Environmental Efficiency Evaluation Research Articles

Reviving Cultural Heritage: Incorporating Prefabricated Elements in Mongolian Yurt Renewal Design

This study extensively explores the multifaceted realm of Mongolian yurts, deeply ingrained in Mongolia's cultural heritage and emblematic of nomadic life. Through detailed case studies, it investigates the fusion of traditional craftsmanship with modern architectural principles and the application of prefabricated elements for yurt renewal. These yurts, situated in diverse sociocultural contexts, provide a comprehensive cross-section of their architectural heritage, spanning from ancestral to contemporary instances. The methodology involves a harmonious synthesis of indigenous wisdom, sustainable material selection, and precision prefabrication techniques. Initiating with a meticulous analysis of each yurt's structural condition, historical significance, and cultural relevance, skilled artisans and contemporary architects collaboratively integrate prefabricated elements tailored to the unique attributes of each yurt while preserving heritage-specific designs. Qualitative and quantitative data collected through fieldwork, custodian interviews, and structural assessments form the basis for an exhaustive analysis. The analysis covers architectural heritage preservation, the effectiveness of prefabricated elements in enhancing structural integrity while retaining cultural authenticity, as well as the evaluation of environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, shedding light on ecological impact. This research makes a significant contribution to the field of heritage conservation, extending its implications beyond Mongolian yurts. It underscores the dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation, advocating a reconsideration of the perceived past-versus-future dichotomy. The potential of prefabricated elements unveiled in yurt renewal offers a globally relevant path that respects historical significance while embracing modernity.

Evaluation and Comparison of Environmental Regulation Efficiency in China's Urban Agglomerations: A Spatial-temporal Dynamic Perspective

Evaluation and Comparison of Environmental Regulation Efficiency in China's Urban Agglomerations: A Spatial-temporal Dynamic Perspective

Evaluation of Atmospheric Environmental Efficiency and Spatiotemporal Differences in the Yangtze River Delta Region of China

The scientific measurement of regional atmospheric environmental efficiency is an important prerequisite for achieving energy conservation and haze reduction and regional green and high-quality development. Taking the cities in the Yangtze River Delta region from 2012 to 2021 as the research object, the atmospheric environmental efficiency is measured from both static and dynamic perspectives using the three-stage DEA model and the Malmquist index to analyze the characteristics of spatial and temporal differences. The study finds that the real atmospheric environmental efficiency of the Yangtze River Delta region is 0.915, and the elimination of environmental factors and random errors is crucial to the assessment of the efficiency. The atmospheric environmental efficiency of the Yangtze River Delta region is not 1, and there is still room for improvement, in which the pure technical efficiency is the main factor that leads to the overall low efficiency. Different environmental variables have different impacts on the atmospheric environmental efficiency, in which the positive impact of the industrial structure is the most significant. Urban agglomerations can be categorized into “high–high–high”, “high–low–high”, “low–low–high”, and “low–high–low”. The total factor productivity of the atmospheric environment showed a gradual growth trend during the study period, in which technological progress played the most important role. Based on this, countermeasures are proposed to better enhance the level of atmospheric environment management in the Yangtze River Delta region.

Dynamic efficiency evaluation of electric power and environmental treatment efficiency in China

Dynamic efficiency evaluation of electric power and environmental treatment efficiency in China

Evaluation, Driving Mechanism and Spatial Correlation Analysis of Atmospheric Environmental Efficiency in the “2+26” Cities Based on the Nonradial MEA Model

The “2+26” cities are 26 cities in Beijing, Tianjin and the surrounding cities, constituting a region characterized by economic prosperity and diverse industries but plagued by severe atmospheric pollution. As a focal area for atmospheric pollution control, a scientific assessment of atmospheric environmental efficiency in the “2+26” cities that measures the degree of coordination between the economy and air pollution is very important for winning the battle of blue sky defense. Based on this, this study comprehensively used the nonradial multi-directional efficiency analysis (MEA) model, Global Reference Malmquist Model and spatial correlation analysis to evaluate the atmospheric environmental efficiency, calculate the driving factors and explore the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of the “2+26” cities from 2009 to 2018. The research findings indicate the following: (1) Atmospheric environmental efficiency showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing, with a significant improvement potential of 26.7% in the future. (2) There was a significant discrepancy between the best- and worst-performing cities, with the best being 0.910 and the worst being 0.573, demonstrating imbalanced development between cities. The relatively low-efficiency cities were mainly located in Hebei, Shanxi and Henan provinces. (3) A value of technological efficiency change (EC) less than 1 was the main restrictive factor for improving atmospheric environmental efficiency, whereas a value of technological change (TC) greater than 1 enhanced it. (4) The atmospheric environmental efficiency presented a distinct spatial distribution pattern of high–high and low–low aggregation, forming high-value areas centered in the Beijing–Tianjin region and along the Zibo–Zhengzhou line. The western and central regions were relatively low, whereas the northern and eastern regions were relatively high, with significant regional differences in spatial distribution. The conclusions from this article’s empirical analysis can help concerned developing countries determine key factors to improve their atmospheric environmental efficiency and then formulate policies for sustainable economic and environmental development.

Environmental efficiency evaluation of China's power system considering factor's spatial dependence: A dynamic spatial network DEA approach

Evaluating and improving the environmental efficiency of the power system is the key to achieving sustainable development. However, the classic DEA approach is susceptible to producing biased results due to its inability to address spatial dependence across factors. Considering the spatial dependence of inputs and outputs, this paper proposes a dynamic spatial network DEA model with slacks-based measure (SNSBM) to examine the environmental efficiency of China's power systems, with a focus on the undesirable outputs of CO2, NOx, and SO2. The investigation incorporates the Moran's I test to account for the spatial interactions of patent counts, coal consumption, CO2 emissions, and renewable power generation. Compared to the classic network DEA, the SNSBM results reveal distinct spatial characteristics and a heightened level of differentiation, which highlights the importance of eliminating spatial dependence. From a dynamic perspective, environmental efficiency shows a visible surge in transmission and distribution divisions after 2015, confirming the success of China's market-oriented reform. In addition, CO2 is the largest contributor to the environmental inefficiency of the power systems, followed by NOx and SO2. This study highlights the importance of spatial dependence and provides many insightful policy recommendations for improving the environmental efficiency of China's power systems.

Research on the Carbon Emission Reduction Potential of the Ports in the Yangtze River Delta of China

Green port construction has a profound impact on China’s international climate commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050. To examine the carbon emission reduction potential of 20 major ports in the Yangtze River Delta port cluster of China, this study takes the perspective of environmental efficiency and employs dynamic exogenous variable DEA in efficiency evaluation. The results show the increasing environmental efficiency of the ports in the Yangtze River Delta, rising from 0.5116 in 2013 to 0.7276 in 2019. Also, there are significant spatial differences in efficiency. After considering exogenous variable, the average efficiency has increased from 0.5537 to 0.6276, indicating that regional green development is a critical factor in port environmental efficiency evaluation. Finally, the overall efficiency of input and output have risen, the slackness of carbon emission shows a trend of decreasing, and there is great potential for reducing carbon emissions from the perspective of port environmental efficiency. The previous studies paid less attention to dynamic efficiency, exogenous variables, and carbon emission. Therefore, this paper is the first comprehensive examination on the carbon emission reduction potential of China’s Yangtze River Delta port cluster from the perspective of dynamic environmental efficiency.

Vehicle Environmental Efficiency Evaluation in Different Regions in China: A Combination of the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Two-Stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) Methods

The efficiency of the same vehicle can vary in different regions, posing unique challenges and implications for electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) within a country. However, most studies have regarded countries as single entities, and it is difficult to assess differences in efficiency between similar entities by simply using the life cycle analysis (LCA) method. To provide the specific environmental efficiency of vehicles in each region, in this study, we used data from 100 cities in 30 provinces in China (4 provinces are not discussed due to a lack of data) and constructed a new road congestion indicator that simulated different road conditions at different times and in different regions. A more effective method, which consisted of LCA, two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) and a slack-based model (SBM), was integrated to reflect the phases of LCA more clearly. The results show that the well-to-wheel (WTW) emission range of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) is 288.28–217.40 CO2-eq g/km, while it is 248.20–26.67 CO2-eq g/km for EVs, which means the WTW carbon emissions of EVs are generally lower than those of ICEVs (except in Heilongjiang Province). Furthermore, it was concluded that provinces with a high proportion of hydropower and a high degree of power autonomy could adjust the proportion of thermal power and inter-provincial power transmission to enhance environmental sustainability, and this would not change provincial environmental efficiency. The analysis suggests that provinces should consider both environmental protection and electricity sustainability when planning their own power development, rather than only focusing on improving environmental efficiency.

Environmental Efficiency Evaluation in Vietnam Textile and Garment Industry: Super-SBM Model with Undesirable Output Approach

The purpose of the paper is to estimate the environmental efficiency of the Vietnamese textile and garment industry and evaluate the impact of the factors on environmental efficiency. The study uses firm-level panel data from the Vietnam annual enterprise survey data for the 2012–2018 period in the Vietnam textile and garment industry to evaluate the environmental efficiency by using the Super-SBM DEA model with undesirable output and applies the Tobit regression model to measure the impact of the factors on the environmental efficiency. This study evaluates environmental efficiency and assesses the impact of some core factors, including the origin of imported machinery and equipment, the origin of imported materials, the management of industrial zones, and the presence of FDI firms, on environmental efficiency at the firm level. The results indicate that the average score for environmental efficiency is 0.233. Some factors, such as income per employee, machined goods imported from developed countries, industrial zones, firm improvement processes, and the presence of FDI, have a positive impact on a firm’s environmental efficiency, whereas materials made in Vietnam have a negative impact.

Evaluation of environmental energy efficiency and its influencing factors: a prefecture-level analysis of Japanese manufacturing industries

This study evaluates the progress of efficient energy use and the control of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Japan between 1990 and 2012. A new indicator of energy performance is presented called environmental energy efficiency (EEE). The EEE of manufacturing industries was measured by each prefecture in Japan. We estimated the influencing factors of EEE for each industry by applying the pooled mean group (PMG) method. Our findings are as follows: First, the Japanese manufacturing industry has not been in line with the EEE improvement goals since the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol. However, the progress of each industry was relatively consistent by region. Second, EEE tends to improve and then deteriorate or monotonically increase as economic development progresses. Third, EEE is raised by expanding industry share. Finally, EEE, which focuses on energy reduction, is likely to increase with the progress of energy-saving technology.

Evaluation of Environmental Efficiency of Chinese Coastal Ports under the Background of Ecological Civilization

In order to enhance the level of green and sustainable development of the economy, the national policy of ecological civilization construction is proposed. The 14 coastal ports with the top 20 container throughput in China in 2020 are taken as the research objects, and the environmental efficiency evaluation index system of ports is constructed by combining the requirements put forward by ecological civilization, and the three-stage SBM model is applied to measure the environmental efficiency of 14 coastal ports in China from 2012 to 2020. It was found that the overall green development of Chinese coastal ports was good, with half of the ports achieving effective environmental efficiency with a mean value of 0.804 and a large gap in environmental efficiency levels among ports. External environmental variables have significant effects on the environmental efficiency of ports, and the overall environmental efficiency of ports with ineffective environmental efficiency has improved after excluding the effects of external environmental variables and random errors. Therefore, for ports with ineffective environmental efficiency, policy-related contents should be implemented effectively according to the actual situation of the port, and the environmental efficiency of the port should be improved from the perspective of the change and development of the port hinterland city, combining three aspects of local economic conditions, policy environment and cultural awareness.

Green Supplier Selection Based on the Combination of Fuzzy SWARA (SWARA-F) and Fuzzy MARCOS (MARCOS-F) Methods

The green supply chain operations try to minimize environmental impact over the product's lifetime including product recycling or use, reduction of harmful substances, resource saving, green design, etc. Supplier selection is the vital issue in green purchasing. This paper aims to develop applicable and efficient methodology for green supplier selection. The proposed methodology includes the combination of Fuzzy Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA-F) and Fuzzy Measurement Alternatives and Ranking according to the COmpromise Solution (MARCOS-F) methods. Fuzzy extensions of these methods are preferred because of the complexity of the green supplier selection problem and inclusion of both quantitative and qualitative criteria. Also, these criteria may be uncertain and conflict with each other. It is the first time that SWARA-F is combined with MARCOS-F for the green supplier assessment and selection of the best one among them. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is demonstrated by solving the real selection problem of a company from textile industry. In the problem both classic and green criteria including main and sub-criteria are considered. SWARA-F is used for weighting the evaluation criteria and the rank of each green supplier alternatives is obtained from incomplete information by assessment score calculated from MARCOS-F. The effectiveness of the combination of two methods is verified by sensitivity and comparative analyses. The proposed methodology provides acceptable and satisfactory results in determining the best green supplier namely improving the environmental and cost efficiency evaluation process.

A two-stage environmental efficiency evaluation of China’s industrial sector considering ratio data

A two-stage environmental efficiency evaluation of China’s industrial sector considering ratio data

Data-Driven Evaluation and Optimization of Agricultural Environmental Efficiency with Carbon Emission Constraints

To cope with global carbon reduction pressure, improved agricultural production efficiency, and optimize regional sustainability, we constructed a data-driven evaluation and optimization method for agricultural environmental efficiency (AEE) under carbon constraints. This study constructs a comprehensive input-output AEE evaluation index system, incorporates carbon emissions from agricultural production processes as undesired outputs, and optimizes their calculation. The Minimum Distance to Strong Efficient Frontier evaluation model considering undesired output, and the kernel density estimation, are used to quantitatively evaluate AEE from static and dynamic perspectives. Tobit regression models are further used to analyze the driving influences of AEE and propose countermeasures to optimize AEE. The feasibility of the above methodological process was tested using 2015–2020 data from the Anhui Province, China. Although there is still scope for optimizing the AEE in Anhui, the overall trend is positive and shows a development trend of “double peaks”. The levels of education, economic development, agricultural water supply capacity, and rural management are important factors contributing to AEE differences in Anhui. Data and regression analysis results contribute to the optimization of AEE and proposes optimization strategies. This study provides extensions and refinements of the AEE evaluation and optimization, and contributes to sustainable development of regions.

Stochastic P-Robust Approach to a Centralized Two-Stage DEA System with Resource Waste

Uncertain data and undesirable outputs are two challenging issues in traditional data envelopment analysis (DEA) models while dealing with the environmental efficiency estimation of decision-making units (DMUs). This study considers Stackelberg and the centralized game theory approach in a two-stage DEA model for evaluating DMUs in the presence of uncertainty and undesirable outputs simultaneously. To tackle the uncertainty, we apply the p-robust technique and assume that undesirable outputs are weakly disposable. The proposed fractional models are linearized using the Charnes and Cooper transformation. We utilize the new models for a real dataset drawn from 11 oil generation ports in the Persian Gulf region consisting of two stages: an oil production stage and a wastewater treatment stage. The results revealed that the managers should take different strategies in environmental efficiency evaluation including undesirable impacts and also efficiency improvement in increasing oil generation. Further, the empirical results showed that the stochastic p-robust approach for controlling the conservatism level leads to a more conservative solution, and policymakers could recognize the significant steps that should be followed to improve each oil generation unit’s environmental performance. Also, to show the reliability and accuracy of the results and the effect of the decision-maker’s preference, a detailed sensitivity analysis is performed.

Environmental Efficiency Evaluation of Construction Waste Generation Based on Data Envelopment Analysis and Malmquist Index

The rapid development of urbanization in China in recent years has resulted in the production of large amounts of construction waste, which has placed certain constraints on the sustainable development of the construction industry. This study measures the environmental efficiency of construction waste generated in China from static and dynamic perspectives using the data envelopment analysis and the Malmquist index with data from 30 Chinese provinces during the period from 2011 to 2020. The results showed that, from a static perspective, the environmental efficiency of China’s construction waste generation has been on a generally declining trend year by year, and the overall level is still not too high. At the regional level, there is a stepwise decline in the eastern, central, northeastern, and western regions. From a dynamic point of view, the overall Malmquist index in China has an average value of 1.016, indicating that the level of environmental efficiency of construction waste generation in China is in a state of improvement. From a regional perspective, the Malmquist index is highest in the east, indicating that the level of environmental efficiency of construction waste generation in the eastern region is developing well.

Energy and Environmental Efficiency Evaluation of Transportation Systems in China’s 255 Cities

China’s transportation sector suffers from excessive energy consumption and serious pollutant emissions. There is increasing pressure to improve energy and environmental efficiency (EEE). This paper researches the EEE of transportation systems in 255 Chinese cities from 2015 to 2019 with the assistance of the super-efficiency SBM model. Research results show that the five-year average EEE of the Chinese transportation system is 0.4420, indicating an overall low performance, with most regions still needing improvement. There are significant differences in the transportation system EEE between cities, with Guangzhou, Maoming, and Zhoushan ranking in the top three, and Heihe, Xining, and Taiyuan in the bottom. Cities with a better economic base, developed water systems and more relevant policy documents do better in energy use and environmental protection compared to other cities. Moreover, the development of the transportation systems is uneven, with noticeable regional differences. The general trend is that cities located in the eastern have better transportation systems EEE than cities in other economic zones. The findings should have a far-reaching impact on the sustainable development of cities. It also provides an essential reference for the research on EEE efficiency of transportation systems in China and other countries.

КОМПЛЕКСНА ОЦІНКА ПОКАЗНИКІВ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ ІНВЕСТИЦІЙ БУДІВНИЦТВА, РЕКОНСТРУКЦІЇ ТА РЕМОНТІВ АВТОМОБІЛЬНИХ ДОРІГ: НАУКОВО-МЕТОДИЧНИЙ АСПЕКТ

A historical review of methods for evaluation the economic efficiency of investment projects is performed. The analysis of modern methods of efficiency evaluation in the field of construction, reconstruction and repairing of roads is carried out. The main provisions and principles of comprehensive evaluation of construction, reconstruction and repairing of roads are identified and generalized methodological approaches to determination of the overall socio-economic efficiency of financing works on new construction, reconstruction and repairing of public roads, which provides for the relevant stages of: operational condition of the road; socio-economic efficiency of road reconstruction and repairing; environmental efficiency of road construction, reconstruction and repairing . Introduction The most important requirement for the functioning of modern economic systems is a developed network of roads. Integrative development of the national economy is faced with the need to build new and improve existing international transport corridors, which increases their capacity and transit capacity, exports of motor transport services and reduces the time of connection and delivery of goods and passengers by road. Comprehensive evaluation of socio-economic and environmental efficiency of construction, reconstruction and repairing of public roads is a tool of public policy aimed at implementing the principles of sustainable economic development. In terms of program-targeted planning of public roads generalization and further development of scientific and methodological approaches to comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of investment projects for construction, reconstruction and repairing of roads is one of the key tasks to improve the quality of existing roads and new transport routes considering their socio-economic and environmental efficiency. Problem statement. During the evaluation of projects for the construction, reconstruction and repairing of public roads, it is need to consider not only the effectiveness of project investments, but also the social and environmental effects associated with their implementation. Generalization of methodological approaches to the comprehensive evaluation of projects for construction, reconstruction and repairing of roads considering their socio-economic and environmental efficiency and the development of methodological tools for evaluation additional effects is a complex scientific problem. Thus the comprehensive evaluation of efficiency of construction and reconstruction of the road has to characterize conformity of its transport and operational condition to the level of social and economic and ecological requirements which are formed taking into account the state, territorial, public and private interests. Purpose and task. The purpose of the article is to substantiate at the scientific and methodological level the feasibility of a comprehensive evaluation the socio-economic and environmental efficiency of construction, reconstruction and repairing of public roads based on the generalization of existing methodological approaches to investment efficiency calculation. The task of the article is to analyze methodological approaches to evaluation the effectiveness of investment projects, determination of their features and basing on their generalization substantiation of a comprehensive approach to the overall evaluation of socio-economic efficiency of investment in construction, reconstruction and repairing of public roads. Materials and methods During the article preparation, the current methods of evaluation the effectiveness of capital expenditures (investments), designing and regulatory documents regarding evaluation the socio-economic efficiency of investments in the construction, reconstruction and repairing of roads were used. In the process of study the methods of comprehensive and system analysis, abstract-logical, method of comparative analysis and others were used. Results The main provisions and principles of comprehensive evaluation of construction, reconstruction and repairing of roads are determined and the unified methodology for determination the overall socio-economic efficiency of financing of new construction, reconstruction and repairing of public roads, which provides for the relevant evaluation stages: transport and operational condition of the road; socio-economic and environmental efficiency of construction, reconstruction and repairing of the road. Conclusions During evaluation the socio-economic efficiency of investment in the development of public roads has to be used a system of indicators that characterize the results of related effects at the macro-and micro-economic level and in the social sphere. In this context, in order to optimize the processes of prioritization and priority of financing works on new construction, reconstruction and repairing of public roads within the relevant legal and regulatory field, methodological approaches to determination the overall socio-economic efficiency of financing works on new construction, reconstruction and repairing of public roads. The application of common methodological approaches to determining the overall socio-economic efficiency of financing new construction, reconstruction and repair of roads involves long-term planning and financing of clearly defined tasks and measures for the restoration and development of public roads. Keywords: construction, reconstruction and repairing, public roads, comprehensive evaluation, overall socio-economic efficiency, environmental efficiency, investment efficiency indicators.

A Review on Environmental Efficiency Evaluation of New Energy Vehicles Using Life Cycle Analysis

New energy vehicles (NEVs), especially electric vehicles (EVs), address the important task of reducing the greenhouse effect. It is particularly important to measure the environmental efficiency of new energy vehicles, and the life cycle analysis (LCA) model provides a comprehensive evaluation method of environmental efficiency. To provide researchers with knowledge regarding the research trends of LCA in NEVs, a total of 282 related studies were counted from the Web of Science database and analyzed regarding their research contents, research preferences, and research trends. The conclusion drawn from this research is that the stages of energy resource extraction and collection, carrier production and energy transportation, maintenance, and replacement are not considered to be research links. The stages of material, equipment, and car transportation and operation equipment settling, and forms of use need to be considered in future research. Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (HFCEVs), vehicle type classification, the water footprint, battery recovery and reuse, and battery aging are the focus of further research, and comprehensive evaluation combined with more evaluation methods is the direction needed for the optimization of LCA. According to the results of this study regarding EV and hybrid power vehicles (including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), and extended range electric vehicles (EREV)), well-to-wheel (WTW) average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have been less than those in the same period of gasoline internal combustion engine vehicles (GICEV). However, EV and hybrid electric vehicle production CO2 emissions have been greater than those during the same period of GICEV and the total CO2 emissions of EV have been less than during the same period of GICEV.

Evaluation and Dynamic Evolution of the Total Factor Environmental Efficiency in China’s Mining Industry

The mining industry plays an extremely important strategic role in China’s economic and social development. In the new era of pursuing circular/green/efficient development, the evaluation of the total factor environmental efficiency (TFEE) of China’s mining industry is essential for alleviating resource waste and environmental pollution. The Epsilon-Based Measure (EBM) model effectively solves the shortcomings of radial and non-radial DEA models. In addition, the Malmquist–Luenberger (ML) index can measure the dynamic change of efficiency value. Combining the EBM model and the ML productivity index, this paper evaluates the TFEE from the static and dynamic perspective in China’s 31 provincial mining industries over the period 2007–2016. The Theil index is employed to reveal the root of the overall provincial TFEE gap (OGTFEE) in China’s mining industry. The results show that the average total factor static environmental efficiency (TFSEE) of China’s provincial mining industry exhibits a low score of 0.6589 and with significant spatio-temporal differences. The provincial TFEE gap within four major areas (WGTFEE), especially that in east and west areas, is the main cause of the OGTFEE in China’s mining industry. Technical change contributes more to the TFEE decline in China’s mining industry. There are differences in improving the TFEE among China’s 31 provincial mining industries, and corresponding countermeasures can be formulated accordingly. This study provides theoretical and practical basis for the clean and green development of China’s mining industry.