Implementation Of Energy Efficiency Measures Research Articles

Government support for addressing energy poverty in the context of low-carbon transition

The development and implementation of state policy to overcome energy poverty has become particularly important in Ukraine and requires adequate methods and tools to support consumers in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. The study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of energy poverty in the EU and Ukraine, evaluate the cost of government support for vulnerable households through subsidy mechanisms, and improve the methodology for calculating heating subsidies in Ukraine under low-carbon transition conditions. Based on statistical data, the study reveals the intensifying negative impact of the 2021–2022 energy crisis on households in both the European Union and Ukraine. The results of evaluating the cost and structure of energy subsidy portfolios indicate that most governments worldwide are shifting toward economic decarburization and phasing out coal consumption subsidies in response to stricter climate obligations. The findings reveal that while energy subsidies in Ukraine are socially oriented, they place a significant burden on the state budget and fail to address the root causes of energy poverty. The paper explores the mechanism of fuel subsidies and argues that the implementation of energy efficiency measures must accompany the gradual elimination of such support. It also presents a calculation of heating subsidies based on the energy efficiency class of residential buildings, consistent with the goal of introducing NZEB standards. The formulated proposals seek to strengthen support for energy-vulnerable households and enhance monitoring activities to obtain more comprehensive and objective data on the extent of energy poverty in Ukraine.

Energy Efficiency and the Transition to Renewables—Building Communities of the Future

The effects of energy efficiency on the decarbonization engineering infrastructure were examined by simulating the hourly energy demand of a small Texan city with 10,000 buildings. The available renewable energy sources in the region, wind and solar, supply the required energy, and the deficit or surplus is offset by energy storage. The demand–supply match during every hour of the year determines the required renewable power, the energy storage requirement, and dissipation in the energy storage/regeneration processes. The computations showed that the implementation of energy efficiency measures will decrease the total required renewable power by a factor of 2.9, the needed energy storage by a factor of 2.0, and the annual energy dissipation by a factor of 2.4. Of particular interest is the determination of the energy transition elasticity coefficients, which offer quantitative interpretation and a better understanding of the effects of energy efficiency measures on the decarbonization efforts of communities.

Energy Efficiency Actions in the Classroom/Administrative Center of the Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia of the Universidade Federal de Goiás

Objective: This study proposes the implementation of energy efficiency measures in the building of the Faculty of Science and Technology, as part of an extension project at the Federal University of Goiás. Theoretical Framework: The recommendations of the National Electricity Conservation Program (PROCEL) from the Energy Research Company (EPE) were the main guidelines used for the actions proposed in this study. Method: The current energy consumption was assessed through direct measurement, along with the projected energy demand and the analysis of electricity bills from December 2023 and August 2024. Additionally, the main issues related to the improper use of electricity were observed and discussed. Results and Discussion: Based on a review of the literature and, primarily, the recommendations of PROCEL-EPP, a banner was developed to compile the suggestions observed and discussed with project members, along with other visual elements. Thus, even in its initial stage, the actions proposed in this study show promise in contributing to the improvement of energy efficiency at FCT and, consequently, to sustainable development. Research Implications: The results of this research highlight the potential for reducing energy consumption through the implementation of energy efficiency measures in public buildings. Originality/Value: The present study demonstrates that it is possible to change people's habits and mitigate the problems of high energy consumption through the creation of campaigns promoting energy efficiency.

Institutional and legal component of ensuring energy transformation at the regional and local levels

The article examines the institutional and legal support for energy transformation at the regional and local levels. The relevance of decentralization in the new paradigm of energy development will only grow. It is communities and local representative institutions that will bear increasing responsibility for the intensity and effectiveness of the energy transition. In Ukraine, this process is additionally catalyzed by threats to energy security as a result of military operations. Given these factors, the institutional component of the energy transition will require increasing attention and further balancing. As a result of the study, it was established that the institutional and legal support for energy transformation at the local and regional levels is provided by the rulemaking of local governments and local executive authorities within the limits of their powers. The voluntary and imperative planes of institutional and legal support for energy transformation at the local level were identified. In Ukraine, the most representative and widespread example of voluntary institutional and legal support for energy transformation at the local level is the signing by local governments of the Covenant of Mayors, according to which they undertake obligations to reduce emissions and implement energy efficiency measures on their territory. The imperative rules established by the Law of Ukraine “On Energy Efficiency” regarding the approval of a local energy plan by each local and regional council are additionally stimulated by the threat of losing the right to state support in the absence of such a plan by the date established in the Law. Having analyzed the overall evolution of domestic legislation over the past decade (2014–2024), we can identify a trend towards further granting the institution of local self-government with a set of powers necessary for its effective implementation of a wide range of measures in the field of energy transformation. Taking into account the EU experience within the framework of the Fourth Energy Package, we can predict further progression of the identified trend. This requires not only declarative rulemaking - the corresponding strengthening of the institution of local self-government must be comprehensive (legislative, material and resource, informational, organizational, etc.).

The role of energy management practices in boosting sales performance: a PLS-SEM multigroup analysis in Egypt and Tunisia

Purpose This study aims to explore the relationship between energy management practices – specifically energy consumption targets, energy efficiency improvement measures and energy consumption monitoring – and firm performance in the developing economies of Egypt and Tunisia. It seeks to determine how these practices impact total sales performance, providing insights for regional firms and policymakers. Design/methodology/approach This study uses data from the World Bank’s 2020 Enterprise Survey, focusing on firms in Egypt and Tunisia. This study uses partial least squares structural equation modeling to analyze the impact of energy management practices on total sales performance. Findings The findings reveal that, while energy consumption targets do not directly affect total sales performance in Tunisia, they significantly enhance energy efficiency improvement measures and energy consumption monitoring, indirectly influencing total sales performance. This finding highlights the critical role of comprehensive energy management strategies in improving firm performance. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to firms in Egypt and Tunisia, with cross-sectional data that do not capture the dynamic interactions of the variables over time. Future research should consider longitudinal data and expand this study to other developing economies. Using single-item measures for each variable suggests that more nuanced, multi-item measures could offer more profound insights. Practical implications For firms in Egypt and Tunisia, adopting comprehensive energy management practices, such as setting energy consumption targets, implementing energy efficiency measures and monitoring energy consumption, can lead to better sales performance by reducing energy costs, which can be reinvested in core business activities. Policymakers should support these practices through incentives and policies that promote energy efficiency and sustainability. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by offering empirical evidence of the indirect impact of energy consumption targets on firm performance in developing economies. This underscores the importance of integrated energy management strategies to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), mainly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), providing valuable insights for both policymakers and practitioners.

The Impact of Digitalisation on Energy Efficiency in European SMEs: A Comparative Analysis Using DESI and Sustainability Measures

This research examines the relationship between the level of digitalisation of SMEs and the uptake of energy-saving measures in various European countries. Using data from the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2023 and a 2024 survey conducted by the European Commission, the study examines the percentage of SMEs with a basic level of digitalisation and the percentage of those implementing energy efficiency measures. Pearson correlation analysis was applied to assess whether digitalisation influences energy savings in SMEs.

Renovation Measures for Reduction of Primary Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions of Hospital Building

Hospitals, as highly energy-intensive buildings, significantly contribute to a country's energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The study focuses on a hospital building in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and investigates the impact of selected energy renovation measures on hospital primary energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The main goal of this paper is to develop a mathematical model for establishing relationship between primary energy consumption and CO2 emissions (responses), and the three renovation measures (factors). The research uses dynamic simulation of the building's energy performance in Design Builder, validated with the actual energy consumption. Three energy renovation measures were considered in the study: installation of thermal insulation on external walls and flat roof, and the installation of a photovoltaic power plant. The Analysis of Variance and regression analysis were used to estimate factor effects, and to develop mathematical models. The analysis revealed that the installation of photovoltaic power plant on the roof and thermal insulation on the external walls had the most significant impact on reducing the building's primary energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Installation of insulation on the roof did not significantly affect these performances compared to the other two measures. Developed models are suitable for evaluation of potential for energy and CO2 savings through the implementation of energy efficiency measures. Study results can be extrapolated to all buildings within the same category, providing a valuable tool for energy efficiency planning in the healthcare sector.

Energy Audit of the Footwear Factory Administration Building Using the Energy Consumption Intensity Analysis (IKE) Method

This study aims to enhance energy efficiency in the administrative buildings of PT. XXX's footwear factory through an energy audit. Improving energy efficiency in cooling and refrigeration systems can significantly reduce energy-related emissions due to high electricity consumption. The research method involves an energy audit in accordance with ISO 50001:2018 standards, which includes collecting historical electricity consumption data, calculating and analyze of the energy consumption intensity (IKE) and analyzing energy-saving opportunities. The analysis results indicate that the Neki A Office Marketing Building and the Bottom Office Building with an average IKE value of 17.08. The criteria building is a bit wasteful. Regarding to the analysis the significant use of electricity in every building is Air conditioning. So, the opportunity to reduce electricity and saving energy has three potentials. However, the significant impact and appropriate to implement common issue is retrofit air conditioning to inverter type. This study concludes that the implementation of energy efficiency measures can result in significant savings in electricity consumption.

Development of an Adapted Theoretical Model for Increasing the Energy Efficiency of Induction Motor Drives

The paper presents a developed adapted theoretical model for increasing the energy efficiency of induction motor drives. The model uses input/output parameters that provide practical opportunities for a wide scope of applications and improved conditions for implementation of energy efficiency measures. The study performed confirms the applicability of characteristics of induction motors, contained in a selected software product, for contactless measurement of the active power. The analytical description and mathematical modelling, supported by 36 simulation scenarios, justify the development of the target-adapted model. The plotted regression relationships demonstrate high accuracy with an average coefficient of determination of 0.999. The study recommends measures for increasing the load on the drives and implementing energy-efficient motors that demonstrate significant energy savings. The simulation model proposes an algorithm that provides a basis for creating specialized software products for automation of scientific research and conducting of energy audits.

Advancing energy efficiency: innovative technologies and strategic measures for achieving net zero emissions

To evaluate the essential role of energy efficiency in achieving net-zero emissions and combating climate change, this comprehensive review was conducted based on a thorough analysis of academic literature, diverse case studies, and industry reports, focusing on key energy efficiency sectors and technological advancements. It begins by outlining global efforts, including the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, which have driven initiatives to enhance energy efficiency across various sectors. The review examines key technological innovations, such as advanced manufacturing, energy-efficient building designs, transportation electrification, and smart grid integration contributing to energy savings and decarbonization. It also discusses policy frameworks, regulatory incentives, and financial mechanisms that encourage energy efficiency. The study provides the detailed outcomes of the different strategies and initiatives, showcasing successful case studies from different regions in transportation, urban planning, power generation, and industry. It illustrates how countries have effectively implemented energy efficiency measures to reduce emissions and meet climate goals. Additionally, the review explores the potential of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, big data, and blockchain, to optimize energy management, enhance grid flexibility, and promote further efficiencies. Despite these advancements, the review identifies several key barriers - financial, technological, and behavioral challenges that impede the widespread adoption of energy-efficient practices. Finally, it offers strategies to overcome these obstacles, emphasizing the need for tailored policies, innovative business models, and greater consumer engagement. This review underscores the importance of energy efficiency in achieving a sustainable, net-zero future by synthesizing successful case studies and highlighting emerging solutions.

Identification of residential energy poverty: placing utilities at the heart of the problem

ABSTRACT Energy poverty denotes the incapacity of households to afford adequate energy services for their requirements. This issue has spurred the creation of numerous metrics aimed at pinpointing energy poor households. However, these metrics have faced criticism for either being subjective and complex to calculate or for their insufficient inclusiveness. Utilities and energy providers, mandated to implement energy efficiency measures for such households, have emphasized the necessity for customized, data-driven methods to identify energy poverty. This study introduces a comparative multi-sourced framework, enabling utilities to identify energy poor households within their clientele by amalgamating various energy poverty indicators. These indicators encompass a blend of those included in the European Energy Poverty Observatory and other conventional approaches, supplemented by a novel indicator for enhanced accuracy. The proposed framework relies on simple income and energy data to generate more reliable results. Its efficacy and limitations are demonstrated through a practical case study utilizing a sizable dataset of vulnerable households provided by the Public Power Corporation in Greece.

Diagnosis of GHG Emissions in an Offshore Oil and Gas Production Facility

This work presents a diagnosis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) platforms for oil and gas production offshore, using calculation methodologies from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To carry out this analysis, design data of an FPSO platform is used for the GHG emissions estimation, considering operations under steady conditions and oil and gas processing system simulations in the Aspen HYSYS® software. The main direct emission sources of GHG are identified, including the main combustion processes (gas turbines for electric generation and gas turbine-driven CO2 compressors), flaring and venting, as well as fugitive emissions. The study assesses a high CO2 content in molar composition of the associated gas, an important factor that is considered in estimating fugitive emissions during the processes of primary separation and main gas compression. The resulting information indicates that, on average, 95% of total emissions are produced by combustion sources. In the latest production stages of the oil and gas field, it consumes 2 times more energy and emits 2.3 times CO2 in terms of produced hydrocarbons. This diagnosis provides a baseline and starting point for the implementation of energy efficiency measures and/or carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies on the FPSO in order to reduce CO2 and CH4 emissions, as well as identify the major sources of emissions in the production process.

Energy Efficiency and Socio-Cultural Values in Public Policy in the City of Stockholm

ABSTRACT Cities face increasing challenges in reducing their impact on climate change while also preserving their cultural heritage, both older and more modern. This paper investigates the articulations of energy efficiency and cultural values in local public policies of the City of Stockholm. The municipality is particularly interesting in its self-imposed role as being world-leading in the climate transition. However, we argue that the city fails in undertaking a holistic approach to sustainability by not providing sufficient guidance on how energy efficiency and cultural values can be reconciled. Cross-sectorial and sectorial policy documents as well as the implementation of local directives and objectives in a large municipally owned housing company are studied. Two cases of renovation serve to demonstrate how policy is turned into practice and how energy efficiency aims and cultural values are assessed. One significant finding is the clear asymmetry between the steering ability of policy relative to energy efficiency and cultural values respectively. A major drawback is the lack of directives and guidelines concerning the built heritage, particularly at a building level, supporting decision-making when implementing necessary energy efficiency measures in buildings with cultural values. A recommendation made is to introduce cross-sectorial guidance in implementing energy efficiency measures in buildings with cultural values.

Energy Efficiency in Seasonal Homes: A Study on the Occupancy, Energy Use, and Renovation of Second Homes in Sweden

The escalating utilisation of second homes has led to an extension in heating periods and, to a certain degree, renovations to elevate the standard, resulting in augmented energy and resource consumption. A comprehensive survey was conducted in Sweden, examining user patterns across different seasons, heating systems, and implemented energy efficiency measures. The results indicate that second homes are occupied for extended periods during the summer season and intermittently throughout the year. Over half of the second homes are heated even when unoccupied, with 12% maintaining a temperature above 16 °C. The predominant heating method is direct electricity (32.2%), followed by heat pumps (29.5%) and stoves (17.5%). A variety of renovations are undertaken, primarily to enhance the standard and technical performance, but also to implement energy efficiency measures such as window replacement, additional insulation, or heat pump installation. Based on the reported user and heating patterns, and the energy renovations carried out, the potential energy savings with different energy renovation strategies were estimated for the Swedish second home stock. The results show that though lowering the temperature when a second home is unoccupied emerges as the most efficient measure, both in terms of cost-effectiveness and climate impact, it needs to be complemented with intermittent heating or dehumidification to ensure that the relative humidity is below critical levels, to avoid the risk of damages caused by, for example, mould growth. Installing a heat pump is the second most energy- and cost-effective measure and has the advantage that the indoor temperature can be maintained at rather high levels.

Passive over active: How low-cost strategies influence urban energy equity

Passive over active: How low-cost strategies influence urban energy equity

Analyzing nonlinear and asymmetric effects of green finance and renewable energy on energy efficiency amidst technological innovation in E7 countries

The study aims to explore the relationship between green funding, green energy, and energy efficiency in E7 countries, guided by the SDG-7 guidelines recommended by the United Nations General Assembly. Methodologically, the study employs the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) and Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) techniques on data collected between 1988 and 2022. The rationale for this approach lies in its ability to capture both short-term and long-term dynamics in the relationship between green funding, green energy, and energy efficiency. Analysis of the data reveals varying stages of green funding growth among E7 countries, with China (1.52), Brazil (1.44), India (1.35), Indonesia (1.94), Mexico (1.73), and Russia (1.93) exhibiting different levels of progress. Russia and Turkey are identified as having the highest Gini coefficients in 2019, indicating disparities in green funding distribution within these countries. The empirical findings underscore the critical role of investment in the energy sector by both corporations and the public sector to enhance access to electricity, bolster energy security, and foster environmentally sustainable economic development. However, the study identifies insufficient investment as a fundamental obstacle hindering progress in green energy efficiency in E7 nations. Despite the potential for implementing energy efficiency measures and renewable energy sources in E7 countries, the future remains uncertain due to existing obstacles in green financing and regulatory frameworks. Consequently, the paper emphasizes the imperative of addressing these obstacles to unlock the full funding potential for energy efficiency initiatives in E7 nations.

Prediction of pollutant emission characteristics in ISO50001 energy management in the Americas: Uni and multivariate machine learning approach

Prediction of pollutant emission characteristics in ISO50001 energy management in the Americas: Uni and multivariate machine learning approach

Feasibility and performance analysis of a net-zero energy residential building in tropical climates: A case of Congo-Brazzaville

Current building techniques in developing countries have become extremely critical. The net-zero energy concept has emerged as an essential strategy for minimising energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. However, its implementation, particularly in developing countries, remains a critical challenge. The purpose of this work is to assess the feasibility of achieving a net-zero energy building by combining energy-efficient design practices and renewable energy systems under the climatic conditions of the Republic of Congo. To achieve the stipulated objectives, DesignBuilder software was utilised for building modelling, energy load assessment and multiobjective optimisation of building energy efficiency measures, and the multicriteria energy optimisation was carried out using the HOMER tool. The optimisation results showed that the implementation of energy efficiency measures resulted in 39.15% energy savings, 43.45% thermal load savings and 55.68% discomfort hours reduction. Furthermore, the renewable energy system can provide 100% of the building’s energy load and a total savings of 3341.84 kgCO2eq/year. The system’s levelised cost of energy was estimated at 0.256 $/kWh, with a net present cost of $20,231, while the overall life cycle cost was calculated at 188.91 $/m2.

Analysis of measures to increase the energy efficiency of educational buildings of the national university of water and environmental engineering

The implementation of energy-efficient measures at the National University of Water and Environmental Engineering (NUWEE) was started since 2000. The buildings of NUWEE are located in different parts of Rivne city and Rivne region. Buildings № 1-7 were selected by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine for financing their thermal modernization as part of the loan project "Higher Education of Ukraine. Energy efficiency and sustainable development" with the aim of increasing their energy efficiency. The authors analyzed the measures to increase the energy efficiency of the educational buildings of the NUWEE, namely, the installation of thermal insulation of facades, roofs, floors on the ground and first surfaces, replacement of windows and doors, installation of thermal insulation of pipelines, modernization of automated thermal energy regulation units (ATERU), heating system and lighting, implementation of the energy monitoring and dispatching system, installation of the ventilation system with exhaust air heat recovery. Implementation of the proposed measures will reduce energy consumption and related costs by 60 %, namely by 6,232 MWh/year (compared to the baseline level of energy consumption of 10,286 MWh/year). It will result increasing of the buildings’ comfort and functionality. After the implementation of the described measures, the increase of the energy efficiency class of educational buildings is predicted. The implementation of energy-efficient measures will also lead to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 50 %, namely by 1,648 t/year. Measures that can pay off as soon as possible are the implementation of thermal insulation of pipelines, modernization of ATERU and lighting, implementation of energy monitoring and dispatching systems. The longest payback period will require the installation of ventilation air heat recovery, but this measure is necessary in view of the current reduction in heat energy costs for heating the external supply air in the cold period of the year.

An Econometric Analysis of the Energy-Saving Performance of the Italian Plastic Manufacturing Sector

In a scenario characterised by mitigation concerns and calls for greater resilience in the energy sector, energy audits (EAs) emerge as an essential mean for enhancing end-use energy consumption awareness and efficiency. Such a tool allows us to assess the different energy carriers consumed in a productive sector, offering insight into existing energy efficiency improvement opportunities. This opens avenues for research to devise an econometrics-based methodology that encapsulate production sites and their environmental essentials. This paper contributes to the literature by exploiting the EAs received by the Italian National agency for New technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) in 2019 from the Italian plastics manufacturing sector, matched with Italian firm-based data extracted from the Analisi Informatizzata delle Aziende Italiane (Italian company information and business intelligence) (AIDA) database. In particular, we investigate how the implementation of energy efficiency measures (EEMs) is influenced by a set of contextual factors, as well as features relating to the companies and EEMs themselves. The empirical investigation focuses on the EAs submitted to ENEA in 2019, which was strategically chosen due to its unique data availability and adequacy for extensive analysis. The selection of 2019 is justified as it constitutes the second mandatory reporting period for energy audits, in contrast to the 2022 data, which are currently undergoing detailed refinement. In line with the literature, the adopted empirical approach involves the use of both the OLS and logistic regression models. Empirical results confirm the relevance of economic and financial factors in guiding the decisions surrounding the sector’s energy performance, alongside the analogous influence of the technical characteristics of the measures themselves and of the firms’ strategies. In particular, the OLS model with no fixed effects shows that a one-percent variation in investments is associated with an increase in savings performance equal to 0.63%. As for the OLS model, including fixed effects, the elasticity among the two variables concerned reaches 0.87%, while in the logistic regression, if the investment carried out by the production sites increases, the expected percentage change in the probability that the energy-saving performance is above its average is about 187.77%. Contextual factors that prove to be equally influential include the incentive mechanism considered and the traits of the geographical area in which the companies are located. Relevant policy implications derived from this analysis include the importance of reducing informational barriers about EEMs and increasing technical assistance, which can be crucial for identifying and implementing effective energy solutions.