have significant bandwidth and power advantages. Our results indicate that the proposed bufferless router can lead to significant area (30.3 %) reduction over the standard BLESS.

Electrochemical valorization of captured CO2: recent advances and future perspectives.

The excessive emission of CO2 has led to severe climate change, prompting global concern. Capturing CO2 and converting it through electrochemistry into value-added products represent promising approaches to mitigating CO2 emissions and closing the carbon cycle. Traditionally, these two processes have been performed independently, involving multiple steps, high energy consumption, and low efficiency. Recently, the electrochemical conversion of captured CO2, which integrates the capture and conversion processes (also referred to as electrochemically reactive CO2 capture), has garnered increasing attention. This integrated approach bypasses the energy-intensive steps involved in the traditional independent process, including CO2 release, purification, compression, transportation, and storage. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the electrochemical conversion of captured CO2, focusing on four key aspects. First, we introduce various capture media, emphasizing the thermodynamic aspects of carbon capture and their implications for integration with electrochemical conversion. Second, we discuss product control mediated by the selection of different catalysts, highlighting the connections between the conversion of captured CO2 and gas-fed CO2. Third, we examine the effect of reactor systems and operational conditions on the electrochemical conversion of captured CO2, shedding light on performance optimization. Finally, we explore real integration systems for CO2 capture and electrochemical conversion, revealing the potential of this new technology for practical applications. Overall, we provide insights into the existing challenges, potential solutions, and thoughts on opportunities and future directions in the emerging field of electrochemical conversion of captured CO2.

Direct Synthesis of Semiconductive AgBiS2 NC Inks toward High-Efficiency, Low-cost and Environmental-friendly Solar Cells.

Silver bismuth sulfide nanocrystals (AgBiS2 NCs) embody a pioneering heavy-metal-free photovoltaic material renowned for its ultrahigh absorption coefficient, offering promising opportunities for advancing the field of ultra-thin and biocompatible solar cells. Currently, the fabrication of AgBiS2 NC photovoltaic devices relies on hot-injection synthesis and subsequent tedious ligand exchange, leading to high production cost, complex processes and environmental pollution. Here, we developed a direct-synthesis (DS) method without ligand-exchange for AgBiS2 NC semiconductive inks, significantly simplifying the material preparation and device fabrication processes. The synthesis cost of AgBiS2 inks (17.0 $ g-1) is over an order of magnitude lower than the traditional method (203.5-275.2 $ g-1). Through optimizing synthesis and device structure, a champion power conversion efficiency of 9.32% was achieved, aligning with the highest reported efficiency (9.17%) based on ligand-exchanged methods. In addition, our DS-AgBiS2 inks show excellent storage stability for over ten months. More importantly, the life cycle assessment (LCA) indicates drastically reduced energy consumption as well as environmental and human health impact for our strategy. The low-cost and scalable synthesis approach for AgBiS2 NC semiconductive inks present a "greener"pathway for the commercial applications of NC optoelectronics.

Explore the operational performance of phase change radiation terminal heating system in different heating zones of China

IntroductionHeating is one of the main factors leading to high energy consumption and serious carbon emissions in buildings. The clean heating system formed by the coupling of phase change building maintenance structure and solar heating system can improve the thermal storage density of the building maintenance structure, while reducing energy consumption in winter while maintaining a comfortable room temperature through stable energy security.MethodsTherefore, a phase change radiation terminal heating (PCRTH) system with the phase change radiation module as the terminal and the solar energy and air energy as the clean heat source is established in this study. Nanjing, Tianjin and Shenyang in China were selected as the study zones which correspond to the hot summer and cold winter zone, the cold zone and the severe cold zone respectively. The operational effect of the PCRTH system in different climate zones was studied, and the parameters of the PCRTH system were optimized by the GenOpt program combined with Hooke-Jeeves optimization algorithm.ResultsThe analysis results show that the cascade phase change radiation terminals in the three zones reduced room temperature fluctuation, energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, but the heating cost was higher. After the Hooke-Jeeves optimization algorithm was used to optimize the PCRTH system parameters in three zones, the PCRTH system heating cost was reduced, and the PCRTH system energy consumption and PCRTH system carbon dioxide emissions were further reduced.DiscussionTherefore, the building heating system composed of PCM maintenance structure and renewable energy has great application advantages in maintaining a comfortable room temperature and improving heating system energy conservation and environmental protection.

Analysis of Possible Negative Values for 2nd Law Efficiencies in an Extractive Distillation System

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the occurrence of negative values for the second law efficiencies in distillation columns, in order to evaluate the relationship between these efficiencies, energy consumption and remixing effect. Theoretical Framework: This topic presents the main concepts and theories that underpin the research. The thermodynamic concepts related to the first and second laws of thermodynamics are highlighted, providing a solid basis for understanding the context of the investigation. Method: The methodology adopted for this research involves the simulation of the acetone/methanol system, in Aspen Plus, using two solvents, DMSO and water. The efficiencies of the second law, energy consumption and remixing effect were evaluated for different operational conditions. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that not all operational conditions that present greater thermodynamic efficiency result in lower energy consumption. In addition, heat demand is directly related to lost work. In the discussion section, these results are contextualized in light of the theoretical framework, highlighting the implications and relationships identified. Possible discrepancies and limitations of the study are also considered in this section. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing insights into how the results can be applied or influence practices in the field of thermodynamic evaluation of distillation columns. These implications may include improving the sustainability of distillation processes by identifying and minimizing sources of irreversibilities. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by conceptually addressing the interpretation of thermodynamic efficiencies of distillation columns, in addition to providing a detailed analysis of the relationship between efficiency, energy consumption and remixing effect. The relevance and value of this research are evidenced by perspectives for the thermodynamic optimization of distillation processes.

Influence of mode and design factors on the temperature condition of automobile drum brakes

The current state of the highway pavement makes it possible to implement prompt transportation operations. These circumstances lead to the movement of vehicles at high speeds, which is impossible without a braking system capable of ensuring high braking efficiency and optimal flow of the process from the standpoint of stability and controllability. One of the main requirements for a modern automatic transmission braking system is the stability of the initial parameters, that is, parametric reliability. Therefore, it is important to have data on the brakes' operating modes and energy consumption. Only with such data is it possible to create a braking system whose output characteristic will be sufficiently stable under conditions of high energy load. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the international methodology for testing the effectiveness of vehicle brakes (UNECE Rule 13) provides for Test I, which is characterized by cyclic braking (urban conditions), and Test II, which is characterized by prolonged braking (mountain conditions). The brake mechanism is the most unstable link of the brake system; one way to increase its efficiency is to ensure sufficient energy capacity, which is limited by the temperature of the friction surface. The object of the study is the question of the equivalence of the change in the drum radius and the width of the friction belt of the brake, taking the invariance of the temperature of the friction surface under the selected test mode as the criterion of equivalence. It is shown that the role of the drum's side wall on the brake's temperature mode under different test modes can also be evaluated on grid thermal models with the involvement of the "Fourier–2 x,y,z" software complex. The effect of the heat transfer coefficient on the temperature mode of the brake due to the consideration of the gap between the drum wall and the wheel rim is shown. Derived formulas for determining the friction belt's equivalent width under the equality of heat flows, masses, and cooling surfaces.

Ecological indexes in analytical chemistry

The development of environmentally safe methods of analytical chemistry has been one of the dominant directions of scientific research in recent decades. Ecological indexes have become a valuable tool for assessing and quantitatively determining the impact of conducting chemical analysis on the environment. This review article discusses the main ecological indexes presented in the literature, including aspects such as the safety of chemical reagents used, analysis productivity, energy consumption, and waste generation. The review reflects the latest achievements in the field of “green” indexes and their potential role in transitioning to more ecological and sustainable analytical methods.

Evaluating the performance and environmental impact of low calcium fly ash-based geopolymer in comparison to OPC-based concrete.

The current paper explores the performance, microstructure and environmental consequences of low-calcium fly ash-based geopolymer concrete compared to OPC-based concrete. The performance of the concrete is assessed based on strength, permeability, sulfate resistance, and acid attack. Two geopolymer mixes were designed by adjusting the binder dosage. The geopolymer concrete mixes achieved 11-16% higher strength than OPC-based concrete. However, increasing the binder dosage from 30 to 40% led to 5% reduction in strength at later ages. Geopolymer concrete demonstrated superior resistance to sulfate and acid attacks, as well as lower penetration depth and permeability coefficient compared to OPC-based concrete. Microstructural analysis was conducted using XRD and SEM techniques, identifying sodium aluminosilicate gel as the product formed during the polymerization process. The environmental impact was evaluated through a life cycle assessment using a cradle-to-gate approach. Geopolymer concrete requires 25-33% less energy and emits 14-28% less kg-CO2 eq. than OPC-based concrete. The production of OPC-based concrete had the greatest negative environmental impact, except in the categories of metal depletion (MDP) and ionizing radiation (IRP_HE). In geopolymer concrete, the use of alkaline activators accounted for higher energy consumption and accounted for 73-75% kg-CO2 eq. emissions. Overall, fly ash-based geopolymer concrete showed higher strength and excellent resistance to acid and sulfate attacks, along with a lower carbon footprint and energy consumption.

Research on broadband vibration reduction performance of high-damping stainless steel fiberboard

This study investigates the application of stainless steel fiberboards (SFBs) for effective vibration reduction in the head section of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). SFBs offer a compelling combination of lightweight design, high static load capacity, and broad-band vibration reduction. To understand their effectiveness, we analyzed the mechanisms behind SFBs’ superior compressive strength and high-damping properties. Furthermore, a finite element model (FEM) of the AUV head section was created using COMSOL software. The model’s accuracy was validated by comparing simulation results with experimental data. This validated model was then employed to calculate the energy consumption of the bearing plate within the AUV’s head section, providing valuable insights for optimizing SFB design for specific vibration reduction applications. The results demonstrate that SFBs of various thicknesses exhibited higher energy consumption ratios compared to the aluminum plates. This finding reinforces the effectiveness of the SFB’s damping mechanism. Additionally, across the 0–6 kHz frequency range, SFBs significantly outperform the aluminum plates, achieving an average improvement of approximately 18 dB in vibration level difference (VLD). These results highlight the excellent vibration reduction performance of SFBs.

The Use of Digital Twins to Address Smart Tourist Destinations’ Future Challenges

This research aims to conceptualise the use of the digital twins (DT) tool in tourism to address smart tourist destinations’ future challenges to enhance tourists’ experiences and residents’ quality of life through better services developed by DTs. This paper investigated the use of DT technology to tackle the new challenges facing smart tourist destinations (STDs) in terms of urban planning, sustainability, security, marketing, and tourism activities by using data on this topic from expert researchers and public and private organisations. Also, this research adopted a systematic review approach to analyse and illustrate the existing literature on the topic of DTs and their use for STDs, which helped us develop the DT concept in a STD context. The findings of this research reveal that DT technology is emerging as a disruptive technology tool that is being used to improve the management of STDs in terms of their efficiency, safety, sustainability, environmental protection, productivity, and energy consumption. Moreover, DT technology is a nascent tool in the tourism and marketing industries, but its versatility in relation to its capacity to analyse data and predict the behaviour of tourism and business ecosystems to address relevant issues at STDs gives it a key role in the tourism industry. Finally, a new definition of DT technology has been included in this study within a tourism and STDs context, filling the gap in this topic in the tourism industry according to some researchers’ suggestions. There are limited scientific publications about DT technology that jointly tackle the DT technology and STDs sphere. Accordingly, this manuscript defines DT technology and provides a new viewpoint of this technology that will help to initiate academic discussions on DT tourism within the context of STDs.

Design and Control of Radial Electromagnetic Bearing for Flywheel Battery

Abstract High rotational speed is the key to increasing energy storage capacity of flywheel battery. Non-contact bearing ensures reliable operation of high-speed flywheel battery. To design an electromagnetic bearing that meets the requirement of high-speed flywheel battery, firstly, a multi-parameters and multi-objectives optimization model for radial electromagnetic bearing is established. The optimization aims at the smallest spatial volume while ensuring electromagnetic force. A 16.58% reduction of the spatial volume is obtained. Furthermore, the influence of bias current and control current on the electromagnetic force and rotor displacement of radial magnetic bearing are analyzed. The bias current and control current that meet the requirements of current stiffness and displacement stiffness are determined. Based on this, a differential control model for radial magnetic bearing is constructed. Then, a controller based on adaptive discrete sliding mode control is designed. Finally, performance test and data analysis are completed. Results indicate that the designed radial electromagnetic bearing is able to achieve low response error, low system jitter and high robust under different test conditions. Compared with traditional sliding mode control method, under stochastic excitation, the maximum and average tracking errors of bearing displacement are reduced by 62.31% and 42.74%. The energy consumption is decreased by 49.32%.

Research on Factors Influencing Global Carbon Emissions and Forecasting Models

Investigating the determinants of global carbon emissions and developing carbon emission models are essential to meet the 2050 carbon neutrality goal. This paper initially examines the primary factors shaping global carbon emissions over the past two decades, employing case studies and panel data analysis. Subsequently, a CNN-LSTM carbon emissions prediction model is established using data from Hebei Province, China, spanning from 2005 to 2022. This study reveals that global carbon emissions are predominantly affected by elements such as population, economic growth, industrial activities, energy consumption, environmental conditions, and technological advancements. By incorporating these variables, the CNN-LSTM model proposed in this research significantly enhances the average relative accuracy of carbon emission forecasts, thereby contributing substantially to global efforts in energy conservation and emission reduction.

Ensemble intelligence prediction algorithms and land use scenarios to measure carbon emissions of the Yangtze River Delta: A machine learning model based on Long Short-Term Memory.

Land use in urban agglomerations is the main source of carbon emissions, and reducing them and improving land use efficiency are the keys to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). To advance the literature on densely populated cities and highly commercialized regions, this research evaluates the total-factor carbon emission efficiency index (TCEI) of 27 cities in China's Yangtze River Delta (YRD) urban agglomeration at different stages from 2011 to 2020 using two-stage dynamic data envelopment analysis (DEA). The study carries out regression analysis and a long-short-term memory model (LSTM) to respectively filter out the factors and predict TCEI. The results indicate the following. (1) The total efficiency of 27 cities has significantly improved from 2011 to 2020, and there are obvious spatial heterogeneity characteristics. (2) In terms of stages, most cities' efficiency values in the initial stage (energy consumption) exceed those in the second stage (sustainable land utilization). (3) In terms of influencing factors, urban green space's ability to capture carbon has a notably positive correlation with carbon emission efficiency. In contrast, the substantial carbon emissions resulting from human respiration are a negative factor affecting carbon emission efficiency. (4) Over the forthcoming six years, the efficiency value of land use TCEI in the YRD urban cluster is forecasted to range between 0.65 and 0.75. Those cities with the highest performance are projected to achieve an efficiency value of 0.9480. Lastly, this research investigates the interaction between actors and land resources on TCEI, resulting in a beneficial understanding for the former to make strategic adjustments during the urbanization process.

Robustness-Based Evaluation of GHG Emissions and Energy Use at Neighborhood Level

Evaluating neighborhood performance is crucial for achieving long-term zero-carbon goals, enabling efficient energy, cost, and resource sharing among buildings. This task requires balancing multiple criteria and managing uncertainties, emphasizing the importance of performance robustness alongside high performance. This article introduces a flexible multi-criteria approach for evaluating neighborhood performance, focusing on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy use across different life cycle stages. Flytårnet, a Norwegian neighborhood with zero-emission ambitions, serves as a case study. The methodology incorporates the T-robust method, an established robustness-based approach, to select high-performance, resilient neighborhood designs under various uncertainties. Results indicate that when assessing buildings as key components and considering energy delivered during the operational phase, including photovoltaic generation, the supplied energy ranges from 25 to 80 kWh/m2/year. Over a 60-year period, life cycle GHG emissions span from 4 to 12 kg CO2-eq./m2/year, accounting for uncertainties and encompassing material production and replacement, as well as energy consumption and generation. However, the optimal design choice varies based on whether life cycle stages beyond the use stage are considered. This research provides valuable insights for decision-makers and designers seeking effective neighborhood designs in early-stage planning, considering diverse and conflicting performance criteria to achieve zero-emission goals.