Energy Efficiency In Sustainable Development Research Articles

Empowering tomorrow: unleashing the role of technology driven energy efficiency for Sustainable Development in China

The underlying objective of the study is to investigate the energy efficiency improvement potentiality of total technological innovation and its components, such as residential and non-residential technological innovations, by controlling for economic growth and energy prices in China. To this end, the study employs Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), Canonical Cointegrating Regression (CCR), and Fully Modified OLS (FMOLS) based on the unit root testing and Johansen and Juselius cointegration test outcomes. Thus, the results confirm the long-run relationship among the series under investigation. Further, it shows that total technological innovation and its components, i.e., residential and non-residential technological innovations, have the potential to improve energy efficiency. However, economic growth and energy prices are reducing energy efficiency. Moreover, these findings are stable while applying the other alternative methods for robustness. Therefore, the study suggests policy recommendations aimed at promoting technology that may be either residential or non-residential technological innovations to increase energy efficiency. Additionally, it urges designing national-level energy policy to boost economic progress by conserving energy along with measures to stabilize energy prices.

First of its kind in Hong Kong - innovative reuse of treated effluent and enhanced energy efficiency for air-conditioning systems

In Hong Kong, air-conditioning (A/C) systems are major consumers of electricity. Although water-cooled air-conditioning systems (WACSs) are more energy efficient, the need for water towers, water treatment and other operation and maintenance (O&M) demands restrain their application in most buildings. This paper reviews a pilot application of treated effluent from sewage treatment works as a cooling medium for the Direct Expansion type of A/C system within the treatment Plant. The Drainage Services Department (DSD) installed a WACS with a self-assembled effluent-cooled condenser to study the energy efficiency, cooling performance and actual O&M requirements of the new system over a one-year pilot. It revealed that an energy saving of up to 27.6% per year could be achieved when compared with a conventional air-cooled air-conditioning system (AACS). This innovative effluent cooling A/C system achieves innovative reuse of treated effluent as well as reduction in carbon footprint as a result of higher energy efficiency for sustainable development.

Technical, regulatory and economic analysis for the installation of an alternative electricity supply system based on tidal energy

The general objective of this study is to develop the technical, regulatory and economic analysis for the installation of an alternative electricity supply system based on tidal energy in the canton of Esmeraldas, Ecuador. The methodology was descriptive with a documentary design. The population consisted of eleven (11) documents related to the topic that met the selection criteria based on rigor in contributions, relevance and pertinence. It was found in the texts consulted coincidence in the fact that tidal energy in the coming years will be considered within the range of renewable energies to produce great changes in the energy sector due to the great potential it offers. According to IRENA, the cost of current tidal technologies ranges between 0.17 €/kWh and 0.23 €/kWh, although the pilot projects underway point to a decrease of between 0.25 and 0.47 €/kWh. Thus, in the course of time it will become increasingly accessible to incorporate it into the energy matrix of countries such as Ecuador given its constant wave potential estimated at 14kW/m on average. Thus, the production of tidal energy in Ecuador and specifically in the canton of Esmeraldas should be considered more strongly, given the advantages it offers for environmental, social and in the near future economic quality, all of which is in line with the philosophy of energy efficiency for sustainable development.

Integrating Building Information Modelling and Geographic Information System to Achieve Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Urban Areas

Climate change and global warming are the biggest challenges facing the world. They are caused by different human activities, especially in urban areas, such as construction, industry and transport. The research explores the possibility of integrating new technological tools in the process of construction and planning phases with the aim of reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency at the level of the building, neighbourhood, and city to achieve sustainable development. The research starts by reviewing the literature that addresses the importance of energy efficiency in sustainable development. It also identifies two new technological tools: building information modelling (BIM) and geographic information system (GIS). Then, it explores their ability to enhance energy efficiency and rationalise consumption to improve the built environment at different city levels. The research also reviews and analyses several case studies that have applied these two technological tools to raise energy efficiency. It aims at identifying the required data (input and output), steps, and procedures necessary to apply these tools at the different city levels. In conclusion, the research proposes guidelines for the integrated use of BIM and GIS to raise energy efficiency in urban areas. It defines the main actions and requirements to perform an energy assessment with input and output data for BIM and GIS. Applying these methodologies, whether in new or existing neighbourhoods, will significantly contribute to energy conservation, reduce harmful emissions, preserve the environment, and achieve sustainable development.

Natural resources and sustainable development: Evaluating the role of remittances and energy resources efficiency

This study investigates one of the most controversial questions of whether natural resources are curse or blessings for sustainable development in the South Asian economies. In this essence, the current study analyzed four emerging economies (Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India. and Bangladesh) from 1990 to 2020. This study also explores the role of remittances, technological innovation, and energy efficiency in sustainable development. Using panel data diagnostic tests, this study found that the cross-section dependence and the slope coefficient heterogeneity are valid in the panel economies. The empirical estimator is employed based on the asymmetric data distribution, i.e., the novel method of moment quantile regression (MMQR). The examined results revealed that natural resources positively affect sustainable development–validating natural resource blessings in South Asian economies. Besides, technological innovation and energy efficiency also help to promote sustainable development. However, remittances adversely affect the sustainable development of the region. The results are highly significant and robust, as validated by the Bootstrap quantile regression. The empirics allow this study to suggest the sustainable use of natural resources, improved technological and energy efficiency-related investments, and regulating remittances to boost economic activities and achieve sustainable development in the region.

Energy Efficiency Evaluation Based on Data Envelopment Analysis: A Literature Review

The importance and urgency of energy efficiency in sustainable development are increasing. Accurate assessment of energy efficiency is of considerable significance and necessity. The data envelopment analysis (DEA) method has been widely used to study energy efficiency as a total factor efficiency assessment method. In order to summarize the latest research on DEA in the field of energy efficiency, this article first analyzes the overall situation of related literature published in 2011–2019. Subsequently, the definition, measurement and evaluation variables of energy efficiency are introduced. After that, this article reviews the current DEA model and its extension models and applications based on different scenarios. Finally, considering the shortcomings of the existing DEA model, possible future research topics are proposed.

Design and operation optimization of multi-chiller plants based on energy performance simulation

Buildings consume about 20% of the total primary energy use in China. It is critical to enhancing building energy efficiency for sustainable development. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems account for about half of the energy consumption in commercial buildings. For large commercial buildings, central chiller plants are typically used to provide chilled water for space cooling and consume lots of energy. This study evaluates the impacts of different chiller design and their operation strategy on the energy performance of central chiller plants. A case study is conducted using an office building located in Beijing, China. Feasible chiller combinations are studied based on 13 available chillers with different capacities. Four control strategies are explored, including three sequencing control strategies based on weekly, daily, and hourly maximum cooling loads and one optimal control strategy. A building energy model is created using DeST to simulate the hourly cooling load of the office building, and calibrated using the measured data. An integration model has been developed in MATLAB scripts to calculate the annual energy consumption of the chillers for each chiller design under each control strategy. The results indicate that it is essential to control the chiller plant hourly; however, the optimal control may not be necessary. It is not good to select the chillers with all the same capacity. The capacity of the chillers should be slightly different to provide flexibility for control. The design of the chiller combination is essential in the design stage. When bad combinations of chillers were designed, the performance of the chiller plant may be low even with optimization control strategies.

Transforming the Nigerian power sector for sustainable development

Nigeria has been plagued with acute power shortages due to poor performance of its power sector. Several policies and reforms have been implemented by the government to address the poor performance of the power generation, transmission and distribution sectors of the electricity industry. Also various strategies were employed by the government which includes encouraging private sector participation, diversification of the energy generation sources and promoting energy efficiency for sustainable development. In addition the government has spent billions of dollars since 2001 in the construction of new power generation facilities, transmission lines and distribution centers to boost the power supply. It has deregulated the generation and distribution sectors to encourage private sector participation and empowers the Energy Commission of Nigeria to embark on programs and strategies that can boost energy generation from renewable sources. This paper examined the country's energy sources and the power sector reforms adopted by the government. The paper also outlined some recommendations based on reforms implemented by other countries with similar resources to Nigeria which yielded positive results.

Building energy efficiency for sustainable development in China: challenges and opportunities

Rapid urbanization in China has resulted in great demands for energy, resources and pressure on the environment. The progress in China's development is considered in the context of energy efficiency in the built environment, including policy, technology and implementation. The key research challenges and opportunities are identified for delivering a low-carbon built environment. The barriers include the existing traditional sequential design process, the lack of integrated approaches and insufficient socio-technical knowledge. A proposed conceptual systemic model of an integrated approach identifies research opportunities. The organization of research activities should be initiated, operated and managed in a collaborative way among policy-makers, professionals, researchers and stakeholders. More emphasis is needed on integrating social, economic and environmental impacts in the short, medium and long terms. An ideal opportunity exists for China to develop its own expertise, not merely in a technical sense but in terms of vision and intellectual leadership in order to flourish in global collaborations. L'urbanisation rapide de la Chine a entraîné de fortes demandes d'énergie et de ressources et une pression importante sur l'environnement. Les progrès intervenus dans le développement de la Chine sont envisagés sous l'angle de l'efficacité énergétique du cadre bâti, qu'il s'agisse des politiques, des technologies ou des modes de mise en oeuvre. Sont identifiés les défis clés et les principales possibilités de la recherche pour assurer un cadre bâti bas carbone. Les obstacles incluent le processus classique existant de conception séquentielle, le manque d'approches intégrées et des connaissances sociotechniques insuffisantes. Un modèle systémique conceptuel proposé d'une approche intégrée identifie les possibilités de recherche. L'organisation des activités de recherche devrait être engagée, exécutée et gérée de manière collaborative entre les décideurs, les professionnels, les chercheurs et les parties prenantes. Il est nécessaire de mettre davantage l'accent sur l'intégration des répercussions sociales, économiques et environnementales à court, moyen et long terme. La Chine dispose d'une opportunité idéale de développement de ses propres compétences, non seulement sur un plan technique, mais également en termes de vision et de leadership intellectuel, afin de prospérer au travers de collaborations mondiales. Mots clés: cadre bâti, réduction du carbone, efficacité énergétique, conception intégrée, société bas carbone, programme de recherche, conception durable, urbanisation, Chine

産業連関表を用いた中国における経済発展と二酸化炭素排出に関する研究

Background, Aim and Scope. In 2007, China became the world’s most CO2 emitting country. China’s CO2 emission keeps increasing along with its high GDP growth rate reaching the average of nearly 10% over the past decade. From the perspective of global warming prevention, this study uses input-output tables to reveal the structural change in Chinese economy and the mechanism of CO2 emission by industry sectors.Methods. This study uses input-output tables of the National Bureau of Statistics of China to create linked input-output tables for 1997, 2002, and 2007. The linked input-output tables are converted into tables for environmental analysis by taking account of the energy consumption among industry groups. The converted tables are used for an estimation of CO2 inducement due to changes in the net final demand (domestic final demand and net exports) for each of the 3 different time points. Further, this study analyses the effect of trade on CO2 inducement by treating imports as the competitive type and assuming that imports and exports are produced under the same manufacturing technology available in China.Results and Discussion. Between 1997 and 2002, the CO2 emission increase was small, but the emission increased by 95% between 2002 and 2007. On the other hand, the CO2 inducement intensity decreased in most of industries due to the advancement of energy-efficient technology. The fixed capital formation accounts for a large part of the increase in induced CO2 from the domestic final demand. The final consumption is distinguished between rural area and urban area, and the study finds that the increase in induced CO2 is small for the rural consumption and large for the urban consumption. Secondary industry grew rapidly, and there is a rapid increase of induced CO2 in the industry. As trade grows, CO2 emission increases in China and in its trading partners. The induced CO2 from exports is increased and it accounts for nearly 33% of the induced CO2 from the final demand (domestic final demand and exports) in 2007. The induced CO2 from imports notably exceeds that from exports for mining industry and chemical industry, indicating that CO2 is induced more in import-producing countries than in China. It indicates that China has a tendency to import parts, materials, and minerals produced in these industries and assembles them to produce exports.Conclusions. Having abundant coal reserve, China heavily relies on its energy source to coal, which has a high CO2 emission factor. The issue of global warming is accelerating new innovations in the direction of using clean energy, and China’s future tasks are reducing its coal dependency and increasing the energy efficiency for sustainable development.

Role of energy efficiency in sustainable development of small-scale industry clusters: an empirical study

Small-scale industry (SSI) is a crucial component of the Indian economy with strategic importance. SSIs exist mostly in geographical clusters and many of them are highly energy-intensive. Their survival and growth needs efficient use of energy, a key input in their operations. Empirical studies on energy use and related issues like environmental impact, energy conservation potential, and the consequences of higher energy efficiency on SSIs are rare. This paper analyses energy consumption and associated issues in the textile dyeing cluster of Tirupur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The energy consumption pattern showed dominance of biomass. Air pollution and CO 2 emissions were estimated using standard, international emission factors by fuel and technology used. The importance of energy among the inputs was established by estimating the Cobb-Douglas production function which indicated energy as the second most important input. There was a statistically significant association of energy efficiency with all the economic performance indicators adopted in the study. Overall, it appears that energy-efficient firms are also likely to perform better on the economic front and hence experience higher returns to scale. The outcome of this study underscores the value of enhancing energy efficiency in SSI clusters, providing multiple benefits and ultimately contributing to sustainable development.

Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Development of small Industry Clusters: What Factors Influence it?

Small Scale Industries (SSIs) are a crucial component of the Indian economy and the majority of them exist in clusters. Survival and growth of such clusters in the current globalized era hinges on three vital dimensions of sustainability viz. Economic, Environmental, and Social. In energy intensive SSIs, the first two dimensions depend on effective utilization of energy, a key input in their operations. The improved Energy-Efficiency (EE) helps not only in enhancing competitiveness through cost reduction, but also in minimizing environmental degradation. But, a good understanding of factors influencing EE is essential for its improvement. This paper attempts to probe these factors in an energy intensive Brick and Tile cluster in India. Based on the primary data from 44 SSIs, the importance of energy input is established using a Cobb-Douglas production function. The energy consumption pattern and associated environmental pollution are also studied. The variables influencing EE are classified a priori under four categories viz. Technical Factor (TF), Economic Factor (EF), Human Resource Factor (HRF) and Organizational and Behaviour Factor (OBF). While the TF comprises variables like age of plant and machinery, quality of energy used, and process specific variables, the EF includes plant capacity utilization, resource use efficiency, and production volume. Similarly, the HRF involves labour skill level, owner/supervisor education, and business experience of the owner, with OBF encompassing variables such as work-practices, layout and housekeeping, importance attached to energy, and the external interaction level. Regression analysis is adopted while assessing the significance of these factors in explaining the variation in EE. The production function revealed energy as the most important contributor to the value of output amongst all inputs. Though all the hypothesized factors are found significant, EF and OBF obtained the top two ranks. These results have useful policy implications for ensuring Sustainable growth of the SSI sector.

Energy efficiency for sustainable development in Russia: renewables, new technologies and policy issues

This paper assesses possible ways to efficient energy use for sustainable development in Russia. Based on the research of the Energy Institute (EnIn), Moscow, [1,2], analysis of different studies of the power sector in Russia is provided to generalise the state of the art in energy production, distribution and consumption, and technological innovations for renewable resources utilisation. Recommendations for policy-making are also given.