Energy Efficiency Measures Research Articles

Life Cycle Analyses of Fertilizers: Carbon Emissions as a Measure of Energy Effi ciency

Using the analysis of the life cycle of fertilizers, it is shown that the values of greenhouse gas emissions can be considered as an indicator of energy ef iiency. Taking into account the huge array of data accumulated in recent years on greenhouse gas emissions (primarily CO2 and methane), it is possible to consider the problem of energy ef iiency (carbon dioxide emissions occur during fuel combustion, f rst of all, as well methane and CO 2 as precursors for N fertilizer) in the chain from fertilizer production to their logistics, application, production and waste disposal. Relevant examples are given in the text of the article. It is shown, that an increase in energy ef iiency in the considered life cycle of fertilizers, from production to utilization of agricultural waste, can signif cantly reduce the role of agricultural production in undesirable GHG emissions. It should be emphasized that reducing the potential of GHG emissions in the production of fertilizers depends on the source of energy used and the transfer of power plants from coal to gas, and especially RES, will be the most signif cant. When growing products, factors related to the use of modern farming systems based on accurate fertilization, the use of electronic soil maps, precision farming and increasing the ef iiency of fertilizer use, in particular, nitrogen and phosphorus, play a very important role.

Cost-effective design of energy efficiency measures in the building sector in North Africa using Building Information Modeling

Using sequential search optimisation technique in conjunction with Building Information Modeling, this research considers standards and easily implemented design and operational energy efficiency measures to improve the energy performance of prototype buildings in various climatic zones throughout the North African region. This work’s novelty lies in developing advanced, comprehensive models to propose a new code for the building sector that considers different climatic zones and types of buildings already in use. In the analysis, design features of air-conditioned buildings are considered, including window glazing, wall construction, roof construction, degree of building orientation, window shades, air infiltration level, HVAC equipment efficiency, and lighting efficiency. Optimising designs compared to present building construction practices in the region may lower energy consumption by 31–56 per cent. The analysis’s findings show that there is much room to enhance the energy performance of buildings in the North African region by implementing proven energy efficiency methods and relevant energy policies. The requirement for insulation of building envelope components, on the other hand, varies according to climatic zone and building type.

A research and development investment strategy to achieve the Paris climate agreement

Climate stabilization requires the deployment of several low-carbon options, some of which are still not available at large scale or are too costly. Governments will have to make important decisions on how to incentivize Research and Development (R&D). Yet, current assessments of climate neutrality typically do not include research-driven innovation. Here, we link two integrated assessment models to study R&D investment pathways consistent with climate stabilization and suggest a consistent financing scheme. We focus on five low-carbon technologies and on energy efficiency measures. We find that timely R&D investment in these technologies lowers mitigation costs and induces positive employment effects. Achieving 2 °C (1.5 °C) requires a global 18% (64%) increase in cumulative low-carbon R&D investment relative to the reference scenario by mid-century. We show that carbon revenues are sufficient to both finance the additional R&D investment requirements and generate economic benefits by reducing distortionary taxation, such as payroll taxes, thus enhancing job creation.

Sustainability of energy production from biomass

In recent years, we have witnessed great interest in the production of energy from renewable energy sources as well as a number of energy efficiency measures implemented to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Certainly, it leads directly or indirectly to environmental protection and reduction of harmful gas emissions. However, if there are no systematic and planned approaches to the use of all these previously listed measures, in some cases turbulent phenomena can occur, such as lack of biomass as fuel, delays in energy deliveries, disruption of normal formation of market prices of energy and fuels. Sustainability of the use of biomass for energy purposes derives from the general definition of sustainability and concerns to social, environmental, energy-resource and economic sustainability. The process of multicriteria optimization arose from the need to satisfy most of the sustainability segments and factors. This chapter provides an overview of the different wood biomass supply chains and their optimization for conditions appropriate to the Republika Srpska. The approach of modeling biomass supply chains, their optimization, logistics, statistics in the bioenergy sector, detection of real biomass potentials, biomass fuel needs assessments, job creation in this sector and strategic planning, should be the way to sustainable use of biomass resource in energy sector. This is also the path which Republika Srpska should start following.

Fintech and investment risk of digital finance: mediating role of clean energy and green bonds through the dynamics of spill over.

This study examines how financial technology (FinTech) and green bonds have affected the ability of firms to finance energy efficiency measures by using data obtained from a subset of Chinese companies listed on the A-share market between 2011 and 2021. We apply the quantile-on-quantile method, which allows us to examine the interdependence of time series in each economy separately and yields data on the global and national levels indicating the relationship between the variables. The results show that an increase in both direct and indirect financing for businesses, as well as inter-bank competition, can greatly mitigate the financial limitations that firms suffer as a result of FinTech expansion. Our estimates show that the energy efficiency of the countries we chose improves when they are financed with green bonds across all quantiles of the data. Organizations not owned by the state, SMBs, and the more rapidly developing eastern half of China promise to benefit the most from the moderating effect of FinTech because of the faster pace of development there. The immediate ameliorating effect that financial technology has on reduced lending criteria mostly benefits businesses with either a strong innovation rate or a poor social responsibility performance rate. This is because businesses sharing either of these features are more likely to experiment and develop new products. Both theoretical and practical repercussions of this finding are explored.

On the issue of attracting investments in improving energy efficiency

The purpose and relevance of the work. The problem of saving all types of energy and the efficiency of using fossil fuels is a key one for Russia. Financing of measures to improve the efficiency of the use of energy resources is still an urgent problem of our time. The most important issue is to determine the conditions necessary for the successful attraction of investment capital in national and regional measures to improve energy efficiency in the Russian Federation. The relevance of the study is due to the need to improve measures in this area. Methodology. Based on the analysis of existing regulatory documents in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency and the practice of their implementation, theoretical and methodological issues and the possibility of attracting investment capital in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency are considered. Results and scope of application. The defining role of state, municipal and regional executive authorities and the banking sector in promoting investments in energy efficiency measures is shown. Special attention is paid to the importance of work to stimulate energy-saving behavior of energy consumers (organizations and the population), as well as to the need to increase the responsibility of federal executive authorities and heads of enterprises and organizations of all sectors of the economy for the implementation of planned energy conservation and energy efficiency measures. The materials of the work can be used in the process of formation and implementation of federal and regional target programs in the field of energy conservation. Conclusions. The author formulates a conclusion about the need to strengthen state support for increasing the investment attractiveness of energy efficiency measures, to correct state policy in terms of popularizing these measures and strengthening state control over their implementation.

Environmental perspective of decarbonization actions in the Italian UNESCO site of the Vineyard landscape of Piedmont Region

ABSTRACT The current EU regulatory framework is forcing the need for a substantial and significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in all the main economic sectors since climate change effects have been more tangible in recent years. The adoption of actions and measures to reduce CO2 emissions are thus essential for preventing global warming. For this reason, a simplified bottom-up approach is presented here to estimate the potential environmental benefit achievable, in terms of CO2 emissions saving, when a set of proposed energy efficiency measures were adopted in relevant economic sectors of the UNESCO area of Vineyard Landscape in Piedmont Region in Italy. Specifically, representative case studies were assumed for each economic sector being studied to identify the energy efficiency measures to be adopted. Then, progressive scenarios with different territorial diffusion of the proposed measures were performed. The analysis shows that a CO2 emission reduction from 7.1% to 32.4% can be potentially obtained by considering different diffusion pathways of the identified energy efficiency measures in the residential, accommodation, private transport, and food industry sectors, so that the UNESCO area can effectively contribute to contrast global warming. The proposed simplified approach can be replicated in other similar context to obtain rough estimation of emission savings due to territorial diffusion of energy efficiency measures considering available regional and local databases.

Innovative Energy-Efficient Prefabricated Movable Buildings for Smart/Co-Working: Performance Assessment upon Varying Building Configurations

Worldwide, smart/co-working spaces are growing significantly, and prefabricated movable buildings for such an application could (i) save energy, CO2 emissions, and costs; (ii) enhance the worker’s perceived sense of surroundings; and (iii) support the rebirth of small villages with high regenerative potential. Innovative prefabricated movable building configurations to be used as an office for smart/co-working by a maximum of 6 persons have been designed and analyzed based on simulation data. In particular, 10 case studies corresponding to building configurations differing in terms of innovative energy-efficient measures related to the building envelope (smart windows operated under various control logics) and the energy systems serving the building (photovoltaic panels, small wind turbines, and electric storages) have been modeled and simulated by applying detailed dynamic simulation models via the simulation software TRNSYS. The performance of the 10 case studies has been compared from energy, environmental, and economic points of view with respect to a baseline system characterized by conventional building envelope and energy systems, with the aim of assessing the proposed measures and identifying the most efficient configuration. The simulation results highlighted that: (i) all the proposed alternative configurations allow to save primary energy (from 10.3% up to 100%), equivalent CO2 emissions(from 10.3% up to 100%), and operating costs (from 8.5% up to 100%) with respect to the baseline building; (ii) the building configurations including the smart windows only are not economically feasible in terms of simple pay-back (SPB) period, while the building configurations equipped with photovoltaic panels and/or electric storages and/or wind turbine represent a suitable investment thanks to an SPB lower than 15.2 years; (iii) a stand-alone building configuration for smart/co-working with energy demands totally covered by means of renewable sources can be obtained by combining smart windows, photovoltaic panels, electric storages and wind turbine.

Energy Consumption Prediction and Control Algorithm for Hybrid Electric Vehicles Based on an Equivalent Minimum Fuel Consumption Model

The development of hybrid technology can effectively solve the problems of the high pollution and energy consumption levels of automobiles. Therefore, an energy consumption prediction and control algorithm for hybrid vehicles based on a minimum equivalent fuel consumption model is proposed. The model’s battery power consumption is equivalent to the fuel consumption, and the sum of the engine fuel consumption and the battery equivalent fuel consumption is established as the objective function. By utilizing these factors, an innovative minimum equivalent fuel consumption model was constructed that could be used to measure the energy efficiency of hybrid vehicles. The longitudinal force result of braking force distribution control was obtained, as well as the energy consumption prediction structure of a hybrid electric vehicle. The rolling resistance, air resistance, and climbing resistance of the hybrid electric vehicles were calculated, and the energy consumption control algorithm for hybrid electric vehicles was constructed according to the calculation results. The experimental results indicated that under this research algorithm, the driving energy consumption of hybrid electric vehicles was relatively low and the energy consumption and energy efficiency measurements effectively met the actual demand, and the energy consumption prediction and control results were good.

A way toward green economic growth: Role of energy efficiency and fiscal incentive in China

China faces the challenge of balancing economic development with environmental sustainability as one of the largest economies and the world’s top emitter of greenhouse gases. This study investigates the role of fiscal incentives and energy efficiency in fostering green economic growth in China. The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model is used in the analysis, which spans the years 2010 to 2021, to assess the effectiveness of energy use and the influence of financial incentives on environmental sustainability. The results show that increasing energy efficiency reduces environmental deterioration and improves resource utilization, positively contributing to green economic growth. The study also demonstrates the critical role financial incentives, such as tax breaks and subsidies, play in encouraging investments in sustainable practices and clean technology development. These results underline how crucial it is to implement targeted fiscal policies and energy efficiency measures to promote green economic growth in China.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY POLICY IN CIVIL ENGINEERING: OPPORTUNITIES AND PROSPECTS FOR APPLICATION

Objective. To analyze the problems of implementation of modern energy efficient systems in Ukraine. The advantages of modern technologies over outdated ones are presented. The results of the study should form the basis for the development of recommendations for improving energy efficiency in civil engineering. Problems. Today in Ukraine, solving the problem of energy saving in civil engineering remains a constant priority. Overcoming this obstacle largely determines Ukraine’s recovery from the economic crisis. According to estimates, energy consumption for heating budgetary institutions in Ukraine is 2 … 3 times higher than in the EU countries for the same needs. This is based on the obsolescence of Ukraine’s building stock from the time of intensive construction in the 1960s and 1980s. Analysis. Many countries are already successfully implementing new technologies, materials, and designs that help improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Examples include: a construction concept based on the idea of creating a building that does not require active heating and cooling – a «passive house», the use of SIP panels made from recycled materials, the use of double-glazed windows with «warm edge» technology, the creation of energy-efficient envelope structures such as the construction projects «The Edge», «ZEB Pilot House», «BedZed». Scientific novelty. Analysis of current problems of energy efficiency policy implementation in Ukraine in terms of various aspects, such as legal, economic, technical, social, etc. Cases of successful implementation of energy efficient measures and technologies in civil engineering in European countries are considered. Practical significance. The analysis of the real energy status of the country’s building stock is the basis for the development and support of energy efficiency policy. The considered cases of energy efficient technologies implementation can become an important source of information for Ukrainian construction specialists, which will significantly improve the energy efficiency of new buildings, reduce energy dependence on critical infrastructure, save money for civilians and improve the comfort of living conditions.

Modelling environmental energy efficiency in the presence of carbon emissions: Modified oriented efficiency measures under polluting technology of data envelopment analysis

Reductions of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and energy consumption are two vital methods contributing in improvement of the environmental energy efficiency. Since data envelopment analysis (DEA) provides a synthetic standardised index of environmental efficiency through considering real factors, such as undesirable outputs and integer-valued data, it has acquired major popularity in environmental energy efficiency. Previous studies regarding applications of oriented DEA models to environmental efficiency did not consider the simultaneous impact of undesirable outputs under the polluting technology and mixed integer-valued data on efficiency measures. The objective of this research is to obtain comprehensive environmental energy efficiency measurements by extending the output-oriented slacks-based measure (SBM) model of Tone (2001) and the output-oriented BCC model of Banker et al. (1984). Thus, new output-oriented SBM and BCC models in mixed integer-valued data and undesirable outputs under the polluting technology are modelled. The models have been utilised to examine scale energy efficiency, pure energy efficiency, output mix-efficiency measure, carbon efficiency, and potential carbon reduction of 30 provinces in China to evaluate their land transportation systems. Additionally, the results are remarkable and interesting compared to those reported in Chang, Zhang, Danao, and Zhang (2013) since many provinces, performed environmental efficiency. There are 12 and 14 provinces, performed environmental output mix-efficiency under CRS and VRS, respectively. Moreover, 50% of the total evaluated provinces performed carbon efficiency. In regard of environmental-inefficient provinces, the proposed efficiency measures showed that provinces produce high levels of carbon emissions have risky potential to save energy.

Integrated multi-stage sensitivity analysis and multi-objective optimization approach for PCM integrated residential buildings in different climate zones

The early design stage provides the greatest opportunities to achieve energy-efficient buildings; however, designers require relevant performance data to manage interdisciplinary and conflicting objectives. Thus, for the first time an integrated multi-stage sensitivity analysis and multi-objective optimization approach was developed for four different zones of arid climate in PCM integrated residential buildings. A multi-stage sensitivity analysis is proposed to identify the relative importance of early design stage parameters, which covers envelope thermophysics, building layout and energy-efficiency measures, considering energy and economic indicators. Three global sensitivity analysis approaches (Standardized rank regression coefficient, Partial rank correlation coefficient and Morris method) were employed in the first stage, while the local sensitivity analysis was employed in the second stage. A multi-objective optimization using the genetic algorithm was performed to obtain the Pareto frontier, and two sets of solutions were proposed: the most energy-efficient and the most cost-effective. Finally, multi-criteria decision making was carried out. It was found that sensitivity analysis results showed different rankings of parameters. For each climatic zone, a different set of optimal solutions existed. Compared to reference building, the best solutions reduced total energy consumption by 11.1–34.6%, while the payback period reduced by 17.6–48.5 years.

"ЗЕЛЁНЫЙ" КОМПРОМИСС: ИННОВАЦИОННЫЙ ПОТЕНЦИАЛ НЕФТЕГАЗОВОЙ ПРОМЫШЛЕННОСТИ В УСЛОВИЯХ ДЕКАРБОНИЗАЦИИ

The article considers the prospects of the oil industry in the context of global innovation decarbonization trends. Among the main problems the following are highlighted: the critical place of oil and gas industry in Rus-sian economy, costly search for alternatives, lack of clear policy and regulations. The arti-cle attempts to review the sequence of de-carbonization measures in the oil industry and possible solutions: carbon capture, utili-zation and storage (CCUS), low-carbon fuels, electrification and energy efficiency measures. Particular attention is paid to find-ing innovation solutions that will curb global warming, while being sufficiently cost-effective.

The potential of digital nudging to bridge the gap between environmental attitude and behavior in the usage of smart home applications

Despite energy efficiency measures, global energy demand has gradually increased due to global economic growth and changes in consumer behavior. Even if people are aware of the problem and want to change their energy consumption, they have difficulty acting on their attitudes. This is called the attitude-behavior gap. To narrow this gap and reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, behavioral interventions beyond technological advances must be considered. A promising intervention is nudging, which uses insights from behavioral economics to gently nudge individuals toward more sustainable choices. In this study, we investigate how modifying digital choice architectures with nudges can be used to influence consumer energy conservation behavior in smart home applications (SHAs). We conducted an online experiment with 391 participants to test the effectiveness of the following three digital nudges in an SHA: self-commitment, reminder, and social norm nudge. While the results of a structural equation model indicated no effect on bridging the gap between attitude and behavior, we found the potential to promote energy conservation with two nudge types. Thus, this paper makes substantial contribution to persuasive and information systems-enabled sustainability for a better world in the form of digital nudges for emerging technologies.

Using data-driven indoor temperature setpoints in energy simulations of existing buildings: a Swedish case study

Building energy analyses of large samples or building stocks commonly use National building stock temperature averages in their calculations. However, such averages may not be representative of the conditions in a specific building type and may mask meaningful information found at building or dwelling level. Analysis of indoor temperature data from the Swedish housing stock showed that 25% out of approximately 1000 dwellings were heated at a temperature ≥23°C in wintertime. If indoor temperature management is considered as a potential energy saving measure for the building stock it may be more effective to explore implementation in these specific dwellings, than considering average temperature reduction across the entire building stock. This however would require more detailed input data on indoor temperatures. Would such an approach be worthwhile? To answer this question, two types of Swedish multifamily buildings were simulated with i) business-as-usual scenarios and ii) setpoints based on indoor temperature data from the last Swedish National Survey. The study shows that using data-driven, dwelling-specific indoor temperatures could lead to more effective decision making on indoor temperature management, targeting buildings and dwellings where temperature reduction would most likely cause the least compromise on comfort. Such a strategy however should be complementary to a wider plan of improved energy efficiency measures across the building stock.

The Extent Individuals Are Willing to Undertake Energy Efficiency Measures: Evidence from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract This paper studies the extent individuals are willing to undertake energy efficiency measures, with evidence coming from a developing country (Bosnia and Herzegovina). The goal of this paper is to analyze energy-savings behaviors, aiming to understand what is typically meant under the term energy efficiency, who is more likely to know the meaning, and the extent individuals are willing to undertake some energy efficiency measures. The sample size used in this paper is a random stratified sample of 1,415 individuals coming from various backgrounds. Our logistic regression models found no statistically significant predictor across all ten measures used in the study. However, past experience, age, and being married are relatively common across these ten energy-saving behaviors. These results might be beneficial in defining policies in order to promote energy-saving behaviors.

The Influence of Organizational Factors on the Adoption of Energy Efficiency Measures in Companies

Abstract This paper aims to research the organizational factors influencing the implementation of energy efficiency measures in companies. The analysis was performed on a sample of companies from Serbia included in the World Bank Enterprise Survey. The raw data collected by the World Bank were utilized to analyze the correlation between various organizational factors and the adoption of energy efficiency measures. The analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between management maturity and the implementation of energy efficiency measures in companies. These findings suggest that improving energy efficiency is not an isolated process but rather closely related to the maturity of management practices, highlighting the importance of comprehensive organizational development for achieving optimal energy management.

Sustainable Energy Development: Transitioning Towards a Cleaner Future

Abstract: Sustainable energy development is crucial for addressing the pressing challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and energy security. This paper explores the various aspects of sustainable energy development, including the use of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency measures, decentralized energy systems, and energy storage technologies. It discusses the benefits, challenges, and potential solutions associated with transitioning to sustainable energy, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts among governments, industries, and communities. Through a comprehensive analysis of current practices and future prospects, this paper aims to provide insights into sustainable energy development and its potential to create a cleaner and more resilient future.

Reducing air pollution through smart energy management in industrial clusters of India

AbstractSmart energy management, along with clean technologies and advanced pollution control measures has proven to be an effective strategy for reducing air pollution in both developed and transitioning economies and holds significant potential to reduce emissions from industries and power plants—two of the major sources of air pollution in many of India's urban areas.This manuscript presents the results from a project and provides a critical proof of concept to show that developing country cities can achieve significant, measurable reductions in air pollution, Volatile Organic Compound emissions and greenhouse gas emissions through investing in smart energy management and advance control technologies. Achieving this goal, however, requires addressing two key challenges: (1) lack of a demonstrated link between smart energy management and air quality improvements in India; and (2) the need to scale up development, financing, and implementation of smart energy solutions, including energy efficiency and clean technology measures that can help address air pollution in industrialized urban areas, critically polluted areas by offsetting fossil fuel use for diesel‐ and coal‐fired electricity generation.